Safe Cycling for You and Your Grandkids

Riding bicycles with your grandchildren is a fun way to get fit and spend time together. These precautions can help everyone cycle a little more safely:

• Wear a helmet on every single trip, no matter how experienced the rider or how short the trip.
• Make sure your young biking companion wears a helmet that fits now, not a too-big one to wear for a few years. A helmet should fit snugly and not slide from side to side, from front to back, or around the head.
• Adjust the helmet to sit straight atop the head, not slant backwards. The chinstrap should keep the helmet from wobbling. If any part of the buckle breaks, replace the chinstrap.
• Put off riding with a little one in a bike seat until after the baby’s first birthday. Younger babies’ neck muscles cannot support the weight of a helmet.
• When you ride in the street, stay on the right side in a single file.
• Avoid riding at night with young children.
• Wear neon, fluorescent, or brightly colored clothing so drivers will notice you.
• Take special care at intersections—look both ways twice—and always signal before turning or changing lanes.