Teaching Cycling to Children

Ideas for Teaching Cycling to Children

by Fred Oswald, LCI #947

We must give our children the best information available. This will make them safer and provide a lifelong source of healthy exercise. The general concept can be summarized in two simple sentences:

1. A bike is not a toy, it is a child’s first vehicle.
2. Drive your bike.

Need for Cycling Education

“Bike Safety” is usually taught by uninformed “authority figures” (parents, teachers, police).
“Bike Safety” lacks a planned program. They make it up as they go.
Much of what is taught is wrong (see below). Some is dangerously wrong.
Most people ride dangerously because they were mis-taught.

Why Concentrate on Children

Children have fewer preconceptions about what they know.
Children are accustomed to being taught.
Many children depend on bikes for their own transportation.
Opportunities include schools, after-school programs, youth groups and community recreation.
In teaching children, we can (and must) reach the parents.
Cycling is a lifelong activity that helps combat a sedentary lifestyle and obesity that starts in childhood.

Opportunities for Educational Programs

See the reference section below for parents’ hand-outs and materials for training volunteers.

Bike Rodeos provide a “one shot” program.
- Rodeo is only a start — must not be the only educational activity.
- Requires a few properly trained people to run program. (Get help from a cycling club.)
- Best benefit of rodeo is opportunity to teach the parents. (Give them “Parent’s Guide” below.)
- Beware of rodeo that degenerates into a trick riding contest.
“Kids” Bicycle Driving Class.
- These are classes taught by a certified “League Cycling Instructor” (see below).
- Kids I is a presentation & optional 3-hour practice for kids & their parents.
- Kids II is on-road instruction tailored for children.
“Bike Club” after school
- This requires a properly trained advisor who enjoys cycling.
- Program combines skills practice with recreational rides.
- Activities must be fun as well as properly supervised.
- Parents must be taught enough so they understand the program.
Scout programs
- Cub Scout parents should be given a Kids I program & given “Parent’s Guide” (see below).
- Boy Scout cycling merit badge is good source.
- Scouts can use “Bike Quiz” as activity. (Use Street Smarts for reference.)
Training the teachers.
- Arrange an adult bicycle diving course for leaders.
- Send a few leaders to an instructor workshop.
- Provide good reading materials for leaders (see below).
- Ask for help from your local cycling club.

Avoid Repeating BAD ADVICE!

“It’s not what he doesn’t know that troubles me. It’s what he knows for sure that just ain’t so.”
— Will Rogers

A major problem with traditional “bike safety” programs is that the people conducting the effort have little cycling experience and no training. They are not properly informed about the subject. Indeed, they are usually misinformed.. As a result, they repeat bad safety advice because it “sounds good.” See below for several examples of typical bad advice with a brief explanation for why it is wrong.

Bad Advice

Why the Advice Is Wrong

“Stay out of the way of cars.” There are situations where it is safer to obviously be in the way. For example, if the travel lane is not wide enough to share with passing traffic, move LEFT so following drivers are not tempted to “squeeze by”. At intersections and driveways, cyclists who try to stay out of the way by riding on sidewalks tend to “appear out of nowhere” and get hit. Experienced cyclists, who stay in the travel lane, are easily seen and avoided.

“The roads are too dangerous for bikes.” While safety can always be improved, a knowledgeable cyclist on the road is actually pretty safe. The alternatives (sidewalks, multi-purpose paths or separate bike lanes) are significantly more dangerous. The roads are safe because the “rules of the road” make traffic orderly and predictable. The only rule of the road for sidewalks and paths is that there are no rules.

“Always ride on the sidewalk” Sidewalk cycling at moderate speed has about double the collision risk as the adjacent road. This risk goes up with speed. Drivers do not look for fast traffic on the sidewalk. Sidewalk cycling is moderately safe only at walking speed.

“You could be dead right.” You are more likely to be “dead-wrong”. This is often part of a fear campaign. We don’t teach swimming that way. When you have the right of way, use it. You are much better off riding predictably and acting like you know what you are doing. Of course, defensive driving is always wise — plan an escape route, just in case.

“Ride as far right as possible” This is a misinterpretation of the law that actually says ride “as near to the right side as practicable” (practice+able). There are several situations where “hugging the curb” is not safe. These include where the right lane is not wide enough to share with a passing vehicle and if there are hazards at the edge of the road, or where other drivers can see you better if you move left. Always maintain a “safety zone” to your right.

“Ride as though other drivers can’t see you.” It is usually much better to make sure other drivers CAN see you. This means, use lights at night, wear bright clothes in daytime and ride in or near the travel lane where other drivers are looking for traffic.

“Always signal before turning.” Signal when you can but not if you risk losing control of your bike. It is much more important to YIELD to any traffic that has the right of way.

