May is Bicycle Safety Month! The weather is warmer, and everyone is eager to get outside and be active. If this is your activity of choice, here are five tips to keep your family safe while enjoying bike rides.

1. Why you should wear a helmet

Bike helmets reduce severe head injuries in children by 45% in the event of an unexpected fall or crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more children age 5 to 14 visit hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with bicycles than any other sport. It is important to wear a helmet when using any wheeled device including scooters, skateboards and in-line roller skates.

Helmets should be worn by children and adults every ride, every time.

2. Finding the proper fit

Use this easy three step process to properly fit a bike helmet:

1. Eyes. Put the helmet on your head and look up. You should see the bottom rim of the helmet. The helmet should fit firmly on the head and not move from side to side.
2. Ears. The straps should form a “V” under your ears when buckled. The straps should be a little tight but not uncomfortable.
3. Mouth. Say “Ahhh!!!” Open your mouth as wide as you can. Does the helmet hug your head? If not, tighten the straps.

3. Is your bike in safe condition?

Conduct a quick ABC Quick Check before your ride!

A is for Air: Be sure you have enough air in your tires. Check the sidewall of the tire and inflate tires to the rated pressure indicated.

B is for Brakes: Look to see that your brake pads and cables are not worn down. For hand brakes, give them a squeeze to check cable tightness.

C is for Chain and Cranks: Always check that your chain is clean (free of gunk) and lubricated (rust-free).

Don’t feel comfortable doing this on your own? Check out a local bike shop in your area.

4. Be safe. Be seen.

Do you know the rules of the ride? Always use proper hand signals to alert other road users of actions. Click here for a quick reference guide.

It is also helpful to familiarize yourself with bike laws in your local jurisdiction which can often be found on your local Department of Transportation website.

Wear bright colored and/or reflective clothing. For added safety, reflectors or head and rear lights can be added to your bike.

Avoid loose or draped clothing and secure shoes with laces to avoid them being caught in the bike chain, pedals or wheels.

5. Follow road rules

Help your child to understand the rules of the road when riding his or her bike. It’s important that your child know to ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against it; respect traffic signals, stopping at all stop signs and stop lights, and looking left, right, and left again before entering a street or crossing an intersection.

Additional Resources

• Bike Safety Tips from Safe Kids Worldwide
• The Helmet Fit Test