OCT 29, 2022
Safety Tips for Riding With Your Children on an E-Bike
Electric bicycles are one of the fastest-growing trends in transportation, and they're not just for adults anymore.
If you and your spouse recently invested in an electric bike, you'll quickly discover that the convenience of an e-bike gives you more time to spend with your family.
It's hard to beat the versatility and simplicity that comes with an electric bicycle. Still, if you're considering getting one with your kids in mind, there are some safety tips you should know before heading out on your first ride together.
Before you hit the trails with your kids in tow, follow these tips for keeping your kids safe on an e-bike to ensure you have the best possible experience together on the bike trail.
Most kids can ride securely with you on your e-bike, but a few things to consider before you both start. First and foremost, there is age. Children under the age of twelve months should not ride. This is because their necks might not easily support their heads firmly on uneven terrain.
Riding with children aged one to four years old is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Make sure to wear a lightweight helmet safely and that your local jurisdiction has no additional restrictions to follow.
Make sure your bike is of good quality to ensure that it will be safe, strong and reliable enough to carry the weight of both you and your child. Also, ensure that the bike has good brakes, preferably disk brakes, as these are more effective than traditional caliper or drum brakes and have longer wear when used. You should always be cautious when riding with your kid, you’ll be doing the both of you a lot of good.
Now that the fall is here, it's time to get away from home and cycle with the kids. This includes being able to select the appropriate bike child seats. Selecting the proper bike seat is critical to maintaining children's cycling safety.
When riding with a baby carrier, there are a few factors to consider. First, determine whether a kid bike seat can be properly installed on your bicycle. Some bikes have maximum carrying capabilities, so make sure that installing a baby carrier (and the child's weight) does not surpass that limit.
Second, remember that once your child has reached age one, they should no longer ride in a carrier but a bike seat instead. Make sure to consult your pediatrician or physician before allowing your baby to take their first ride in a bike seat if they were born prematurely or had any other health conditions.
Wearing a helmet is one of the best ways to keep your child safe while riding with you. First, ensure the helmet fits snugly, so it doesn't move around when they shake their head. If the helmet has a strap, ensure it's snug and crosses under their ears.
To make it more comfortable, put the buckle in front of their ear instead of behind. It should fit comfortably like a hat. Put the chin strap over their chin, not under their neck or by pressing on the jawbone.
Make sure that it's not too tight or loose and that they can open their mouth easily while wearing it. You'll also want to find a helmet that will protect their face and other parts of their head, such as the back or sides of the head.
Because newborns' skulls are more susceptible than adults, the inside filling material should be soft and breathable, like foam. So trust me when I say that an ebike safety helmet is an investment that can occasionally save your child's life.
Don't forget to keep your speed to a minimum when riding with your kids. It's important not to exceed 20 miles per hour and ensure the bike is in perfect order before you start. You don't want your child injured because of something you could have prevented.
If they're sitting on the back seat of your bike, be sure to buckle them in securely with their safety belt or harness while you're riding slowly. You also don't want them placing their feet on the ground, which can cause you to lose control.
On rough terrains, while riding with your child, ensure that there are no protruding objects around and take it slow, so your child has time to react if necessary.
Take time before you and your child head for a ride to learn the hand signals. This way, both of you will know what they mean and be able to communicate while riding.
For example, remember that if you're going downhill while riding with your child and want to slow down or stop, use the hand signal for stop.
Use the hand signal to slow down if you are going uphill or feel like you’re going too fast. Take cautions with changes in direction, speed, or when it's time to stop when you’re riding with your kid.
If you intend to cycle with your infant, we recommend riding in a calm area with few people and cars moving around, like a park. Also, stay away from busy lanes that are shared with vehicles and pedestrians when riding.
Check if the lane accepts class 2 ebikes (I.e bikes that are throttle-assisted) before deciding on a route. Also, avoid riding with children on rocky mountain roads or slopes since the weight fluctuation of the bike may lead you to lose your balance and can put you both at risk.
Except on safe roadways, you are not permitted to ride in poor weather. This is because hot weather can cause your child to have a heat stroke, while cold weather might cause him to catch a cold.
