You gave your child a bicycle. Now give them safety lessons

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

MARBLE FALLS — This year, thousands of youngsters across the country — including many right here in the Highland Lakes — found a new bike under the Christmas tree. But before they “saddle up” and hit the road, parents and kids should learn some safety tips.

“You’d be surprised that a lot of kids actually don’t learn to ride bikes until they’re in school or around other kids who do,” said Tracy Knight, the director of St. Peter’s Lutheran School in Marble Falls. On Dec. 10, Knight and the school held Bike Day, which allowed students to bring their bikes to school and ride them in the church parking lot.

With the open space, the students could cruise around the parking lot — which was blocked off at two points to contain the riders and prevent vehicle traffic — while pedaling along with their friends. But before the students hopped on a bike, staff went over cycling safety including wearing a helmet and proper braking techniques.

Knight said Bike Day not only gave kids a break from class but also let them practice riding.

“You’re not born pedaling,” she said. “Kids really have to practice at it. So we do this to give them a chance to practice riding and just pedaling.”

Teaching a child to ride a bike can give parents headaches.

Brenda Chuleewah, the Bike Texas teacher coordinator, said it’s really not as difficult as it seems.

“To me, something that really helps is to go riding with their kids,” she said. “Kids can learn by watching you.”

Of course, that means dusting off the old Schwinn, checking the chain, handlebars and tires, getting a helmet properly fitted and setting a good example for your child.

At St. Peter’s on Bike Day, Knight and pre-kindergarten teacher Anna Womack stressed wearing a helmet.

“If you don’t have a helmet on, you can’t ride,” Womack told the children.

Chuleewah emphasized it’s making sure a helmet fits properly.

“If it doesn’t fit properly, it’s really not going to protect you,” she said. “The best thing to do is go to a professional bike shop and get somebody who knows what they’re doing to help fit you and your child with a helmet.”

She pointed out getting a well-maintained and proper-size bike goes a long way in helping a child ride.

“I hold a lot of bike rodeos (where kids come out to learn or practice), and one of the things that I see all the time is kids riding bikes that are just in terrible repair or shape,” Chuleewah said. “A lot of people don’t realize the quality of the bike really is the issue when it comes to kids who struggle riding or won’t ride. Get a good quality bike.”

If a parent is considering buying a bike for his or her child who has never ridden before, one of the current trends is introducing the youth to riding on a balance bike, which basically looks like a bicycle without pedals. A balance bike, Chuleewah said, teaches a child how to balance first and makes it easier on the child as he or she transitions to a pedal bike.

“The trend is really away from training wheels and these balance bikes,” she said. “You can start them by letting them coast down a slight hill.”

Along with teaching riding, Chuleewah stressed the importance of parents instructing their children on the rules of the road. And also remember to try and see the world through the child’s eyes.

“I remember seeing a dad riding with his child, and when they came up to a stop sign, the child just blew right through it because he couldn’t see it,” she said. “Stop signs are pretty tall compared to a child, so you have to remember that.”

While a child can quickly head off alone, Chuleewah recommended parents don’t let kids ride by themselves until they are at least 10 years old. Before that, they often don’t have the maturity or knowledge to deal with all the obstacles and dangers they might encounter.

“And if your child is old enough and wants to ride somewhere (alone), plan a route with them,” she said. “Then ride it with them at least once to see how it is.”

Sometimes, the safest and best route isn’t necessarily the most direct one either.

Back at St. Peter’s, the looks on the children’s faces tell it all. Their smiles and laughter remind adults walking past them to the church office of the simple joy of riding a bike.

“Riding a bike is fun, and it’s something kids love,” Knight said. “You just have to give them a chance to learn and then practice.”

Go to biketexas.org for more information on bicycling safety and tips.

daniel@thepicayune.com