Tag / Bicycle safety

by Colleen Berlingieri

FATWHEELS Bicycle Safety Series – Pedals with Straps

Recently, I received the following question from a board-certified physical therapist:

Hello,

I am a pediatric physical therapist. I am so excited to find your website and products!

Most of my patients need a special needs adaptive tricycle, but I am working with a 10-year-old child who may be ready to transition from an adaptive tricycle to a traditional bike with a few adaptations (your training wheels look perfect!). He currently uses pedal straps, and his adaptive tricycle has a seat belt. I’m interested in your pedal strap adaptation; however, I am wondering if it is safe to have pedal straps without a seat belt?

I have been taught by fellow PTs that if you have the feet strapped in, then you need a seat belt for safety. This is in case the user was to fall off the bike, but the feet stayed strapped in, putting them at risk for a knee or ankle injury since the legs wouldn’t come off of the bike with the rest of the body. Do you sell any adaptive seat belts? Do you have any thoughts on this issue? I would love to hear more about this, as I do not specialize in higher level bike adaptations. Thank you so much in advance!

What a great question! Here is my response:

Thanks so much for reaching out to me and for your patience in awaiting my response….

The question you raise is a very valid one.  The pedals that we sell should NEVER be bound to the rider’s feet too tightly.  The straps are adjustable and should be left slack so that the rider can disengage their feet in the event of a fall.  Failing to do so, can cause unnecessary harm to the rider.  We include this instruction with every set of FATWHEELS pedals that we ship out.

The straps allow the rider to keep the pedals moving as they elevate their leg during the pedal upstroke (hip flexion), instead of having to rely solely on pushing your foot down (hip/knee extension).  This makes for a more efficient pedaling motion and helps individuals with things like motor planning and combatting low muscle tone.

The pedals are also self-leveling which means they’re counter-balanced to ensure they always rest in the right position for the rider to place their feet on them.  This helps them easily “find” & engage the pedal with their feet. 

We do not sell seat belts.  If the rider requires that level of support, they are most likely not a good candidate for our products.

I hope this answers your question – if you need any further information please do not hesitate to reach out – I am happy to assist!

Until next time,

Colleen

by Colleen Berlingieri

FATWHEELS Bicycle Safety Series – Kids and Traffic

10 Reasons Kids are Especially at Risk in Traffic Situations

Riding on busier streets demands greater skills to avoid collisions. If children develop safe cycling skills and learn to follow the rules of the road, many collisions can be avoided. Some accidents, however, happen through no fault of the cyclist, so children must be taught to ride defensively and to wear bicycle helmets.

Kids are particularly vulnerable because they :

1. expect others to look out for them

2. have no understanding of complicated traffic situations

3. overestimate their knowledge and physical strength

4. focus on one thought at a time.

5. assume that if they can see someone, they can also be seen.

6. think vehicles can stop instantly.

7. have difficulty estimating the speed a vehicle is traveling.

8. have a field of vision one third narrower than adults have.

9. have difficulty determining the direction of sounds.

10. do not have the experience or judgement needed to ride at night.

At FATWHEELS, we take bicycle safety very seriously. Our adaptive training wheel kits are used in hospitals, school settings and by riders of all ages and abilities all across North America. We use only the highest quality materials for our products and back them up with 100% confidence.

Until next time,

Colleen,

by Colleen Berlingieri

FATWHEELS Bicycle Safety Series – Bikes

When choosing a safe bicycle for your child consider the following points:

Look for a bike that is simple, safe, sturdy, and durable. Most children do not appreciate or use gear, hand brakes, and other safety features until age 9.

  • Consult experts who can help choose a bike children can control but will not outgrow quickly. Children may lose control and be injured on a bicycle that is the wrong size.
  • Buy training wheels that are made with strong steel and thick rubber NOT thin metal and plastic.
  • Make sure fender edges are rolled over or coated to avoid cutting legs and fingers.
  • Choose a bike with a chain guard and avoid wearing loose pant legs when riding.
  • Choose a bike with knobby grippy pedals to keep feet safe.

FATWHEELS takes bicycle safety very seriously. Recently, we have started offering bike bundles on our website that pair a safe, high quality bicycle with a set of our adaptive training wheels. These bikes are manufactured & distributed by Kent International and our adaptive training wheels are used in hospitals, school settings and by riders of all ages and abilities all across North America. Both companies use only the highest quality materials and back them up with 100% confidence.

Until next time,

Colleen