Family Bike Riding: Why Wearing a Helmet is a Must

With the approach of spring, many families are making plans to spend time in the beautiful weather (when it's not pouring rain!) and take in the colorful sights of the season. As they prepare to bike on one of their local trails to enjoy blooming flowers and sunshine, parents need to remember to make sure everyone in their family wears a bicycle helmet. This means you too mom and dad!

While most parents are aware of the importance of wearing a helmet, they may be less willing to obstruct their own view of the flowers and weather while biking themselves. Take these reminders into consideration and make sure that helmets are a part of your families spring biking fun.

Helmets Prevent Head Injuries

Thousands of children end up in the E.R. each year with head injuries that could have been prevented had they been wearing helmets. Taking a tumble off a bike may be a normal part of childhood; however, some tumbles could lead to bumps, bruises, and injuries that may turn serious.

Rather than risk your children’s safety, parents can protect their kids from head injuries by making sure they have their helmets on while riding their bikes.

Bike Safety is Never Guaranteed

Even if your kids are expert riders, you cannot guarantee that other bikers are. If another biker crashes into your family, those who are wearing helmets may escape the worse physical trauma.

Children, in particular, could suffer devastating injuries to their heads and necks as the result of a crash. If they are wearing a helmet, they may walk away from the accident with only scratches.

Helmets Protect Against Falling Objects

Hand and thumb injuries are quite common in sports and sometimes require a brace to help them heal. Braces can protect a sprained thumb from further injury when doing daily activities at home or at play. This is something parents can anticipate, but many forget about the threat of falling objects as they are out biking.

If you are out biking in a public park, I'm sure there are people playing football, baseball, soccer, tennis, and other sports close by. Getting hit in the head with a flying piece of sports equipment can be painful, if not downright dangerous. They can protect themselves and their kids from pop-fly baseballs, speeding tennis balls, and hurtling footballs by wearing helmets as they bike around the public park.

Also, remember trails can have falling rocks!

Local Law May Require Helmet Usage

More cities across the country are mandating that bicyclists wear helmets when they are out on public trails. If parents are in one of those cities, they can avoid paying fines and being under the scrutiny of law enforcement by making sure that everyone in the group is wearing their helmets.

Public parks and trails are actively patrolled by law enforcement officials assigned to those areas. They have no problem stopping families and giving people tickets for not wearing their helmets. They may even insist that people get off their bikes and walk the rest of the trail. This hassle can be avoided if people remember to wear their helmets while biking.

Many people take to the trails and parks to bicycle and enjoy the spring weather. As you enjoy this seasonal activity, remember to wear your helmets! Stay safe!!

2/21/18 Happy hump day! The kids had a nice extra long weekend – it was their winter break. I think we are going back to limiting screen time. We realized they are on them way too much!