Excessive speed causes the bike to tremble, the youngster to feel uneasy, and may result in an accident. Therefore, always pay attention to the weather conditions and drive more cautiously than usual.
In warm weather, you want your child to be comfortable, but it's also important to wear clothing that allows them room to breathe. Don't make them wear a sweatshirt or jacket – their body heat should help keep them warm enough.
It's also a good idea to dress in layers so if the temperature changes, you can add or remove clothes as needed. Finally, always wear shoes and sunscreen; never let your child ride without protecting them from the sun.
If the bike has electric assistance and is being ridden by an adult, make sure the bike is in high gear so there will be less strain on the rider.
In addition, you'll need to take care of yourself before taking care of others, which includes eating healthy foods and staying hydrated throughout the day.
Stay aware of your surroundings just as you would when driving. Always look out for pedestrians or bicyclists, even if riding slowly. Stay aware of all types of vehicles, including cars and buses.
When turning corners or making lane changes, be sure there isn't a car waiting in your blind spot. While you should always check behind you, remember that many drivers aren't looking out for bicycles, so don't assume they'll see you coming.
Riding an e-bike with a child requires practice, just like anything else. Your child's and carrier's extra weight might throw you off balance, and learning to ride safely requires experience.
So, before strapping your youngster in, consider putting something else in the seat to imitate weight and practice riding.
Once you're comfortable, try practicing in a safe location, such as a park or a quiet residential neighborhood, so you and your child can get acclimated to riding before venturing into the road or more difficult routes.
It is advisable not to bike with infants under one year old because they are too young to sit steadily on the seat.
If you must ride with a child with special needs, you should place them in the front seat of your bike for safety reasons so that you can properly care for them. Please remember not to place your infant in a backpack or rear seat in case of an accident that you are not aware of in time.
We recommend that children over two ride in the back seat; putting them in the front can cause the bike to become unstable and block your vision, which may be dangerous.
The preceding measures, such as selecting a suitable seat, wearing a properly fitted helmet, and practicing, are vital to keeping your child safe but don't forget to inspect your e-bike for any safety hazards.
Important considerations include installing protective shielding if your child's seat does not cover their legs. Otherwise, their legs would scrape against the tire, causing serious abrasions and burns.
Also, before riding, check for any other vulnerable components, such as the chain, and make sure they are protected.
When it comes to riding at night, you should also be aware of local laws or ordinances that may affect your ability to do so. You don't want something as simple as a headlight or reflector to get you into trouble with authorities.
Ride during the daylight hours as it is safer, and children will be more visible to other drivers. If you need to ride at night, consider using a headlight and having reflective gear on your bike. Be sure that your child has some light source as well.
Babies' skin is normally fragile, so if you ride outside for a longer time in the summer or any bright weather, remember to apply sunscreen on your child's skin to avoid sunburn. Do not use adult sunscreen since it may irritate your child's skin.
Take heat stroke measures before leaving, which could be taking enough water and anti-heatstroke medication in an emergency.
Wearing headphones can cause you not to hear what's happening around you, which can be dangerous if your kids try to get your attention or yell out a warning.
In addition, they can make it hard for other cyclists and pedestrians around you to hear you coming, so they might not know how to avoid a collision.
It would help if you also refrained from wearing anything that would impede the view of your face, such as sunglasses when biking with children.
It's easy to lose balance when riding an e-bike with a kid if you have to brake unexpectedly. Always ride with caution and your hands on the brake pedal. You will have better control over your route thanks to the hydraulic disc braking technology employed on e-bikes these days.
The throttle mechanism provides additional power to your pedal travel, increasing speed. This implies you should apply the brakes before approaching a stop sign or zebra crossing. You can prevent a collision by following simple caution when applying your brakes when riding with your kid.
If you want a fantastic cycling adventure with your child, follow our tips. To be clear, we do not encourage riding with children under 12 months. However, please keep them in the front seat and within your sight if you must.
Also, wear a safety helmet and get a comfortable one for your child to help reduce brain injuries in the case of an accident.
Ride more cautiously and find a course with decent road conditions to let your child feel more at ease. Take the appropriate precautions when riding under different weather conditions, and don't allow an emergency to derail your ride.