In Spain, we use the bike more and more. According to data from the last Bicycle Barometer, published last year, almost half of the population between 12 and 79 years old, about 19 million people, ride a bicycle with a certain frequency. This figure exceeds by 3.5 million the number of users estimated by the first edition of the Barometer, carried out in 2009.
The latest data in relation to the quality of transport, published in 2014, ensured that only 3% of Spaniards used the bicycle on a daily basis. Figures very far from those of the Netherlands (36%), Denmark (23%) and Hungary (22%), and also below the European average: 8%. But it is likely that our country will improve in this classification in the next edition of this statistic.
The case of children is special: they get along very well with bikes, and especially in the summer, when the good weather and holidays are an invitation to go out on the roads on two wheels. More than 70% of children between 5 and 14 years ride a bike, according to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP). The Guide, endorsed by the Ministry of Public Works, states that "children who attend schools, especially between 9 and 14 years, are a group with a lot of potential" in terms of encouraging the use of bicycles in urban areas.
"Addressing children mean teaching and influencing future street users," says the text, "as well as being a spectacular vehicle for raising awareness among parents." However, specialists emphasize that this activity, a popular and recommended physical exercise, is not without risks. For this reason, it is important to take some security measures.
The use of the helmet and reflective vest are the main safety measure for riding a bicycle. It is mandatory for all children under 16 years of age, and also for the elderly when they travel on interurban roads. "The use of a bicycle helmet can prevent or reduce the risk of serious head injuries, even when the cause of the accident is a collision with a car," says a document from the Committee on Safety and Prevention of Child Injury of the AEP.
The protection provided by the helmet - the same text points - is based on three key functions: "Absorb part of the energy, distribute the maximum energy peak of the blow on a larger surface and increase the transfer time". With helmet, the risk of death is reduced by 26%, and the risk of cranial or brain injuries, by 63-88%.
It is important not only that children wear a helmet, but also that they do it correctly. In the first place, it must be a helmet approved by the corresponding organisms. It must be durable, with reduced weight, with good ventilation and easy to put on and take off. It should not interfere with the auditory capacity, nor the vision: it should allow to see at least an angle of 105º towards the sides, 25º upwards and 40º downwards.
Other important data related to the helmet: it must have the right size, be in perfect condition (must be changed if it has suffered a blow or has been damaged) and be placed correctly, with its straps and buckles adjusted to be snug and comfortable.
All these indications in relation to the helmet are worth as much for children who drive their bicycles, as for when they travel as passengers in additional seats (which also, of course, have to be approved). In these cases, the driver must be of legal age and the child transported in the additional seat, under the age of seven, as stipulated in the General Circulation Regulations.
Wear safety clothing is another key: comfortable and without parts that hang and are too long, because they can get caught on wheels or other parts of the bike or the road, and cause falls and other accidents. If possible, the clothes should be white or light colors, and in the evening both children and adults should wear a reflective vest with reflective materials. On the other hand, the red reflector on the back of the bike is important throughout the day, and at night the white front light and the red light on the back are fundamental.
Children should be aware that when riding a bike you should never listen to music on headphones, nor should you be distracted by your mobile phone or any other device. All your attention must be placed on the road. Care should also be taken to ensure that they are familiar with traffic regulations and signs, and that they have a council included in the Bicycle User's Guide, published by the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT): "When you ride a bicycle, You are a pedestrian, but you drive a vehicle, you must comply with traffic rules and respect other users, especially pedestrians. "
Another of the main recommendations of the DGT is to use the bike lane whenever possible. Even when you get to that lane, take a small detour, it is convenient to do so. And then it is important to remind children that, although on these routes the priority is for cyclists, it is essential to circulate with caution and attention. When approaching a crossing they should moderate the speed and, if necessary, stop. At points marked for pedestrian crossing, you must yield to these, of course, the priority.
For the rest, adults should remember that the most effective way to educate is by example. "The first means of educating and socializing for a person is the family," says the Guide for Parents on the Prevention of Unintentional Lesions in Children, edited by the AEP and the Mapfre Foundation. "Our children," adds the text, "repeat the behavior of their parents, so we are also their reference in road education."
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