Schools in the Morongo Unified School District will start the 2017-18 school year Monday, August 21. Do you have fond memories of riding your bike to school as a kid? Reporter Rebecca Havely has tips to bring the joy of biking to school to your own children, and help them stay safe while they’re doing it.
To ensure a safe trip to school, a properly fitting bike helmet has been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent. Front and rear lights will make your child more visible to motorists. To be sure your child’s bike will still be at the rack at the end of the school day, buy a lock. A quick ding of a bell alerts pedestrians that a cyclist is coming their way on a shared-use path. Worried about your kid riding to school alone? Arrange a group ride with other children in your neighborhood. Practice safe traffic skills. Even kids who live too far from school to bike should learn the rules of the road. Sometimes, the most direct route to school isn’t the safest. Help your kids plot a route that has bike lanes, wide shoulders, and low traffic. The best way for your kids to learn bike-handling skills? Just let them ride. Take them to a grassy field or BMX park where they can fall without worrying about cars and road rash. They’ll build balance and confidence while having fun.
RIDE YOUR BIKE BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY
