It is important that everyone wears a helmet when cycling both on and off roads. Your child will follow your example. There are many places to cycle off-road such as footpaths where legal, bicycle paths, shared footpaths and bush tracks. These places are used by lots of people for different purposes, so your child needs to learn how to share the path with other users. As part of the Bike Ed program your child will be learning about riding safely, looking out for hazards, and sharing the path with other users.
Many crashes involving children occur off road where children believe they are safe.
When children are playing or cycling with their friends, their concentration may be poor and their cycling behavior unsafe. Encourage your child to act responsibly and think for themselves. It is recommended that children under 9 years of age do not ride on the road without adult supervision. They still have to develop the understanding, skills and experience to cope with traffic. The best way for a child to become a safe road user is to practise riding on the road under adult supervision.