10 Safe Habits to Teach Maricopa County Child Bicycle Riders

By The Husband and Wife Law Team on March 5, 2014

Child bicycle riders are everywhere in Maricopa County. This county is full of movers and shakers who love to make the most of bicycles and other green ways of living and getting a little exercise. Most families where the parents are riders also have children who begin riding as soon as they are able. And if you’re one of those parents with children who want to learn how to bike while out on the road themselves, then you’ll need to know all of the safety habits to teach your children to keep them happy, healthy, and safe on the road. Here are the top 10 safety habits you should teach to your children before letting them out on the road on two wheels.

• Always wear a bicycle helmet when you hop on a bicycle, even if you are just going down the street.
• Wear kneepads and elbow pads to ensure that if you fall down or are knocked off your bicycle while riding, mounting, or dismounting, that you minimize your risk of injury.
• Never ride a bicycle that has not been properly sized for you.
• Do not remove your training wheels or ride a bicycle without training wheels until you know that you are able to ride safely without the extra support.
• Never ride in the dark without bicycle reflectors and reflective or highly visible clothing.
• Always use the bicycle lanes and avoid riding in the road at all times unless you have an adult present with you.
• Watch for cars whenever you are riding in the road, crossing the street, or even when you are riding on the sidewalk, as some drivers may be backing out of driveways.
• Watch out for pedestrians and animals, especially dogs, since both people and animals can present hazards on the road.
• Check the brakes on your bicycle every time before you start riding to make sure they are in proper working condition.
• Always come to a full and complete stop at every stoplight and stop sign and check for traffic before moving forward.

Creating safe child cyclists, like most other things, starts at home. Teach your child good habits from the first time they get on a bicycle and they’ll be safe riders for life.