A Critical Analysis of Braking Performance Testing for Children’s Bicycles under ISO 8098:2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jsse.202608305

Author(s)

Yong Liu, Pengfei Zuo, Bin Xu, Xingqi Yuan

Affiliation(s)

Kunshan Customs, Kunshan, China

Abstract

Children's bicycles are widely used by young riders for recreation and daily travel. As the number of bicycles in use continues to increase, the safety performance of children's bicycles has attracted increasing attention from manufacturers, testing laboratories and regulatory authorities. Among various safety-related requirements, braking performance is one of the most important factors affecting riding safety because it directly influences the rider's ability to control speed and avoid potential hazards. ISO 8098:2023 specifies detailed requirements and test methods for braking systems of bicycles intended for young children. Based on practical laboratory testing activities and the technical requirements of ISO 8098:2023, this paper discusses the braking performance test from three stages: before testing, during testing and after testing. Particular attention is given to factors that may influence test results, including bicycle preparation, fixture arrangement, force application, equipment calibration and operator consistency. Common problems observed during testing activities are also analysed. Furthermore, several suggestions are proposed regarding equipment management, testing procedures and quality control. The aim is to provide useful reference information for laboratories conducting children's bicycle safety testing and to improve the reliability and consistency of conformity assessment results.

Keywords

Children's Bicycle; ISO 8098:2023; Braking Performance; Laboratory Testing; Conformity Assessment

References

[1] ISO 8098:2023. Cycles — Safety Requirements for Bicycles for Young Children. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023. [2] ISO 4210-1:2023. Cycles — Safety Requirements for Bicycles — Part 1: Terms and Definitions. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023. [3] EN ISO 8098:2023. Cycles — Safety Requirements for Bicycles for Young Children. European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Brussels, Belgium, 2023. [4] BS EN ISO 8098:2023. Cycles — Safety Requirements for Bicycles for Young Children. British Standards Institution (BSI), London, United Kingdom, 2023. [5] ISO 8098:2023(E). Cycles — Safety Requirements for Bicycles for Young Children. Technical requirements and test methods for braking systems, steering systems and structural integrity. International Organization for Standardization, 2023. [6] ISO 4210 Series. Cycles — Safety Requirements for Bicycles. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023. [7] European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF). Cycling Safety and Children's Mobility Report. Brussels, Belgium. [8] ISO/IEC 17025:2017. General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland. [9] ILAC P14:2020. ILAC Policy for Measurement Uncertainty in Calibration. International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation. [10] ILAC P9:2024. ILAC Policy for Participation in Proficiency Testing Activities. International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation. [11] CNAS-CL01-G003:2021. Guidance on Evaluating and Reporting Measurement Uncertainty in Testing Laboratories. China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment. [12] ISO 5725-2:2019. Accuracy (Trueness and Precision) of Measurement Methods and Results — Part 2: Basic Method for the Determination of Repeatability and Reproducibility of a Standard Measurement Method. [13] ISO/COPOLCO. Consumer Product Safety and Performance Evaluation Guidelines.