With the nicer weather, more and more people are getting out their bicycles to spend time outdoors. I’m blessed to live in the Greater Vancouver area where cities and municipalities have set up multiple bicycle paths, as well as skate and bike parks. However, I was recently reminded of the importance of teaching children about using their bicycles safely in the community.

I was walking through a parking lot at a local office complex when I was nearly run down by a couple of children on their bicycles. The children, in their tweens, were using the parking lot and wheelchair ramp into the office building as a track to race their bicycles. The experience brought to mind the many dangers this practice poses for both the riders and other pedestrians who may be using the area: an elderly person may not have been able to move out of the way as quickly as I was able to when the bikes came racing out onto the sidewalk, a driver may have opened a car door into the bikers’ paths as they sped by either knocking them off their bikes or causing them to swerve dangerously, a car may have been backing up and the young riders might not have had time to get out of the way, and so on.

Before allowing your children to ride their bicycles, be sure they understand the rules of the road and adhere to them. Remind them of the following bicycle safety rules:

• The rules of the road apply to car parks the same as any other road
• Riding on sidewalks is generally prohibited for anyone over 8 years of age
• Always be aware of your surroundings including pedestrians, drivers, and other cyclists and be prepared to avoid hazards that may appear suddenly
• Ride in control
• Be respectful and use areas as they are intended

Bicycling is a wonderful activity for youth and should be encouraged. If your neighbourhood does not currently have a skate and bike park where youth can ride their bikes and practice tricks on ramps and bars in a safe area, advocate to have one installed.

Kind regards,
Elizabeth