| It's a beautiful day - the sun is
shining, the birds are chirping. What could be more perfect than a bike
ride? But wait! Before you pull your bike out of the garage, let's find
out how to stay safe on two wheels.
Why Is Bicycle Safety So Important?
Bike riding is a lot of fun, but accidents happen. Every year, about
176,000 kids go to the emergency department because of bike accident
injuries. Some of these injuries are so serious that children die,
usually from head injuries.
A head injury means a brain injury. That's why it's so important to
wear your bike helmet. Wearing one doesn't mean you can
be reckless, but a helmet will provide some protection for your head in
case you fall down.
A Helmet How-To
Bike helmets are so important that the U.S. government has created
safety standards for them. Your helmet should have a sticker that says
it meets standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
If your helmet doesn't have a CPSC sticker, ask your mom or dad to get
you one that does.
Your bike helmet should fit you properly. You don't want it too small
or too big. Never wear a hat under your bike helmet. If you're unsure if
your helmet fits you well, ask someone at a bike store.
Once you have the right helmet, you need to wear it the right way so
it will protect you. It should be worn level and cover your forehead.
The straps should always be fastened. If the straps are
flying, it's likely to fall off your head when you need it most. Make
sure the straps are adjusted so they're snug enough that you can't pull
or twist the helmet around on your head.
Take care of your bike helmet and don't throw it around. That could
damage the helmet and it won't protect you as well when you really need
it. If you do fall down and put your helmet to the test, be sure to get
a new one. They don't work as well after a major crash.
Many bike helmets today are lightweight and come in cool colors. If
don't love yours as it is, personalize it with some of your favorite
stickers. Reflective stickers are a great choice because they look cool
and make you more visible to people driving cars.
Helmet On, Now What?
Riding a bike that is the right size for you also help keeps you safe.
- When you are on your bicycle, stand straddling the top bar of
your bike so that both feet are flat on the ground.
- There should be 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimeters) of space
between you and the top bar.
Here's a safety checklist your mom or dad can help you do:
- Make sure your seat, handlebars, and wheels fit tightly.
- Check and oil your chain regularly.
- Check your brakes to be sure they work well and aren't sticking.
- Check your tires to make sure they have enough air and the right
tire pressure.
Be Seen, Be Safe!
Wearing bright clothes and putting reflectors on your bike also can help
you stay safe. It helps other people on the road see you. And if they
see you, that means they're less likely to run into you.
You'll also want to make sure that nothing will get caught in your
bike chain, such as loose pant legs,backpacks straps, or shoelaces. Wear
the right shoes - sneakers - when you bike. Sandals, shoes with heels,
and cleats won't help you grip the pedals. And never go riding barefoot!
Riding gloves may help you grip the handlebars - and make you look like
a professional!
But avoid wearing headphones because the music can distract you from
noises around you, such as a car blowing its horn so you can get out of
the way.
Where to Ride
You need to check with your mom and dad about where you're allowed to
ride your bike. You need to know how far you're allowed to go and
whether you should ride on the sidewalk on in the street. Either way,
you need to keep an eye out for cars and trucks. Even if you're just
riding on sidewalk, a car may pull out of its driveway into the path of
your bike. If you're crossing a busy road, it's best to walk your bike
across the street.
A bike path free of cars is a great
choice if there's one in your area. Just remember to share the path with
the other riders, walkers, and strollers who also might be using it! And
if you're going on a long ride, bring some water along with you.
And no matter where you ride, keep an eye
on the road ahead so you can be prepared for big hills and road
obstacles. Some common ones that can cause falls include:
- wet leaves
- big puddles
- changes in the road surface
- storm grates
- gravel or rocks
- curbs
- little kids in your way!
Road Rules
If you're allowed to ride on the street, follow these road rules:
- Always stop and check for traffic in both directions when
leaving your driveway, an alley, or a curb.
- Cross at intersections. When you pull out between parked cars,
drivers can't see you coming.
- Walk your bike across busy intersections using the crosswalk and
following traffic signals.
- Ride on the right-hand side of the street, so you travel in the
same direction as cars do. Never ride against
traffic.
- Use bike lanes or designated bike routes wherever you can.
- Don't ride too close to parked cars. Doors can open suddenly.
- Stop at all stop signs and obey street (red) lights just as cars
do.
- Ride single file on the street with friends.
- When passing other bikers or people on the street, always pass
to their left side, and call out "On your left!" so they know that
you are coming.
- Use hand signals (below), so other bikers and drivers will know
what you're going to do next.
Hand Signals
It may help to learn some hand signals. These are like turn signals and
brake lights for bikers. It helps cars and trucks know what you will do
next, so they don't run into you.
 |
 |
|
Left turn |
Stop |
 |
 |
|
Right turn |
Also means right turn |
Now that you've learned those hand
signals, we'd like to give you a big thumbs-up for finding out more
about bike safety!
Updated and reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
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