Lake Nona is considered one of the most bike-friendly areas of Orlando, offering many trails, paths, and parks for bicyclists and pedestrians alike to enjoy. And with so many families living in the area, kids are often bustling about on bikes, whether it is riding to school or exploring the outdoors. But even though Lake Nona is a great place to go car-free, there are still precautions to keep in mind, especially when it comes to your children.
March is the second-highest month for pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities collectively across Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and Brevard counties. So throughout March, 14 law enforcement agencies across each county are on a mission to save lives with the launch of Operation Vision Zero, a multi-jurisdictional, high-visibility enforcement and public awareness campaign calling on drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians to exercise greater caution, and obey Florida’s traffic safety laws when on the road.
With this in mind, it’s the perfect time to review some basic rules and guidelines for you and your family when it comes to biking and road safety. Following these rules can safeguard you and your children when on the road.
Ensure your children know the rules of the road.
If you have kids who love riding their bikes, it’s important to review the rules of the road with them. One of the most crucial ones is that bikes are considered legal vehicles and must follow the same laws as cars. This means heeding traffic signs and lights, riding with traffic, and signaling when turning. Make sure to remind your kids to obey traffic signs and signals, ride with traffic, and, if they’re riding at night, have lights and reflectors on their bikes. Remember to also let your kids know they need to follow certain rules when walking, such as walking on the left side of the road when there aren’t sidewalks and yielding to cars when there’s no crosswalk.
By law, kids must wear their helmets.
It’s one of the most classic rules to follow when biking, but it’s still crucial to remind your children to strap on their helmets before they hit the road. In fact, by law, children under the age of 16 must wear a helmet while riding a bike – but no matter your age, wearing a helmet is always the safest way to ride. Helmets, when properly fitted and secure, offer protection in the event they fall off their bike.
Keep it to one child per bike.
Another important rule to uphold with your kids is to only allow one person per bike. Not only is it the law, but it’ll prevent accidents from happening as having another person on the bike is distracting and can obstruct their view or even throw them off their balance. If you have more than one child who wishes to ride a bike, make sure that they each have their own.
Always remind children of the basics.
“Look both ways” is a staple of road safety, whether you’re riding a bike or taking a stroll. It’s a good tip to tell your children to walk their bikes across the street and to make sure they check both ways. As part of this, take the time to remind your children to simply be aware of their surroundings and look out for cars, pedestrians, and other bicyclists. The basic act of staying alert is crucial in keeping safe on the road, whether they’re biking or walking.
According to Accident Analysis & Prevention, 600 children per day are sent to the emergency room due to bike-related accidents. Reviewing the rules with your kids is a key component to preventing accidents and injuries.
