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Biking and Your Child's Safety
Staying Safe on Their Bikes
By Julia Rosien
Bike Size
How do you choose the proper bike size for your child? According to Chiles, the child's feet should be able to rest lightly on the ground when the bicycle's seat is in the lowest position. Have the child stand over the crossbar with both hands on the handlebars, and if the bike fits, there will be a 2-inch clearance over the crossbar. "Most parents, almost 90 percent, buy bikes that are too big for their children. You should buy the right sized bike and raise the seat as the child grows" he says. Traffic
If a child is riding his bike on the road, he should be on the right hand side, obeying all the rules of the road. Mckay recommends children younger than 9 not be allowed to ride on the road alone. "Once a child can balance on a bike, that does not mean he is ready to go." Children are permitted to ride the sidewalks as long as pedestrians are not ignored and they ride with consideration. If a child is riding the sidewalks, the bike should be dismounted at crosswalks and walked across the street. Any child riding on the road should know t obey stop signs and how to use his turn signals.