Bicycle Safety for Children

Aaah the first day of summer.

Do you remember the feeling?

Spending most of your summer cruising around on your bike….

FREEDOM !

Children riding bikes is a welcome sight in summer. In Alpine County, at Diamond Valley School, they celebrate last day of school and kick off summer vacation with the time-honored "Bike-A-Thon". At this event, children K-2 practice bicycle safety and maneuvering in a Bike Rodeo Course set up by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Students in 3-8th grade then choose to ride a 4 K or an 8 K ride on a closed course. School staff and volunteer chaperones accompany the students along the beautiful course which weaves down Diamond Valley Road, past the former home of Snowshoe Thompson and a captivating beaver dam. On the ride students often need safety reminders. The most common reminders are to ride on the correct side of the road and to move over when a safety vehicle is passing through the course.

Officers from CHP's Bicycle Patrol Unit helped with safety on the course.

Celebrate the commencement of summer vacation by taking your children out for a celebratory bike ride in your neighborhood.

Review bicycle safety rules before you embark on your outing.

• Ride in the same direction as traffic, in the bike lane or on the furthest right edge of the roadway.
• Be alert for moving cars and don't assume the driver sees you.
• Be alert for occupied parked cars and doors that might swing open.
• Riding in circles and weaving can be fun, but keep those maneuvers to empty lots, etc. and ride in a straight line while on a bike path or roadway. 
• If turning left on a roadway, you will need to enter traffic and turn from the left side of the lane rather than cutting all the way over from the right hand side of the roadway. 
• Learn the correct hand signals for bicycles. The left hand is always used for signals. Straight out notifies people you are turning left. Holding your left hand out and bending at the elbow signals you will be turning lefts. Holding your left hand out and down indicates you will be stopping. 
• In California children (under 18 years) but wear a safety helmet. Actions speak louder than words so be sure you don a brain bucket as well. 
• Don't use headphones while riding. You will not be able to hear approaching cars, etc. 
• Bicycle riders must obey all traffic signs so be sure to stop at stop signs and signals and wait your turn when turning. 

Also be sure to check your bikes for safety and fit, making sure your child can reach at least one foot to the ground.  

For more in-depth bicycle safety tips, read the CHP's Bicycle Riding publication.