Riding a Bike isn’t As Easy As it Seems 
 

Riding a bicycle is healthy, fun and environmentally friendly. Cyclists save fuel and therefore money.

Besides walking, cycling is the most important means of transportation for children. Almost every child owns a bike. But, do they really know how to safely cycle in road traffic? 
 

Cycling in Traffic asks Too Much of Most Children

Children think, feel and behave differently from adults. This has to be taken into account when it comes to cycling in road traffic, because dangerous accidents can happen. Often, children’s abilities are overestimated. Complex traffic situations often overburden children. When children ride their bicycles on their own they are exposed to a great accident risk. This is why you shouldn’t let your child cycle in road traffic before it has taken the test for cyclists (“Radfahrprüfung”) at school. Practice with your child, we’ll show you how. 
 

This is How Your Child Develops its Abilities 

Compared to adults, children have a smaller field of view, poorer hearing, slower response time and a less developed equilibrium sense than adults. The following declarations of age are only approximate values as every child develops individually. If children do not dispose of enough scope for development nor have they enough space to play, they develop into couch potatoes and rarely have the opportunity to explore their environment. Thus, they develop slower than other children of their age.  
 

Up to 5 or 6 years:

• Children do not notice dangerous situations until they are already at high risk.

8 years and older:

• Children are able to anticipate danger and know which behavior exposes them to risks.
• They are able to correctly estimate distances.
• They are able to carry out several tasks simultaneously while riding their bicycle, e.g. braking, watching the traffic and giving signs with their hands.
• They know how to act at traffic lights and zebra crossings.

 

10 years and older:

• They are able to correctly rate speeds.
• Children are able to react appropriately to unfamiliar situations, for example defective traffic lights.

 

14 years and older:

• Children are able to overlook traffic and act confidently.

Cycling Children and Traffic Accidents

According to the German Federal Office for Statistics (Statistisches Bundesamt) the number of children involved in bicycle accidents has increased in 2003 for children up to 14 years of age and then decreased again once they became older. In 2002, more than half of the children involved in traffic accidents were cyclists.  
 

Scooters and/or Running Wheels prepare Children for the Use of Bicycles

Using a scooter is an important step in the development of children’s mobility. A scooter with rubber tires and good brakes is the best preparation for cycling. Scooters enable children to learn how to ride, brake, keep their balance and estimate their speed. When things get ticklish, they just jump off the scooter.

Before your child goes for a bike, it should gain experience with a running wheel. On a running wheel, the seat is relatively low which allows children to support themselves and also to push away with both feet. That gives them confidence and a sense of balance while it’s fun, too. By the way, you don’t have to buy a running wheel. A small children’s bike with removed pedals and a lower seat serves the same purpose. Children who learn how to cycle on a running wheel can easily transfer to the ‘regular’ bike.  
 

Practice Makes the Perfect Biker – Practice with your child!

In order to ensure that your child knows how to cycle, it is absolutely necessary to practice how to use the bike and how to act on the street. Places without traffic where you can practice things like getting on and off the bike, starting, rolling, curving and braking are most suitable for training purposes. These situations cause most of the accidents. You should also practice on different grounds like sand, grit, gravel, wet surface or moist leaves, because bicycle handling varies on different surfaces. 
 

Please Do Not Use Stabilizers!

Stabilizers often lead to severe downfalls, for example if one wheel loses contact with the ground along curbstones or when turning at high speed. With stabilizers children learn a different and wrong motor functioning. They do not practice either equilibrium sense or coordination. It gets even worse. Cycling with stabilizers makes the learning of “equilibrated cycling” much more difficult. Children are afraid of falling down (Source: ADFC). Instead of stabilizers on the bike children should rather use a running wheel.  
 

Don’t ask Too Much of Your Child

It doesn’t matter if your child rides a roller, a running wheel or a bike; make sure you practice together. Don’t ask too much of your child when leaving the safe area without traffic and entering road traffic with its many stimulus satiations.

Please make sure to be a role-model in every traffic situation. Of course, a bicycle helmet and hand signals are part of it.  
 

Where is My Child Allowed to Ride?

Unfortunately, the bicycle track system is not always perfectly developed. There are many different lanes for cyclists. A child might easily get confused. That’s why it is important to make ‘exploration trips’ with your child. Your child will then learn where cycling is allowed.

According to the law children under the age of 8 years have to cycle on the pavement, even if bicycle tracks are available. Children up to 10 years may cycle on the pavement, but don’t have to. Children that are older than 10 years have to ride on the bicycle track, if available, or on the road.

If your child is under 8 years old, putting a high, colorful pennon on the bike is recommended. It ensures that your child can be seen. 
 

Why is a Helmet So Important?

The safety Bike

The Safe Bike

The safety equipment of a children’s bike should be complete and fully functional.  
 

The safety equipment should consist of:

• Good and safe brakes on the front and back wheel, i.e. rim brake on the front and backpedal brake (no rim brake) on the back wheel
• Nonskid pedals with big, yellow rear reflectors
• Big yellow side reflectors on the front and back wheel or reflecting strips on the tire
• Covered chain guard
• Lights with dynamo (if possible on the back wheel) and NEW! As of the end of 2005 a parking light is mandatory on new bicycles (follow the link “Bicycle with Parking Light ” under “In the Dark Hours and at Dawn”)
• At the front: Lights to see and to be spotted and a white reflector
• At the back: rear light and broad reflectors
• Nonskid handles with soft, thick ends
• Bell
• Burst protection handle bar

 

Furthermore, the bicycle has to be the right size. When sitting on the seat the child has to be able to easily reach the ground with the feet. 
 

Be The Role Model for Your Child!!!

Make sure to behave like a role model since your child will adopt your exemplary behavior in road traffic. Always wear a helmet when riding your bike. How would the youngest learn that helmets are a vital part of a biker’s equipment?