Attorney at Graves McLain Injury Lawyers
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Vaccine Injuries
Every parent wants their child to enjoy the freedom of riding a bicycle while staying safe. Whether your child bikes to school, around the neighborhood, or to a friend’s house, it’s essential to teach them how to ride smart and follow safety rules. Bicycle-related injuries send thousands of kids to the emergency room every year, but many of these accidents are preventable with the proper precautions.
This guide provides practical safety tips for children and includes important Oklahoma bicycle rules, equipment checks, and what to do in case of an accident.
Riding a bike is fun and healthy, but it also comes with risks—especially when kids share the road with cars or cross busy intersections. Children are more likely to suffer serious injuries in a crash because they have less experience, smaller frames, and may struggle to judge distance or speed.
Kids must understand that a bicycle isn’t a toy—it’s a vehicle, and like any vehicle, it must be handled with care and respect.
Each year, over 130,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries.
Before your child starts riding near traffic, practice basic bike skills together in a quiet area like an empty lot. Focus on stopping, riding straight, turning with signals, and looking back without swerving. Use this time to explain road signs and stay alert.
Children under 10 should ride on sidewalks when available, as they may lack the maturity to navigate traffic safely. — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Using a bike that fits your child properly is just as important as knowing how to ride. A bike that’s too big or too small makes it harder to control and increases the risk of falling. Your child should be able to touch the ground with their feet when sitting on the saddle and easily reach the handlebars and brakes.
The helmet is the most essential piece of gear. Make sure it fits snugly, sits low on the forehead (two fingers above the eyebrows), and doesn’t slide when the child shakes their head. Buckle it tight enough that no more than two fingers fit under the strap.
A properly fitted helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85%. — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Bright or reflective clothing is also essential to help drivers see your child during dusk, dawn, or cloudy weather.
In Oklahoma, bicycles are treated like vehicles. That means kids must follow the same rules as cars when riding on roads, including stopping at stop signs and using hand signals. They must also ride in the same direction as traffic.
In Oklahoma, bicycles are considered vehicles under Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes and must follow all rules of the road.
Young children should stay on the sidewalk when it’s safe, but once they begin riding in the street, they must follow all traffic laws. Teach your child to make eye contact with drivers, especially at crosswalks and driveways, to avoid collisions.
Making a habit of checking the bike before each ride helps reduce the chance of mechanical problems that can lead to crashes. Below is a simple checklist your child can learn:
Safety Item | What to Check | Why It Matters |
| Helmet Fit | Two fingers above eyebrows, snug but comfortable | Prevents serious head injuries |
| Tire Pressure | Firm, no visible sag | Ensures balance and better handling |
| Brakes | Respond quickly, no looseness | Stops bike in time to avoid crashes |
| Chain | Clean and properly tensioned | Keeps the bike running smoothly |
| Lights/Reflectors | Working front light and rear reflector at night | Increases visibility for drivers |
| Clothing | Bright, reflective, and secure | Helps others see the rider more clearly |
Night riding should be avoided for kids unless necessary. If your child does need to ride after dark, they must use a white light on the front of the bike and a red reflector on the back, as required by law. Reflective clothing and riding with an adult also help prevent accidents.
Young children who are still learning the rules of the road should always be supervised, even in the neighborhood. Riding together gives you the chance to model safe habits and reinforce good behavior.
Even with all precautions, accidents can still happen—often because of careless drivers, poor road conditions, or faulty bike parts. If your child is in a crash, stay calm and follow these steps:
Speaking with a personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options in situations where someone else was at fault or when there were significant injuries.
Graves McLain Injury Lawyers offers free bike helmets to promote safety for Tulsa children.
Most safety experts suggest children under 10 ride on sidewalks when possible. Once older, children may ride on the road but must follow all traffic rules, such as stopping at signs and using hand signals.
Oklahoma does not have a statewide helmet law, but helmets are strongly recommended. Some cities or school districts may have safety policies requiring helmets for younger riders.
The most common injuries include head trauma, fractures, and cuts. These injuries are often more severe when helmets are not used, or the child rides near traffic without supervision.
The helmet should sit low on the forehead, about two fingers above the eyebrows. It should not wobble or slide and must feel snug when the chin strap is tightened.
Yes, some local events and firms, like Graves McLain Injury Lawyers, provide free helmets and biking safety gear to encourage safer biking habits among children.
Teaching your child to ride a bike safely takes time, but it’s one of the most important lessons they’ll learn. From wearing the right helmet to following traffic laws and knowing what to check before riding, these small steps can go a long way in preventing injuries.
Graves McLain Injury Lawyers is proud to support bicycle safety in the Tulsa community. If your child has been injured in a bicycle accident and you need legal guidance, we’re here to help you understand your rights and next steps—because your child’s safety matters.
When injury victims need a law firm with a reputation for excellence, turn to Graves McLain Injury Lawyers. We are a top-rated personal injury firm determined to be the best. With decades of award-winning representation, our clients recover the compensation they need to put their lives back together.
