Your Safety - It's Worth a Second Thought
Get in Gear with Bicycle Saftey
Use Your Head - Wear a Helmet : Bicycle helmets reduce your risk of serious head and brain injury by nearly 90%. 97% of people killed in bicycle crashes with motor vehicles nationwide were not wearing a helmet.
Each year, 40,000 children in the U.S. are treated in emergency rooms for head injuries sustained while bicycling.
Choosing a helmet : Everyone's head is shaped differently, so let a bike shop properly fit you with a helmet that is comfortable for you. Kids are more likely to wear helmets that they pick out. Parents can set a good example by wearing their helmets every time they ride. Make sure your helmet is certified by ASTM. Helmets are designed to take only one impact, so replace your helmet if you've had a crash, or every five years.
The front of the helmet should sit one "finger's width" above your eyebrows. Adjust the chin strap so it fits firmly and comfortably, then use the foam pads to customize the fit. Push on the helmet with your hand. If it shifts around, it doesn't fit correctly - you may need to select a different model.
Bicyclists must obey the same traffic laws as any other driver. Bicyclists and motorists need to share the road.
- Always ride on the right with the flow of traffic. Riding on the left against the traffic is one of the biggest causes of car-bike crashes.
- Ride far enough into the lane to avoid drivers' blind spots and parked cars.
- Ride in a predictable, straight line.
- Before turning or merging, look in all directions. Always make eye contact with drivers and use hand signals.
- At intersections, merge and turn as if you were driving a motor vehicle. You may also make a left turn as a pedestrian.
- Use your voice or a bell to alert pedestrians.
- Stay alert for vehicles coming out of doorways and side streets.
- Stay alert for people sitting in parked cars that may open a door.
Teach kids safe bicycling habits :
- Children should not be allowed to ride in traffic until they know the rules of the road.
- Never let children "play" with bikes in the street.
- Teach children to stop and look before coming out of a driveway, and to walk their bicycles across an intersection.
Ready to ride? :
- Before each ride, check your brakes and make sure your wheels are not loose.
- Loose pant legs can get caught in spokes and gears. Secure them with clips or by tucking the cuffs into your socks.
- Never try to hold something in your hand while biking. Wear a two-shoulder backpack or use a secured or use a secured luggage carrier.
- Don't wear headphones. Riders must be alert to their surroundings.
- For night riding, bicycles must have a white headlight, a red taillight or rear reflectors in the pedal area, and side-facing reflectors.