Kids Bikes

Introducing Children to riding a bicycle.

The following excerpt is supplied by Vicroads:

To get your child started, follow these tips:
• Right size - parents should ensure that a child’s first bike is the right size and be prepared to change the child to bigger bikes as the child grows.
• Supervise - when introducing a child to riding, parents should be prepared to spend a lot of time supervising while the child masters the skills of balancing, steering and braking. Choose a flat, open space away from traffic with a surface that is suitable for falling on. A helmet should be worn whenever the child rides.
• Give lots of practice - once the basic skills are mastered, the child should be given as many opportunities to ride under supervision as the family can manage. Use bike paths. While under the age of 12, children and adults supervising them can legally ride on the footpath – but remember to give way to pedestrians on footpaths and shared footways.
• Be aware of driveways - parents should demonstrate to children that driveways and intersections must be approached with caution. Riding on to the road from a driveway is particularly risky for children as parked vehicles can obscure their presence from oncoming drivers.
• Support Bike Ed - parents should find out if their child’s school teaches Bike Ed to children in grades 4, 5 and 6. Many schools would appreciate parental help in running the on-road component of Bike Ed.
• Don’t ride at night - children should not ride at night. Special equipment (lights, visibility vests), acute traffic awareness and understanding of driver behaviour and sophisticated skills are needed.
• Assess skills - parents need to observe their child’s cycling behaviour when they are alone or with one or more friends to assess their readiness for more independent cycling.