Motorcycle Safety: Riding with a child

an old Vespa ad aimed to tap the female market
( copy translation: Vespa – the machine for mothers)

Since I already talked about my daughter being able to ride with me in my Vespa in the previous entry, I feel that it’s my responsibility to touch a little about safety riding with children. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no expert but maybe you’ll get a tip or two by sharing my little experience.

• Adult Rider’s Responsibility

The values your kids learn will not just depend on what you say, but also with what they see. If you don’t regularly wear a helmet, no amount of talking could make you convince them. Force them, yes, but convince? I highly doubt it.

As a parent, you are the best judge if your kid is ready to ride. If bringing a child makes a rider take one hand off the handle bar to ‘secure’ the child in front, then it doesn’t make the ride any safer for either one. If you think your child can manage, take him for a short ride within the neigborhood before deciding to go farther. The motion of a moving vehicle is very conducive for sleeping especially for the little ones. See how it is for your child.

A rider should also know that taking a kid for a ride is far different from having a grown up as a passenger. You have to always check how they are doing if they’re suddenly quiet during a ride especially if your child is at the back seat. Although I must admit that kids are usually a lot more relaxed and fun to ride with. Some grownups just can’t get use to the necessary dips a rider has to make when turning and tries to counter-balance not knowing they do more harm than good.

• Protective Gears, Clothing & Accessories

First and foremost, your kid should have his/her own crash helmet. Not your own helmet, nor a toy helmet. The gear is for protecting your kid’s head in case an accident occurs and it would be totally dumb and inconsiderate if you are protected and your little bundle of joy isn’t.

A rain gear is also important for sudden downpours. We do not want our kids to get something bad (like a cold!) out of something that spells fun for them. I don’t usually allow my daughter to wear skirt during a ride. It’s not that I’m conservative, it just that it’s quite obvious that a pair of pants can do some protection in the leg area in case of a crash, that skirts & shorts simply wouldn’t. Oh, and I do not allow her to bring any kind of toy; just a small shoulder bag and she’s good to go.

There’s even a child riding belt available in the market for children who backrides. It looks like it gives a little more peace of mind for the rider but even the manufacturers disclaim it as being safety device and it hasn’t been tested as such.

• Kiddie Passenger Rules

Talk to your child the importance of safely riding. Why he always has to wear a helmet or why should she should let you know if she’s sleepy while on a bike unlike if he/she’s in a car. For bikes with its mufflers expose, the backrider should be aware that it can pretty much scald the skin seriously if the leg accidentally touch it. Any passenger must always keep their feet firmly rested on the footpegs, kid or grownup. A good rule of thumb is this: if a kid it too small to reach the footpegs, then he’s too young to ride.

Children should also know the dangers of climbing up their dad’s parked motorcycle on a sidestand to avoid the bike from falling over, or worst, falling over them! A smart rider should avoid doing so if kids are around. That simply is an accident waiting to happen.

My daugther knows when to climb up (only after I’ve started the engine), when to alight and where exactly to hold on during a ride. She’s also aware that we cannot talk as much while we are riding as her voice is muffled by her full face helmet; and that we have to compete with the sound of wind and noise around us; and of course, her Didda (yep, that’s how she calls me) cannot always lean down to listen and concentrate on driving at all times. She also learned that her sudden movement (a jump, a jerk or a jig) could make my scoot swerve if I’m caught unaware.

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Like I said, riding with a child is a fun activity. It’s like you’re sharing an amusement park ride experience everytime you do it; but safety always comes first. My daughter’s always excited if she knows she’s gonna be riding with me instead of taking the car. It’s like a thing she can never get enough of.

Stay safe & enjoy the ride!

-o-
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J0HNRANA

john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com