Spending an afternoon cycling with your children, properly secured in their bike trailer behind you, is a great way to get some exercise and share quality time with your family. Knowing some basic bike trailer safety tips will ensure you have a safe and fun journey.
Here are some important tips you should know before cycling with a bike trailer.
Adult Bike
The first thing you should do is check your bike before attaching the bike trailer to the back. Check your wheels, air pressure, chain and brakes. Ensuring these are all in good working order will prepare your bike for a safe ride.
Bike Trailer Attachment
Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions exactly. Most bike trailers are able to be attached to any adult size bike with a hitch mechanism. Always use any safety straps or lock pins that are included with your hitch.
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Tires
Your trailer manufacturer will have a tire pressure recommendation. It is usually between 40 to 50 pounds per square inch. If the air pressure is low on the bike trailer, your child will have a very bumpy ride. It may also result in damage to the wheels.
Reflective Material/Equipment
Having reflective devices on your bike trailer is highly recommended to optimize safety. Most trailers come with some type of reflective material on the cover and frame. Some even come with a reflective flag. Be sure to utilize all of the devices available to you. Even in daylight, anything reflective on the bike trailer will make it more visible to drivers.
Safety Harness
Most bike trailers are equipped with a five-point safety harness for your child. Be sure this is adjusted properly to accommodate your child’s size. Although they may protest, always make sure your child wears the harness while riding in the trailer.
Helmet
Your child must be wearing a bike helmet at all times. Fitting them with the proper size will not only ensure safety, it will also make the helmet more comfortable for your child. Be sure to always be setting a good example for your child by wearing your helmet too!
Age Restrictions
These will be outlined in your bike trailer manual. The standard rule is that a child should be at least a year old before they ride in a bike trailer. They need to be able to sit up by themselves and fully support their neck. However, if your child is 3- 12 months old invest in the snuggler, it assists your infant to sit up while riding and is machine washable.
Weight Restrictions
Your bike trailer will also have a maximum weight limitation. The usual weight limit is 50 lbs. per child or a maximum of 100 lbs. in total weight.
An important safety tip to always remember is that having a trailer attached to the back of your bike will require you to need more room on the road. Be sure to allow for that extra space when you’re cycling. Although bike trailers are designed not to tip, you should always take it slow around corners.
Following bike trailer safety tips and rules will ensure both you and your children will have a safe, comfortable and enjoyable ride.