“Always STOP at stop signs.” That’s what the sign says. The problem is this ignores the most important function of a stop sign. It is much more important to YIELD to any traffic that has the right of way. Stopping complies with only part of the law.

“Drivers are crazy.” This is often part of a fear campaign. Actually, most U.S. drivers are pretty good. Almost everyone obeys the most important rules of the road. This makes travel fairly safe and efficient.

Helmets provide “courage for your head.” This is an irresponsible advertising slogan that implies a helmet makes dangerous riding OK. It is much better to prevent a crash than just to survive one. A helmet is your last line of defense. Good to have one, but far from the most important aspect of safety on a bike.

Resources & Materials (both adult – reference & kids or parents info.)

Bicycling Street Smarts by John Allen (commercial edition, 46 page booklet). This is a good concise reference for proper cycling technique.
Ohio Bicycling Street Smarts, issued by Ohio Dept. of Public Safety. Available at some city halls, license bureaus, etc. or call ODOT, 614-644-7095. Other states that have a similar “bicycle driver’s manual” include Pennsylvania and Florida.
Effective Cycling, by John Forester, published by MIT Press, 1993 a terrific reference (but difficult for beginners).
Cycling Savvy courses Consult a Cycling Savvy instructor for your program.
Bicycle Driving Seminar by the author.
North Carolina Coalition for Bicycle Driving, an excellent summary of “vehicular cycling” technique.
Effective Cycling Training. Describes proper training for cyclists. Courses for age 8 to adult.
Effective Cycling at the Intermediate Level by John Forester, for students in grades 3 to 7.
Where to Ride by Bob Bayn. A great little flyer for adults that covers the basics.
Bike Safety for Kids – A Parent’s Guide
Bicycle Rodeos by John Andersen. How to get the most out of a rodeo.
Teaching Children How to Bicycle Safely Advice for parents about instructing their kids. Bicycling Street Smarts or similar source of information should be provided. 1/2 page, 2-side flyer plus 1/2 pg answer sheet, (pdf file).

For comments or questions, contact fredoswald_AT_yahoo_DOT_com.
The author is a certified Bicycling Safety Instructor, and a Professional Engineer in Ohio.
Minor update 10/30/15

Bad Advice	Why the Advice Is Wrong
“Stay out of the way of cars.”	There are situations where it is safer to obviously be in the way. For example, if the travel lane is not wide enough to share with passing traffic, move LEFT so following drivers are not tempted to “squeeze by”. At intersections and driveways, cyclists who try to stay out of the way by riding on sidewalks tend to “appear out of nowhere” and get hit. Experienced cyclists, who stay in the travel lane, are easily seen and avoided.
“The roads are too dangerous for bikes.”	While safety can always be improved, a knowledgeable cyclist on the road is actually pretty safe. The alternatives (sidewalks, multi-purpose paths or separate bike lanes) are significantly more dangerous. The roads are safe because the “rules of the road” make traffic orderly and predictable. The only rule of the road for sidewalks and paths is that there are no rules.
“Always ride on the sidewalk”	Sidewalk cycling at moderate speed has about double the collision risk as the adjacent road. This risk goes up with speed. Drivers do not look for fast traffic on the sidewalk. Sidewalk cycling is moderately safe only at walking speed.
“You could be dead right.”	You are more likely to be “dead-wrong”. This is often part of a fear campaign. We don’t teach swimming that way. When you have the right of way, use it. You are much better off riding predictably and acting like you know what you are doing. Of course, defensive driving is always wise — plan an escape route, just in case.
“Ride as far right as possible”	This is a misinterpretation of the law that actually says ride “as near to the right side as practicable” (practice+able). There are several situations where “hugging the curb” is not safe. These include where the right lane is not wide enough to share with a passing vehicle and if there are hazards at the edge of the road, or where other drivers can see you better if you move left. Always maintain a “safety zone” to your right.
“Ride as though other drivers can’t see you.”	It is usually much better to make sure other drivers CAN see you. This means, use lights at night, wear bright clothes in daytime and ride in or near the travel lane where other drivers are looking for traffic.
“Always signal before turning.”	Signal when you can but not if you risk losing control of your bike. It is much more important to YIELD to any traffic that has the right of way.
“Always STOP at stop signs.”	That’s what the sign says. The problem is this ignores the most important function of a stop sign. It is much more important to YIELD to any traffic that has the right of way. Stopping complies with only part of the law.
“Drivers are crazy.”	This is often part of a fear campaign. Actually, most U.S. drivers are pretty good. Almost everyone obeys the most important rules of the road. This makes travel fairly safe and efficient.
Helmets provide “courage for your head.”	This is an irresponsible advertising slogan that implies a helmet makes dangerous riding OK. It is much better to prevent a crash than just to survive one. A helmet is your last line of defense. Good to have one, but far from the most important aspect of safety on a bike.