The role of the health care professional in bicycle safety

Learning to ride a bicycle and enjoying the pleasures of cycling are synonymous with childhood; unfortunately, cycling does not come without risk of serious injury. Children under 15 years old account for the majority of cycling time in the United States, and on average, 1 child dies every day from a bicycle-related injury. Health care professionals can play an important role in making cycling a safe activity by encouraging and advocating for safe bicycling practices. Specific areas for physicians and health care professionals to emphasize involve the cyclist, environmental factors, and equipment factors. Helmet use by cyclists, avoidance of risk-taking, safe cycling road behavior, and proper cycling equipment fit and usage are all areas in which health care professionals can instruct families during office visits. The physician and the health care community can also be advocates for mandatory helmet legislation in order to achieve higher helmet usage rates and decreased cycling injuries. The health care professional's role in bicycle safety is an important component in building a foundation for safe cycling.