Indianapolis, IN (Dec. 15, 2008) – Many children have a new bicycle on their holiday wish lists and as a result, AAA Hoosier Motor Club reminds consumers that selecting the right size bike for children is critical to keeping them safe.

While holiday shoppers may be wooed by great bargains on bicycles during the holiday season, AAA warns that no matter how enticing the sale, it’s not worth putting a child in danger if the bicycle is not the proper size. Bicycles are associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product besides the automobile.

“The biggest mistake consumers make when selecting a child’s bicycle is purchasing one too large and thinking the child will grow into it,” said Greg Seiter, public affairs manager for AAA Hoosier Moto Club. “Parents would not put shoes five sizes too big on a child, because it would be difficult and dangerous to run and play. The same principle applies to bicycles. Oversized bikes are difficult for children to control and safely ride in addition to being uncomfortable.”

Fit the Bike to the Child
To determine if a bicycle is the proper size, the child should be able to sit on the seat and balance the bicycle with the balls of both feet touching the ground without leaning to one side or the other. If the bicycle seat is in the lowest position, and a child cannot touch both feet to the ground, the bike is too large to be ridden safely.

Surprise Gift? Don’t Guess the Size—Measure
It’s best to have children sit on bikes prior to purchase to ensure they are the appropriate, safe size. But during the holiday season, children’s bikes are frequently given as surprises. Consumers should not guess which bike size is correct. Instead, hit the holiday sales with the child’s measurements and a tape measure in hand.

Before heading out to the stores, measure the child’s inseam to the ground. When shopping, measure the distance from the top horizontal bar to the ground. This measurement should be an inch or two shorter than the child’s inseam. When looking at girl’s bikes, measure to where the top bar would be if it was designed like a boy’s bicycle.

Be Sure to Brake for Safety
Size is not the only safety factor to consider. Children’s bicycles typically have either hand brakes or coaster brakes (engaged when pedaling backwards). Avoid purchasing bikes with hand brakes for younger children. Wait until they develop greater strength in their hands and wrists and have large enough hands to easily engage the hand brake—which should occur around age 10. 

Don’t Forget a Helmet
Children should always wear a bicycle helmet when cycling. Head injuries are the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes, but properly wearing a bicycle helmet has been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent, according to the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration.

Just as children’s bikes must be sized correctly for safety, so should their helmets. It’s best for a child to try on a helmet before purchasing it, but if that’s not possible, measure around the child’s head at the forehead to determine which size helmet to purchase. Also, make sure the helmet is approved by looking for an ANSI or Snell Foundation sticker on the inside.

Before children take off on their new bikes, helmets must be fit properly to their heads. Helmets should sit level and low on the forehead with two finger-widths space between the eyebrows and helmet. If the helmet is slightly large, insert the extra padding provided with the helmet. Straps should be adjusted to center the left buckle under the chin, have the side straps form a “V” shape under and slightly in front of the ears and provide a snug fit with only one or two fingers able to fit under the chin strap.

Be Ready for Safety on the Big Day
When the big day arrives and children receive their new bikes, the first thing many will want to do is take it out for a ride. Make sure it’s ready to go by double checking that it’s put together securely and additional safety equipment, such as training wheels, horns or lights, have been installed correctly in a safe location. Provide instruction to beginner cyclists away from traffic in a safe area, and take time to remind experienced cyclists of safety rules. AAA has safe bicycling tips available on the AAA Exchange at www.AAA.com/PublicAffairs.

AAA