– presented by
Jim Shanman, for the CCBC
Teaching kids early how to ride their bikes safely, and the value of fun exercise, builds confidence in their abilities and lays a good foundation for them to build on as they get older.
There are few things in life more enjoyable than teaching a child to ride a bike. It’s pure joy helping them learn to focus and balance, watching their excitement as they start to pedal while running alongside, being entrusted to hold them steady, then seeing their disbelief turn to joy when they realize there is no one holding on, and that they are actually riding – on their own. There is great pride – for everyone – as they learn to stay upright for first one house length, then three, then the whole street and eventually around the block. Talk about a Kodak moment.
One way to encourage children to ride is to get them involved at the start. Adding a child carrier to your bike so you can bring them along on your ride is a good place to begin. There are several to choose from, each with a different level of comfort and safety, including child seats, carriers and trailers. Check with friends, bike shops and online reviews to determine the best option for you. Tip: Balance, braking and acceleration will all change with any type of carrier, so once you add an attachment, try riding a little while without your child to help get used to the feel.
When you are ready to ride, be sure to be prepared. Start with a helmet for both you and your little riding partner. Make it mandatory – no helmet, no ride. Using this simple rule to set precedent this early is not only the safe thing to do, but will help reduce future battles over wearing helmets. Also, take extra snacks, water and, if you’re taking a child still in diapers, don’t forget an extra set and clothes too. You don’t want an unexpected accident to ruin an otherwise perfect day.
At some point your child will tire of the carrier and want to learn to pedal alone. Here is where tricycles and other simple, pedal-powered vehicles are great. Getting children used to the pedaling motion is an important first step. From here they can move on to a two-wheeled bike, most likely with training wheels. Sometime between the ages of four and seven though, the child will want to ride without the training wheels. And this is when the fun begins.
To help kids learn the balance and control required to ride on their own, some adjustments to the bike will need to be made. One or both of the training wheels can be raised or removed, or the pedals may be removed, as well. Some parents choose for their kids small bikes without pedals (since their feet never really leave the ground, bikes without pedals help kids learn to balance on their own while they propel themselves at their own pace). Whatever the decision, always remember that children need to be comfortable so they can learn at their own pace. Once they do get comfortable, it’s time for the next step: removing the trainers.
Once the trainers are off, find a safe, quiet area to practice. If the sidewalks in your neighborhood don’t provide that, try a vacant parking lot. Patience is important here, so try repeating these three basic thoughts for them to focus on: Hold on tight, look straight ahead and don’t stop pedaling. Start by holding onto their handlebars and seat back as you help them balance. Run alongside and let go first of the handlebars and then the seat.
If it doesn’t work at first, and it probably won’t, don’t worry, it will eventually. Remind them that they will fall, but that’s OK, we all do. Use positive reinforcement and, eventually, their confidence will replace fear and off they’ll go, and both parent and child will revel in the satisfaction of success.
Soon the child will graduate to a slightly larger bike to grow into. Don’t go too big though. It’s important that their feet can touch the ground when they are sitting on the seat and that they can handle the braking and steering easily. Continue to stress safety issues: Stop at corners and alleys, walk across intersections and always wear a helmet.
Once your children learn to ride, orchestrating a family ride is a wonderful way to enjoy fresh air, exercise and quality time together. Be careful to keep your rides within the limits of your youngest rider. For instance, the Ballona Creek Bike Path provides a wonderful, traffic-free route, but the hills under the overpasses can be challenging for little ones just starting out.
In time, you’ll be leaving the safe confines of your neighborhood and riding to school, running a few errands and heading down the bike path to the beach for a day – all without getting in a car.
Bike Safe, Bike Smart! is a weekly column to promote responsible cycling by providing information, education and advice about riding. It’s written by members of the Culver City Bicycle Coalition (CCBC), a local chapter of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. Join them for their family bike ride, the last Sunday of every month. For more information and to submit questions, write ccbicyclecoalition@gmail.com, and visit blog culvercitybc.wordpress.com/.
Samantha learned to ride without training wheels at age four. By seven, she was ready for a multi-gear bike with handbrakes. She’s proud of being able to ride the eight-mile round trip to the beach via Ballona Creek Bike Path.