Bicycle safety

Bicycles are often integral elements of the comings and goings of teenagers’ daily lives. From commuting to school to achieving physical fitness to visiting friends’ houses, bicycles are important to teenagers. Biking provides liberation—a means of movement—that is especially significant before teenagers start to drive. Nevertheless, there are potential hazards to biking, and annually, hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits result from injuries due to bicycle accidents. And nearly a thousand people die each year because of such crashes. Accordingly, it is crucial for teenagers to understand the principles of basic bicycle safety. By following such guidelines, one will be able to use and enjoy his or her bicycle safely for many years.

Adolescents should take time to choose a bike that is the appropriate size and style. In order to obtain the appropriate advice on this purchase, it is a good idea to buy the bike at a local retailer that specializes in cycling or at a store that has an extensive department with knowledgeable staff. The price may be a bit higher, but the fit (and thus the safety) will, in all likelihood, be better. One should evaluate how the teenager will be using his or her bike (mountain riding, racing, leisure, transportation, etc.). In addition, when fitting the bicycle, the top bar of the frame should be about one inch from the teenager’s crotch. Use this measurement, not wheel circumference, when evaluating the fit.

The price of a bicycle may rise into thousands of dollars. Thus, there is a bike for every budget. Consider that the pricier a bicycle, the more attractive it is to thieves. Moreover, if the teenager is growing quickly, and one does not want to invest in multiple new bikes, one may also consider buying a used bike. If this is done, make sure that the bike’s safety is carefully evaluated before purchasing.

At the same time that one purchases a bicycle, one must also be fitted for a helmet. It is important that the teenager is fitted appropriately for a helmet; the helmet and straps should fit snugly on and around the head. Different cushions on the inside of the helmet may be switched to comfortably frame the head’s contour. On the inside of the helmet, one should be sure that there is a CPSC certification sticker—thereby ensuring the helmet meets the standards of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. One might also try out different types to make sure the helmet is properly ventilated.

Teenagers must always wear helmets when riding a bicycle. For some, wearing a helmet opposes one’s fashion sense—it may mess up one’s hair, cause one to feel sweaty, or may make one feel like he or she does not look “right.” However, statistics speak to the efficacy of wearing helmets each and every time that one rides a bike. About seventy to eighty percent of bicycle fatalities involve head injuries. Bicyclists who are not wearing helmets are fourteen times more likely to be involved in a deadly accident than helmeted bicyclists.

If possible, teens should avoid riding their bicycles at night. However, if a teenager must use his or her bicycle at night, he or she should be wearing the right safety gear. Such preparation for night riding includes wearing outerwear / backpack with reflector tape and attaching flashing lights to the helmet and a backpack. In addition, one should equip the bike with flashing lights and other reflector gear.

When biking, one should wear attire that does not interfere with proper function of the bicycle’s gears. Clothing may become entangled in the gears—ruining the clothes and also potentially causing further harm. Only closed-toed shoes should be used when riding a bike. In that they are also known to interfere with proper bicycle function, open-toed shoes are particularly hazardous and should be avoided. It is also best not to carry a bag or backpack directly on the body. Place the bag in a basket/carrier in either the front or back of the backpack. Not having this extra weight will lessen the burden on the body and also facilitate easier bicycle maneuvering.

If riding a bicycle in the winter, a teenager should be sure to dress appropriately by wearing warm gloves and outerwear. Seriously consider the effects of the wind and the cold on open skin before venturing out for a long ride when the temperature dips below freezing.

As motor vehicles are implicated in about ninety percent of bicycle-related deaths, it is essential for teenagers to understand and follow the rules of the road. One should carefully review the rules and make sure the teenager knows how to practice them. Of utmost importance is observing stoplights, stop signs, and using hand signals. Bicyclists should not go the wrong way on a one-way street since they share the roads with cars—and drivers are encased by a ton or two of steel. Thus teenagers must be able to bike close to the side of the road, in a manner that avoids weaving in and out of the main thoroughfare. It is safest for teenagers to ride their bikes in parks and on side streets. Riding on busy roads is not as pleasant and also poses more significant danger.

Under no circumstances should teenagers use portable radios, telephones or headphones while riding their bicycles. Such listening impairs their ability to hear traffic and focus on the road. In addition, a teenager must never carry another person or animal on his or her bike—unless carrying a young child on an appropriate seat. Transporting someone on the bicycle frame itself is a significant hazard to both parties.

And adolescents should avoid riding in inclement weather. Snow and rain may cause the roads to be especially icy or slippery. The ride may become particularly messy and potentially quite dangerous also.

Bicycles need yearly tune-ups. This continued maintenance assures that mechanical problems are identified before they pose significant harm to the teenager. Of particular importance are checking the brakes, the gears, and the tire pressure. A tune-up may make the difference in avoiding an accident—thus making the annual investment well spent.

Moreover, when riding his or her bicycle, a teenager should carry a flat tire kit and pump. It is also a good idea to carry some money when biking—in case one needs to call for assistance.

When riding for extensive periods of time, one should be sure to bring plenty of water and nourishment such as energy bars. One ought to continually drink water or power drinks while riding because thirst sets in after the body has been deprived of fluid for some time.

Bicycle related injuries account for nine hundred deaths annually in the United States with the peak incidence of injuries and fatalities occurring in the nine-to-fifteen-year-old age group. Males are at higher risk for injuries than females and the most serious injuries occur when there are collisions with motor vehicles. In adolescents, use of alcohol and substances and lack of helmet use has been associated with bicycle injuries.

Taking the proper precautions ensures years of biking enjoyment.

Samantha A. Goldstein M.D.

Department of Pediatrics

University of California, San Francisco

Related topics:

Accidents, athletic equipment, risk-taking, sun safety, travel