Wheel Family Fun: How do kids learn about bike safety?

When I was a kid, my dad taught me how to ride a bike and drive a car. I remember learning the physical act of doing both, from balancing the bike to learning how to shift “3 on the column.” I’m sure interspersed with that instruction, my dad covered the basic rules of the road for both. He taught me how to pump up a bike tire, change a car tire and check my oil. Anything more complicated, I took to him or a mechanic.

Today, I wonder — who teaches children about bike safety? Any caring, knowledgeable adult can do it. It could be the child’s parents, grandparents or other relatives. Occasionally, local police and organizations like Kiwanis will do “bike safety” talks and rodeos for kids. Many schools now teach bike safety as part of their health and fitness programs, often coordinated by school nurses and PE teachers.