For some the cycling season may soon be coming to a close, but for those Down Under the season is just starting…and of course, there are some hard-core cyclists who will continue throughout the winter; either rolling on through -40C weather, or who live in climates where it doesn’t get below zero too often. Whether your cycling enthusiasts are 7, 42, or 74, safety must always be something to think of ahead of time for after an incident it is, of course, too late. Today I’m going to share some cycling safety tips with you for all ages.
This post contains affiliate links from which I may receive a small commission. Thank you to SJ Works for providing us with First Aid Bike Kits.
Often times one just wants to get out on the open road and enjoy the wind in your hair as you cycle. However, safety knowledge has increased and you should no longer have that feeling if you are sensible and wear a helmet. My husband, Phil, knows that all too well after he was run off the road on his commute to work last summer. Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet and it was this helmet that was cracked and not his skull. He picked himself up and continued on to work until lunchtime when a colleague drove him home. Where he stayed for the next three weeks suffering from a concussion, scrapes, bruising, and soreness. I hate to think what could have happened if Phil hadn’t been wearing his helmet to cushion and protect his skull and brain….
Our children are growing up always having worn a helmet; whereas Phil’s only been wearing one a couple of years, and since I haven’t been on a bike since I was living in Japan, I have never worn a helmet. It’s a safer world for cyclists of all ages, and as earth-friendly travel is becoming more commonplace (at the same time, unfortunately, as there are more vehicles on the road), bicycle safety is an important topic.
10 Cycling Safety Tips For All Ages
1. Remember that confidence takes time! Some children (and adults) may feel more confident than they really are, while others will feel uneasy and unstable for some time after they look stable and confident. Remind them to challenge themselves while at the same time knowing their limits and weighing up any consequences.
2. Learn how to signal – and this goes for adults as well! I always notice when there’s a cyclist on the road who lets drivers know what they plan to do. It makes the road a safer place for everyone. And if you’re driving a vehicle, this goes for you, too – signal so that other road and sidewalk users know your intentions.
3. Ride in designated cycle lanes when they’re available. Sometimes these are on the road surface, while at other times they’re marked off on sidewalks/footpaths. And don’t forget to keep these areas clear when you’re in a vehicle or out walking…not doing so can be dangerous for all (see my cycling adventure in Japan).
4. Kit up your bike with a working bell, lights on both the front and back, as well as a good dose of reflective materials (tape, stickers, reflectors), and don’t forget to also make yourself visible from the sides as well as the front and back.
5. Clothing is also an important part of cycling.
- Make sure it’s light in colour so it’s more visible (jackets, shoes, and backpacks with reflective strips are great)…note to self…buy Tristan a new jacket next year for cycling!
- Make sure no part of your clothing will catch on any part of your bike.
- Make sure you are able to hear and see well if you have a hat or hood on.
6. Keep your bike in good maintenance. Preventative upkeep is key. It isn’t very difficult and even children can learn how to check their tires and oil a chain. There are plenty of life-skills involved here! My children had fun putting together a bike kit for Phil for Father’s Day, but this would be equally fun any day as a surprise for either adults or children.
7. As I mentioned above, helmets are simply a must. Children will outgrow them, just as they outgrow the rest of their clothes, so ensure the helmet fits them well throughout the year, and factor the cost of purchasing new helmets into your yearly budget.
8. Ensure children know the rules of the road for every situation, not just cycling. Sometimes learning things like this can be a bore, but check out Tales Of The Road, which has some great resources for parents, as well as some fun games and information for kids.
9. Ensure your children know their skills well before taking them out away from home. It’s better to be near the comforts of home when learning to ride than miles away in unfamiliar surroundings. Set up little courses for kids to practice with to keep them learning and having fun. This is how we started, and the kids still like using this method for a change of pace, now.
10. Carry a first aid kit with you when you go out cycling. They’re now available from SJ Works and Amazon in 3 designs so you’ll be sure to find one to fit your bike. Super Joan sent us two kits; one for Phil to use on his commute to work, as well as another that fits on Tristan’s bike for when the kids are out with me.
Have a look inside these kits; you’ll see they’re filled with the basics and there’s room to spare for you to add your own items as well (think inhalers, emergency antihistamine, boo-boo stickers, emergency contact numbers, etc.). In fact, these kits include (contents may vary slightly depending on the kit):
- American Red Cross First Aid Guide
- 6 Antiseptic Towelettes
- 5 Bandages 3 x 1″
- 5 Bandages 3 x .75″
- 5 Junior Bandages 1.5 x 3/8″
- 5 Butterfly wound closures
- 2 Sterile non-adherent pads 2 x 3″
- 2 Sterile non-woven sponges 2 x 2″
- 1 Sterile eye pad
- 1 Pressure Bandage 2 x 2″
- 1 Pressure Bandage 3 x 3″
- 1 Triangular Bandage 42 x 42 x 59″
- 1 First aid tape roll 1/2″ x 10 yrds
- 1 Emergency blanket 38 x 60″
- 1 SJ Works reflective strip
They fit easily onto the bikes using the velcro strips sewn right onto the kits. Tristan’s kit didn’t fit where it was intended to go under his seat, but we were able to find a spot for it that works well. In addition to the under-seat design, they come in one to fit under the front cross bar, or near the handle bars, which is where Phil’s kit lives.
