Kids get Ready to Ride This Spring Cycling Season

Being active and having fun are two of the best things about riding a bike – but it’s a lot more fun when you don’t get hurt! To help parents teach kids about the importance of safe cycling this spring, Alliance Tire Professionals – a network of  independent Michelin tire dealers – and the Canada Safety Council have created Ready to Ride – a fun and informative storybook developed to start a dialogue about this serious subject.  According to the Canada Safety Council, while the majority of bicycle injuries do not involve motor vehicles, the most serious accidents do.  This includes over 90 per cent of cyclist deaths.  In fact, the cyclist is at fault in 70 per cent of these collisions. 

“A bike is a child’s first vehicle and even though there are two wheels instead of four, it’s just as important to know the rules of the road and how to be safe on the streets,” says Andrew Gorman, Alliance Tire Professionals.  “It’s imperative to teach kids about road safety, especially at this time of year when warm weather is bringing everyone outdoors.” 

The good news is that the number of Canadian children between the ages of five and 14 hospitalized as a result of bicycle injuries has decreased by 15 per cent over the five years from 1997 to 2002, according to a 2004 report released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).  To keep these incidents on the decline, it’s important for kids to know their cycling smarts before heading out for the first bike ride of the season.  

Getting “Ready to Ride”

Beginning in May 2005, Alliance Tire Professionals dealers across Canada offered Ready to Ride, a 28-page storybook free of charge while supplies last.  Ready to Ride is the latest initiative in the Kids On Patrol program (K.O.P.), a joint effort between Alliance Tire Professionals and the Canada Safety Council to help promote the importance of road safety and proper visibility to young children.

 “The skills and attitudes parents instill in their children from a young age set the direction for how they will ride for years to come,” says Canada Safety Council president Emile Therien. “Public education and legislation have also helped reduce deaths and serious injuries. The fact that more kids now wear helmets has been a big factor.”

Drivers be aware

Bike safety extends beyond the responsibilities of the cyclists themselves.  As the weather gets warmer, and cyclists are out and about, drivers must shift their attention from navigating through winter conditions to watching for bike riders.  Bicycles are considered road vehicles and should be treated with courtesy and respect.  With more cyclists sharing the road, Alliance Tire Professionals and the Canada Safety Council offer these tips for drivers:

• Always watch for vulnerable road users such as cyclists, and anticipate their movements.
• When passing cyclists, be alert for those who may wander in their lane (especially children) and allow lots of room.
• Check your blind spot and the rear of your vehicle before pulling out or backing into traffic from a parked position.  

About Alliance Tire Professionals

Alliance Tire Professionals is a Canadian network of dealers who offer, at good value, quality Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal products and services.  The Alliance Tire Professionals network consists of 169 locally owned and operated dealers across Canada.  To find the location nearest you, visit our web site at www.alliance-tires.com.