J & N REALTY, INC.

Bike and Scooter Safety Tips  

          Condominium associations want kids to be safe while riding their bikes and scooters in a community, and boards recognize that you cannot be there to watch them all the time.  Here are four steps that could increase their safety when you are not around.  

• Teach kids how to fall.  Learning how to ride correctly is only part of what keeps a kid safe.  Falls are inevitable, and teaching your children to fall correctly will prevent many serious injuries.  Teach them to roll on impact, relax their body, and try to land on their padded and fleshiest parts. 

• Check equipment.  Check bikes and scooters for cracks or dents, sharp metal parts, jutting edges and slippery surfaces.  Replace defective equipment, consult a professional for repairs, and apply self-adhesive, non-slip material to slippery surfaces. 

• Make a rule for your kids—one person to each piece of equipment.  They might be less likely to hop on a friend’s scooter if they know it is unsafe and that they will have to pay for replacing it when it breaks. 

• Require protective equipment.  Scooters, roller blades, bikes, and similar equipment cause thousands of injuries—and even some deaths—every year.  Make sure your children are wearing helmets, kneepads and elbow pads, especially if they are just learning.  Buy a helmet your kid thinks is cool and you know is safe—it is worth the extra money if your child is more likely to wear it.