Safe Riding: Bicycles and Electric Vehicle
Boys and girls can ride bicycles from about the age of two, but long before they can cycle unassisted (and afterward too), parents can mount them on their own bicycles. Teenagers aged 16 and older can also operate motor vehicles after passing a written driving test. Each year, 2,500 to 3,000 boys and girls (up to the age of 17) end up in hospital emergency rooms due to accidents involving bicycles and electric vehicles. Following specific safety rules for operating bicycles and electric vehicles can prevent injuries.
Carrying children on bicycles
Carrying children on bicycles is a convenient, ecological way to get around, mainly in urban areas. By law, a boy or girl under the age of 8 can be given a ride only when the cyclist is aged 14 or older. Infants may be carried on bicycles if they are more than one year old, because under the age of one year they cannot hold their heads up firmly yet. In any case, one should avoid riding with a child in a baby carrier. Instead, a separate seat is to be used to seat them while they are correctly wearing a safety helmet.
Learn the traffic rules at the National Road Safety Authority website (Hebrew)
Carrying toddlers
A toddler can be carried on a mountain bike (human or electric powered) in two ways: a child seat mounted on the bicycle or a towed bicycle trailer. Each parent can choose the seat most comfortable for them, but of course maintaining a balance and access to their child are also factors worth considering. In any case, it is important to choose a standard complaint seat that has been tested and approved by the Standards Institution of Israel. It is advisable to install the seat at the point of sale to make sure that it is fitted perfectly to your bicycle and child.
Safe carrying of children
- When carried on a bicycle, a child must wear a safety helmet fitting his or her head and be able to hold up the head firmly.
- The child is carried only when safely seated in a seat designed for carrying children and secured with inner belts.
- A seat with a high backrest is preferrable.
- The seat is installed on the bicycle according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Safety helmet
Using a safety helmet is mandatory, for it is proven to prevent major injuries to cyclists, so it must be worn before each ride begins. Parents, give a personal example: if you are riding a bicycle, always wear a safety helmet so that your children can see and understand that it is the normal thing to do when cycling. The following rules can help you get a safety helmet that will keep you safe and use it correctly:
- Standard: a helmet that has a clear standard seal from its country of manufacture, also stating the name of the manufacturer, the name of the importer and having usage instructions enclosed in its packaging.
- Design: choose a safety helmet that the child likes and will want to use.
- Fit: the safety helmet is fitted to the child’s head to make sure that it cannot move more than 2.5 cm when pushed forward or backward.
- Wearing the helmet: the front of the safety helmet should be two fingers above the eyebrows on the forehead.
The chin straps are supposed to form a V shape under the child wearer’s ears, but without being loose. You can check that the strap is tight enough by being able to get just one finger between the strap and the child’s chin.
Important: if the safety helmet was being worn during an impact or fall, it must be replaced.
Riding a ride-on car, balance bike and first bicycle
Even when children is small, they must always wear a safety helmet because they can gain speed and confidence and even a fall from a low height may pose a danger. At home, it is advised to avoid cycling near stairs. Outdoors, they should cycle only with adult supervision and in places closed to vehicles such as a playground far from the road, parks, and so on.
Children riding bicycles
Have your children reached the age at which they can ride a bicycle unassisted? If they want to ride, it is a good time to teach them to ride a bicycle. During cycling lessons, teach them the traffic rules, traffic signs and how to ride safely too. It is important to remind them that if they are riding a bicycle and need to cross a road, they need to dismount, and walk the bicycle across the crossing while staying unmounted.
It is a good idea to read more about cycling and crossing here
A child under the age of 9, particularly if he is not familiar with the traffic rules yet, should ride only accompanied by an adult. For example, one can ride together, a parent on one bike and a child on another bike suited to the child's age.
Electric bicycles, electric scooters and hoverboards
By law, riding motor vehicles is permitted only from the age of 16 and after passing a written (theory) test or a cycling competency test. To safeguard your child, make no modifications to the motor that allows the vehicle to travel faster than 25 km/h for electric bicycles and scooters while pedaling.
A word about batteries
An electric bicycle’s battery may cause a fire. According to fire brigade figures, more than 230 fires and injuries occur every year because of unsafe charging of electric bicycle and scooter batteries.
It is important to follow the safety directions:
- Standard seal: use only an original battery and charger that comply with the requirements of the official standard from the Standards Institution of Israel.
- Supervised recharging: recharge only when you or another adult is nearby.
- After recharging is complete: unplug the charger.
- Outdoor recharging: it is better to recharge a battery in a yard or on an outdoor balcony.
Rules for safe riding of bicycles and powered vehicles
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1Purchasing bicycles
Buy a bicycle that suits your children’s age and physical attributes. Make sure that each bicycle complies with an official standard from the Standards Institution of Israel, with a bell or horn and make sure that its lamps and reflectors work.
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2Cycling accessories
Whenever you purchase a bicycle, you should also gat a standard compliant safety helmet. Each time your child goes out cycling, make sure he or she wears a safety helmet and kneepads.
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3Cycling in the dark
Teach your child that it is important to turn the lamps on when cycling in dim light and in the dark, make sure that there are reflectors installed and wear bright clothing and a high visibility vest.
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4Where to ride
Favor cycling on cycle paths, in places that are closed to vehicles, or in quiet streets without busy traffic, and in any case not on the sidewalk.
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5How to cycle
Teach your children to ride safely and according to the traffic rules. Examples include stopping next to zebra crossings, telling them to obey traffic signs and making sure that they do not use mobile phones or headphones during cycling. Another example is teaching your children to stow their phone in a backpack before going out with their bicycle.
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6Scooter
A scooter should be ridden solo, without giving a ride to another child.
Written with the assistance of Beterem - national center for child safety and health