Home News RoSPA calling for better infrastructure to get more kids on their bikes

RoSPA calling for better infrastructure to get more kids on their bikes

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Getting children on their bikes for the journey to school is key to keeping them fit and healthy, as well as getting them more confident and safe on the road.

But parents and guardians are understandably wary of taking their children out on their bikes – that’s why the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is calling for better education, engineering and enforcement to help make Britain’s roads safe for kids to cycle.

As part of RoSPA’s Family Safety Week – www.familysafetyweek.org.uk – the charity is aiming to get more people, especially children, out cycling, and to do so will mean creating safer urban areas through investment in infrastructure.

Nick Lloyd, RoSPA’s road safety manager, said: “We need a generation of young people who feel safe and confident enough to cycle.

“In order to achieve that we need continued investment, and we welcome the Government’s announcement of dedicated funds for cycling routes and other infrastructure.

“We want to see as many young people cycling to school as possible, as the health benefits are huge. If carers are concerned about children cycling on our roads they should ensure they have access to the correct training through recognised training schemes at school or elsewhere.

“We are quick to seek tuition for our young drivers, young cyclists should be no different.”

For those wanting to take their children cycling, there are a number of things you need to do beforehand, such as ensuring that the bike is roadworthy by performing an “M check”.

Be sure to ask about training – most schools will offer Bikeability in years five and six – and ensure your child can safely control and ride the bike. You can do this by riding with them either off-road or in an area of light traffic. The adult should ride behind and slightly out into the road to protect them.

Plan the route to avoid busy junctions, and maximise your use of cycle routes and quiet roads even if that means it is a longer journey.

It is important that children always wear a helmet. Check that it fits properly – the chin strap needs to be securely fastened and it should be sufficiently low on the forehead. Do not be tempted to use a second hand helmet, even from a sibling, as it could be damaged.

If cycling off-road, stress the importance of not going too fast, as this can intimidate others, using the bell if you are approaching someone, giving way to others and being prepared to slow or stop if necessary, and keeping to the left or on your side of any dividing line.

Nick Lloyd added: “When riding on the road on the way to school, it is important to teach your children not to jump red lights or cycle on the pavement, unless along a designated cycle path.

“You should signal clearly at all times, ride in a position where you can be seen, and make eye contact with other road users, especially at junctions, as that way you will know they have seen you.”

Family Safety Week was set up by RoSPA in a bid to help millions of people protect their loved ones from accidents – the number one cause of early preventable death.

This year’s six-day event, which has a safer cycling theme, was launched by double Olympic champion James Cracknell, TV property expert and Family Safety Week ambassador Martin Roberts, and Nazan Fennell, a Birmingham-based campaigner whose 13-year-old daughter Hope was knocked off her bike and killed in 2011.

Advice and information is available at www.familysafetyweek.org.uk

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