Phil’s case is designed so that it can hold a mobile phone which could be handy for using a map or GPS; although I wouldn’t recommend using earphones with it as it’s important to be able to hear what’s going on around you.
Now that everyone is prepared for an accident (and remember, it’s not just you that may benefit from carrying a first aid kit; you may come across someone else who is in need), I feel better. I’ve been carrying some form of first aid kit with me almost at all times for years…you just never know when it might come in handy. Think of it as a piece of insurance and peace of mind.
Sue Hull says
I could have used one when the elevator got my finger when I was trying to hold it open. Thank you for the chance ☺
renee says
I needed one when I cut my finger on a knife in the kitchen.
Sherri J says
I was at the park with the kids and my daughter fell and skinned her knee. I really needed some antiseptic for it.
Brandon Sparks says
Last year when my daughter fell off her bike. She got hurt pretty bad..
Lisa Queen says
I could have used one the other day when I took my grandson to the park to play and he got cut on some glass. Thanks!
Stephanie Phelps says
A couple of weeks ago when we went to the pumpkin patch and my granddaughter fell and scraped her knee and hands up!
Richard Brandt says
I was carrying the cat’s water dish from the porch, slipped and cracked my head on a corner of the brick wall.
Vickie@Vickie's Kitchen and Garden says
It’s always good to have a first aid kit available. We bike ride and 4 wheel a lot so they are handy to have.
kelly tierce says
The last time I needed one and didn’t have one was on a school field trip when my daughter fell and gashed her knee open. Still trying to figure out why noone from the school had one.
Sheila K. says
I cut my thumb with a knife a couple of weeks ago but I was home so I had access to my supplies.
chickie brewer says
I Think it happen about 2 years ago when there was a curb and I went through it too fast.
Julie Terry says
I could have used one last night when my 2 year old decided it would be a great idea to play tag in the house and she was running and fell down and scraped up her knee on the floor.
Stephanie Grant says
Actually, we went on my son’s 4th-grade field trip yesterday which involved hiking and caves and there was a couple of times we could have used a first-aid kit but didn’t have one on hand from a few scrapes and cuts.
desiree says
i use my fist aid kit all the time i have them in my back pack and then when we ride an when i walk the dogs
Shannon F says
I am honestly blanking on a time I needed a first aid kit and didn’t have one BUT I’m hoping to win one of these great kits for my Girl Scout troop! I can’t be in charge of 12 crazy girls and not be prepared! lol
Crystal McClean says
Absolutely!
Carrie miyake says
I could have used a first aid kit a couple weeks ago while walking into my daughter’s karate class. Both her and my husband reached for the door at the same time, when she grasped the door, her thumb slid into the lock hole and when my husband pulled the door open, it sliced the side of her thumb pretty bad.
Crystal McClean says
Ouch! I hope she was able to practice that day.
Nicole Lancaster says
The last time I could of used a First Aid Kit was when I was riding my bike in the desert . I hit some loose dirt and wiped out. I scraped up and cut my leg and arm badly.
Leah Shumack says
We were at the amusement park and my daughter fell and cut open her shin a bit. Blood everywhere and we were headed to a ride. Had to get her situated so we could go nearby and start getting everything to get her cleaned up.
Richard Hicks says
We could have used one when we were at the amusement park this summer
Pam Halligan says
I could have used a first aid kit a couple weeks ago. My sister was walking barefoot and slipped off a concrete step, scraping her foot badly. All I had were some wet wipes.
Jessica Lily says
These kits look so handy! I love cycling around the country lanes, and these look like they’d be easy to carry.
Crystal says
They really are; even my children can take them along without any trouble! And you know that those deserted lanes are where you’re likely to have the need for some first aid.
Jen R says
I needed a first aid kit last Saturday when my family went to a festival and one of my kids fell and skinned their knee.
Linda says
I could have used a first aid kit this summer when I got a really bad scrape outside.
Ann Fantom says
I wish I had a first aid kit when we were on vacation and my daughter fell on the boardwalk and cut her leg bad.
angie depue says
just yesterday my lil girl fell when we were at the park and I didn’t have a first aid kit! This would be great to have!!
Abigail Gibson says
I was hiking and took a fall and did not have a first aid kit available at out cabin rental.
Brenda Penton says
When we were on our favourite walking trail and my husband slipped and fell into a pond and cut his leg open on the rocks.
Crystal McClean says
That sounds painful, not to mention messy.
Terri says
When we went on a cookout at a state park, we could have used a first aid kit.
Darlene Owen says
I could have used one when we went bike riding.
Crystal McClean says
Then this would be perfect for you!
Melissa Storms says
We were fishing and I cut my finger and could really have used a first aid kit.