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Leading Toronto City Program Safety Planner Offers Helpful Hints

Toronto- When you strap a child onto your bicycle there are some safety issue that you want to be sure and address, besides the obvious like everyone should wear a helmet.

When you mount a car seat on your bicycle, you have some issues that need to be examined before you and your child set off into the sunset.

It is important to realize that having the added weight of a child on your bike will change where the center of gravity is. It’s important that you have a high quality, strong bike with a good frame, at the very least; to insure both you and your child will be safe.

Barb Wentworth is a national examiner for CAN-Bike, and works as a safety planner for the City of Toronto, and she works to help make sure that cyclists remain safe and remember some basic safety rules.

“You should make sure that you are a strong rider as the centre of gravity is higher and how your bike operates and feels will change,” said Ms. Wentworth.

“Make sure that when you start out, that you are paying attention, don’t reach around to grab something or get out something, that is often when the bike will tip over and can be dangerous,” said Ms. Wentworth.

Choose the route that you take with care, and try to avoid major arterials as often they have a lot of confusion that make biking with a child on board difficult and hazardous. “If you are able to take quieter side routes it is likely the best thing for you and for your child,” said Ms. Wentworth.