The weather is warming and the sun feels great. The kids want to be outside more so this is the perfect time to get a bicycle ready for everyone and take off for some family time and exercise too. With these bicycle safety tips everyone can have a safe and fun time.

1. Everyone needs a properly fitting helmet for the ride. No matter how short or how close to home you are riding, a helmet is a must. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most accidents happen close to home and severe head injuries can occur on your own driveway or sidewalk.

2. Every rider should have the proper sized bicycle. Your child should sit on the seat, place both hands on the handlebars, and have the balls of his or her feet on the pedals. If a child needs to be lifted onto a bike or cannot manage the handlebars or pedals, the bike is too large.

3. You and your child should ride on the right side of the road with traffic. Ride as close to the right as possible. Even better, find a park with bike trails.

4. Children and teens should know and understand the rules of the road and hand signals before riding on the road. This is the communication between the cyclist and the motorist, so if a child is too young to manage the bike and the hand signals, he or she is too young to ride in the road.

5. It is never safe for children to ride at dusk or after dark. Teens should ride only if they have reflective clothing and lights, and have the skills and coordination for riding after dark.

Riding bikes is fun and great exercise. Grab a bike and your children and enjoy one of America's favorite family activities. Be safe and enjoy the ride.

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