Comments on: Study Finds Bikes Only Second to Cars in Childhood Injuries http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/07/study-finds-bikes-only-second-to-cars-in-childhood-injuries/ Green and Natural Parenting for Eco-Friendly Families Thu, 24 May 2012 17:04:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: My Natural Furniture » Blog Archive » Study Finds Bikes Only Second to Cars in Childhood Injuries http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/07/study-finds-bikes-only-second-to-cars-in-childhood-injuries/#comment-6203 My Natural Furniture » Blog Archive » Study Finds Bikes Only Second to Cars in Childhood Injuries Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:52:41 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=1976#comment-6203 [...] Read more of this story » [...] [...] Read more of this story » [...]

]]> By: Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/07/study-finds-bikes-only-second-to-cars-in-childhood-injuries/#comment-6200 Jennifer Lance Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:43:00 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=1976#comment-6200 Karen, that's an interesting thought that cyclists should have to pass a test. I'm not sure how people would react to that, but I think you are correct that responsibility goes both ways for safety. Karen, that’s an interesting thought that cyclists should have to pass a test. I’m not sure how people would react to that, but I think you are correct that responsibility goes both ways for safety.

]]> By: Karen http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/07/study-finds-bikes-only-second-to-cars-in-childhood-injuries/#comment-6199 Karen Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:18:39 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=1976#comment-6199 Have you noticed though that lots children (even adults) on bikes do act in a very irresponsible manner by kerb hopping and often dodging in and out of traffic? I'm all for full educational facilites for responsible bike travel whilst at the same time educating vehicle drivers about bike presence and the need for being more alert. Respect has to work from all parties! Cyclists should take a test to be allowed to travel on traffic roads like anybody else. How else could they be proficient with all of these very difficult and dangerous traffic systems? Likewise an appreciation of cyclists and how they use the roads should also be incorporated into the driving test for cars etc. K Have you noticed though that lots children (even adults) on bikes do act in a very irresponsible manner by kerb hopping and often dodging in and out of traffic?
I’m all for full educational facilites for responsible bike travel whilst at the same time educating vehicle drivers about bike presence and the need for being more alert.
Respect has to work from all parties! Cyclists should take a test to be allowed to travel on traffic roads like anybody else. How else could they be proficient with all of these very difficult and dangerous traffic systems? Likewise an appreciation of cyclists and how they use the roads should also be incorporated into the driving test for cars etc.

K

]]> By: Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/07/study-finds-bikes-only-second-to-cars-in-childhood-injuries/#comment-6201 Jennifer Lance Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:42:12 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=1976#comment-6201 Rona, wouldn't it be nice if there was a bike lane that was separate from the street, like sidewalks are? I'm not sure what this would do to green spaces in towns, but that way kids would not be sharing the road with cars. Rona, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a bike lane that was separate from the street, like sidewalks are? I’m not sure what this would do to green spaces in towns, but that way kids would not be sharing the road with cars.

]]> By: Rona http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/07/study-finds-bikes-only-second-to-cars-in-childhood-injuries/#comment-6202 Rona Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:47:53 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=1976#comment-6202 I do not know the statistics for car-related accidents involving children on bikes. One thing is sure: there will continue to be far too many such accidents until there are proper safe bicycle lanes and paths and until the power of the car is to some extent curbed. Anyone who wishes to experience this almost-Utopia has only to go cycling in Holland! Training children to ride safely is a good thing but I fear it will result in more loss of life rather than less if we do not get the other side of the equation balanced by pushing for decent, wide bike paths with proper crossings at junctions. Again, see Holland! I do not know the statistics for car-related accidents involving children on bikes. One thing is sure: there will continue to be far too many such accidents until there are proper safe bicycle lanes and paths and until the power of the car is to some extent curbed.

Anyone who wishes to experience this almost-Utopia has only to go cycling in Holland!

Training children to ride safely is a good thing but I fear it will result in more loss of life rather than less if we do not get the other side of the equation balanced by pushing for decent, wide bike paths with proper crossings at junctions. Again, see Holland!

]]> By: Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/07/study-finds-bikes-only-second-to-cars-in-childhood-injuries/#comment-6198 Jennifer Lance Sat, 08 Nov 2008 04:38:49 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=1976#comment-6198 Nick Hein, interesting info. Is it true that the most serious accidents involve cars? I still remember as a kids using only my front brake and flipping over my bike. A little education could have prevented this stupid move. I really like the idea of biker safety being included in public education. Nick Hein, interesting info. Is it true that the most serious accidents involve cars? I still remember as a kids using only my front brake and flipping over my bike. A little education could have prevented this stupid move. I really like the idea of biker safety being included in public education.

]]> By: Nick Hein http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/07/study-finds-bikes-only-second-to-cars-in-childhood-injuries/#comment-6197 Nick Hein Sat, 08 Nov 2008 04:17:58 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=1976#comment-6197 Good evening, I'm a League-certified cycling safety instructor and I instruct mostly children. In our (nationally distributed) safety literature and courses we make a big deal of the fact that 80% of bicycle crashes involve only the cyclist. This means they are due to careless riding, inadequate maintenance or insufficient skill for the riding conditions. Kids crash because they aren't taught to ride safely. Education is the key. This 80% statistic is the reason we have helmet laws. Helmets were used as a band-aid solution, rather than teaching kids to ride safely. In European countries every 4th grade school child gets a full day a bike safety education, takes a test (which they must pass) and gets a certificate permitting them to ride on the street. They don't require helmets. If we had this education in our schools we'd eliminate 80% of bike crashes. Helmets only mitigate head injuries in minor crashes. It's what's INSIDE our head the PREVENTS crashes - and that's the whole reason for trying to protect it. Nick Hein Morgantown, WV Good evening,
I’m a League-certified cycling safety instructor and I instruct mostly children. In our (nationally distributed) safety literature and courses we make a big deal of the fact that 80% of bicycle crashes involve only the cyclist. This means they are due to careless riding, inadequate maintenance or insufficient skill for the riding conditions. Kids crash because they aren’t taught to ride safely. Education is the key. This 80% statistic is the reason we have helmet laws. Helmets were used as a band-aid solution, rather than teaching kids to ride safely.

In European countries every 4th grade school child gets a full day a bike safety education, takes a test (which they must pass) and gets a certificate permitting them to ride on the street. They don’t require helmets. If we had this education in our schools we’d eliminate 80% of bike crashes.

Helmets only mitigate head injuries in minor crashes. It’s what’s INSIDE our head the PREVENTS crashes – and that’s the whole reason for trying to protect it.

Nick Hein
Morgantown, WV

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