Kids Cycling Safety Tips for Parents

Cycling should be a fun and safe way for the whole family to enjoy the great Colorado outdoors. Unfortunately, careless drivers and dangerous road conditions create a risk of bicycle accidents. If an accident occurs, consulting with a Fort Collins bicycle accident lawyer can help protect your legal rights. Keeping your child safe while cycling is possible with a few basic safety tips.

Always Make Your Child Wear a Helmet

Emphasize the importance of always wearing a helmet to your child. This is the most effective way to prevent a serious or fatal head injury in a bicycle accident. The helmet must have the seal of approval from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Department of Transportation or Snell Institute for optimal effectiveness. Buying a helmet in a color or design that your child likes can improve the odds of him or her wearing it on every ride.

Show Your Child Where to Rid 

An understanding of basic bicycle laws in Colorado can help your child avoid crossing paths with motor vehicles. Teach your child that bicycles have the same rules as motor vehicles. When biking, your child must ride in the same direction as the cars on the road. They must also stop at stop signs and traffic lights and yield the right-of-way to others, as necessary. Teach your child hand signals to use when turning or stopping so that surrounding drivers know what to expect.

Improve Your Child’s Visibility

Bicyclists, and especially smaller child cyclists, are difficult for motor vehicle drivers to spot. You can improve your child’s safety by enhancing his or her visibility. Have your child wear bright colors, such as neon, as well as reflective materials. Your child should not ride between dusk and dawn. If your child has to ride in the dark, equip the bike with the proper front and rear lights and find a route with street lights.

Teach Defensive Riding Techniques

Your child should know how to ride a bicycle defensively, meaning with the utmost vigilance. Teach your child to constantly be alert to his or her surroundings – not on a phone or listening to music. Bicyclists should never assume that surrounding drivers see them or will obey traffic laws. Teach your child to assume the opposite so that he or she is always prepared to stop or maneuver away from danger at a moment’s notice.

Prevent Dooring Accidents

Dooring accidents – when a driver opens a door into a cyclist – can result in serious injuries to a child. Teach your child to look out for vehicles that are parked near bike lanes and to maintain a safe distance from them. Your child should be cautious around cars with their brake lights on or with people sitting inside.

You also have the power to prevent dooring accidents as a driver in Colorado. If you park your car in a location that presents a risk of dooring, use the Dutch Reach to open your door. This means using the hand furthest away from the door to open it, which will force you to turn your head and look over your shoulder for oncoming cyclists, including children on bikes.

Contact a Bicycle Accident Attorney if Your Child Gets Injured in Colorado

In 2023, 147 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed in traffic accidents in Colorado. If your child is injured in a bicycling accident in Colorado, help is available. Contact an experienced bicycle accident attorney for representation during an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Your attorney can help your family hold a negligent driver or another party responsible for your child’s injuries and recover maximum compensation. Contact Cannon Law today for a free consultation.