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Childhood and bicycling riding often come hand in hand. Some of our greatest memories of being a kid involve a bike ride to school, a bicycle excursion through the street with the neighborhood kids, or that unforgettable bike ride with mom and dad. Regardless of the memory, children love to ride bikes as a fun activity, a means of transportation, and a way to get some extra exercise. Ensuring that your children are safe stems from proper communication of the most important bicycle riding safety tips. A study by kidshealth.org has revealed that a half a million children are seriously injured every year in bicycle accidents.

Below is a list of the top 5 tips that all bike riding kids should know:

1. The Right Helmet: wearing a helmet while riding is not a new concept. Children often choose a helmet that suites their personalities, and while decorative helmets are OK, make sure that the helmet fits correctly and that the straps are secured at all times.

2. Color it up: when it comes to your children on a bicycle, the brighter the outfit the better. Bright colored clothing makes riders more visible during both the day and night.

3. The Right Bike: kids grow incredibly fast, parents must consistently check to make sure that the bicycle is the proper size for the child’s stature. The seat should be placed at a height where the leg is still slightly bent at the lowest point of pedal rotation.

4. When the sun goes down: nightly bicycle rides are far more dangerous than those that take place during the day. A great general rule of thumb for your children: be home before the sun goes down.

5. Know the Rules: ensure that your children know all of the rules of the road. Any child riding a bike must have a general understanding of traffic signals, construction work, stop signs, and most importantly, to be aware of the vehicles around them.

With these rules instilled in our children, we can all feel more comfortable sending them to embark on their childhood bicycle memories. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, call Larmoyeux & Bone today for a free consultation.

While the beautiful Florida weather lends to frequent resident bike rides, the leisurely activity also presents quite a risk. As cyclists ourselves, we find it helpful to continually stay up-to-date on bicycle safety. There are upwards of 85 million bicycle riders within the United States. Unfortunately, about 550,000 of those riders suffer from bicycle injuries while on the road. Staying current on safety tips and maintaining an alert attitude while riding will help to curtail this number.

At Larmoyeux & Bone, we have formulated a list of our top 10 bicycle safety tips. Take a look and pass them on to your friends in the cycling community.

1. Be Aware of Surroundings: bicycle riders do not have the luxury to “cruise” without paying constant attention to their surroundings. Beyond nearby traffic, be sure to adhere to traffic lights, crosswalks, and cars attempting to turn in your direct bike path.

2. Turning Signals: using arm movements to notify a motorist upon a turn is an essential component to safe riding. For instance, prior to making a left turn, look first and then raise your left arm to indicate your intent to turn. Always double-check for oncoming traffic before turning.

3. Bike Path Awareness: bike paths are incredible resources for the cycling community. Do not disregard these precious paths. Alas, motorists do not always share the road as they should. Respect the bike path and, when possible, use it at all times.

4. Car Door Calamity: it may seem silly, but bicyclists are injured riding into an opened car door rather often. A rider is passing quickly a car and the car door unexpectedly flings open, inflicting a hard, sudden impact. Avoid this by riding far to the left and being extra alert while passing parked cars.

5. Careful Crosswalks: when promoted by the cross light, biking through a crosswalk may seem like a full-proof way of safely crossing the road. However, drivers making a right turn at a red light may not spot a biker crossing from the other direction. Be aware of right on red drivers as you cross a street.

6. Passing Problems: when riding on the road and a car passes, heading towards a stoplight, be sure to pay attention to the car’s intentions. Once a car passes, if they slow to make a right and you are directly behind them, you run the risk of rear-ending the vehicle.

7. Ride with Traffic: riding in the same direction as the traffic may seem like a no-brainer, however, many cyclists ride against traffic. Riding in the wrong direction poses a great threat to the rider. Be sure to always ride in the direction of traffic.

8. Take the Lane: when a bike path is not present, many riders tend to stay to the right side of the driving lane. When in this situation, it is best to take the whole lane, if possible. In this case, you are not only more visible to drivers, but you ensure that no cars will pass you.

9. Keep it Quiet: listening to music while riding is a common practice. We do it ourselves. Nevertheless, the volume level must be at a low. A large portion of bicycle safety involves being aware of surroundings and ears a crucial aspect of that awareness.

10. The Ultimate Protection: it seems silly to include helmets as a tip, but so many cyclists still fail to wear one. Countless bicycle accidents have become manageable due to the protection provided by a helmet. If you are on two wheels, you must wear a helmet…no matter what!

Keep these tips in mind while out on your next bike ride. An aware rider is a safe rider. At Larmoyeux & Bone, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of injured cyclists. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a bicycle accident, call us today.