Please check your child's cycle
By shelagh77
@shelagh77 (3643)
April 24, 2007 4:51am CST
On the way home from the seaside we passed a great many cyclists, some of whom were only about eight years old and a little young to be out cycling late at night, but what shocked me was the very small nuber of cycles which actually had lights.
My Father used to check my bike and my brother's bike every week, making sure the lights and brakes worked, oiling the chain, checking the tyres etc. My brother used to try to copy him and then Dad had to put the bike back together, but that's another story lol.
If your child travels by cycle please check the bike over regularly and make sure your child knows how to do this. I know you are a great parent and I am not telling you how to do your job. The site of those kiddies playing in the near dark, near a major road, on cycles and with no lights or reflective gear really made my heart go into my mouth.
3 responses
@rainbow (6761)
•
25 Apr 07
Well done for noticing how many of our children seem to be light and reflector free, there's a big fuss about wearing a helmet but that's not much good to the truck coming up behind a wobbly 8 year old at twilight, there's so much body left to damage!
Shrek has lights on his bike as he is more likely to use it than the rest of us. I go on my bike with the tent on the back on the pavement in the daytime pulling a very heavy Roo, lol. Bong also goes on the pavement, I know we shpouldn't but I don't feel safe with them on the road and the cars scare me.
When they can both ride without stabilisors I will make sure they are as safe as I can.
Thank-you for reminding all our friends how important this is!
1 person likes this
@shelagh77 (3643)
•
19 Jul 07
You are most welcome. I wish I had had more people see this one as it is so important. Of course if the kiddies only go out in daylight with Mum and Dad it isn't so important but I have actually seen whole families returning from a lovely family cycling day out without a scrap of reflectives or light between them. So worrying and terrifying for drivers too.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
24 Apr 07
Oh yes there are a lot of children that go around here riding their bikes they do not have lights and also they do not wear helmets which by our laws have to and if they get caught well the parents will have to pay a fine for not doing this in regards to their bikes. Yes it is very important that the child knows how to check their bikes for their own safety. Better to be safe than sorry.
@shelagh77 (3643)
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19 Jul 07
Unfortunately cycle safety is not enforced very vigorously in this country. There is a lot of hoo and cry about children not being safe to play in the streets but basic safety measures such as those we are discussing are not followed, it is very baffling.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I bet that scared the heck out of you They ride a minibike here on my street ANd I see no lights on is altho it is a short street and a side street we dont get much traffic but we do have some nuts that drive to fast sometimes and it dose put a fright into you.
I never let my kids ride at night and on my bike I had lights and reflectors as did my kids bikes . and I always knew how to fix them, My youngest was great in fixing them.
@shelagh77 (3643)
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23 Jun 07
Yes, it is very frightening but the children themselves seem to have no fear whatsoever. It is very sad that people can not teach their children even basic safety sense to keep them alive!
Your point about your youngest being great at fixing them is also poignant in that many young people today have no hobbies and the absence of this type of occupation seems to lead to boredom and trouble.
