me & my family

I got my current ride in the summer of this year but I have been a rider way back in college. The experience was comepletely different since I didn’t care much about riding safety then. Japorms and speed are the only things that matter back in those crazy days. But now as a family man, I have considerably slowed down and got to became a lot more cautious especially when I’m riding with my daughter. It’s a totally a new experience that I want to share here.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m no expert but maybe you’ll get a tip or two by writing about the little things I’ve learned so far.

• 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 with you. If bringing a child makes the rider take one hand off the handle bar to hug and ’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 neighborhood 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 taking the pillion/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 utterly 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 jeans can do some protection in the leg area in case of a crash, that skirts & shorts simply couldn’t. I also advise against sandals or flip-flops. Only shoes would do for our riding kids. Oh, and I do not allow my little girl to bring any kind of toy; just a small shoulder bag and she’s good to go.

Over the ‘net, I’ve seen a child riding belt available for children who backrides. It looks like it gives a little more peace of mind for the rider but even the manufacturer disclaims that it is a safety device and admits it hasn’t been tested as such.

• Rules for Child of Riders

Talk to your child the importance of safely riding. Explain why he always has to wear a helmet or why she should let you know if she’s sleepy while on the bike unlike if she’s in a car. For bikes with its muffler(s) exposed, the backrider should be made aware that the pipes can pretty much scald the skin badly if the leg accidentally got into contact. Any passenger must always keep their feet firmly rested on the footpegs, kid or grownup.Here’s a good rule of thumb: if a kid is too small to reach the footpegs, then he’s too young to ride.

For kids, it’s is a thrill (especially for the boys) to saddle on a parked bike and pretend to be their favorite riding superhero (it could be you or a character totally fictional). Let the kid know that it is a big no-no to twist the throttle no matter how tempting it is. The throttle-twisting is what identifies a biker in child’s play so explain to him/her clearly what happens if he does that with your parked bike.

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! If available, a smart rider should use the more stable centerstand when kids are around or when parking the bike unattended. Not doing so is simply an accident waiting to happen.

My daughter 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!

(article reposted from “Who rides a Vespa?” blog)