BICYCLE SAFETYKeeping Our Youth Safe!

Provided by:

Why Do People Ride Bikes?

Bike riding is a great source of exercise!

Bike riding is a form of transportation.

A good way to learn the rules for driving.

IT’S FUN!

Safety Tips Before Riding

Inspect your bike

Put on all of your bike safety gear

When carrying books or other loose items, place them in your bicycle carrier or in a backpack.

Safety Gear!HELMET: Reduces injuries by 85% and can even save

your life!

Fits snug, but comfortably.

Has ventilation holes.

Look for labels:

- American National Standards Institute www.ansi.org

- Snell Memorial Foundation www.smf.org

- Another legally authorized certified organization.

Replace every 5 years or after any crash.

Safety Gear!

KNEE AND ELBOW PADS: Protect you if you fall.

GLOVES: Protect your hands if you fall.

APPROPRIATE CLOTHING: Be visible no matter what time of day it is! Bright, orange or yellow are ideal

If riding in the dark, always wear reflective tape and white or light colored clothing.

Clothing should be close fitting to avoid getting caught on anything.

How to Inspect Your Bike Tires:

Properly inflated and firm Change if cracked, bulging, or

are worn down.

Wheels: Straight Spokes are straight for correct rotation.

Chain: Clean, not rusty; oil if needed. Chain should be able to move, but not fit

loosely.

Handlebars: Replace worn hand grips or tape the edges.

How to Inspect: Brakes:

Make sure they work! Stop smoothly, no squeaking. Replace if needed.

Reflectors:Front and back of the bike Clean and Secured well White front and red back

Light: Front: Visible for up to 500 ft. for nighttime bike

riding.Rear: may have in addition to reflector, may blink

How to Inspect:

Pedals: Turn easily without being loose.

Seat: Comfortable height.

Rear view mirror: You may add one.

Road Rules Under Texas Law, a bicycle is a vehicle and

bicycle drivers have the rights and duties applicable to drivers operating vehicles.

Adults must ride bicycles on the roadway or designated bike path.

The Texas DPS advises that children should ride on sidewalks because this is safer for them, even though not legally correct.

Bicyclists should ride near to the right curb or edge of the roadway and may ride on the shoulder (except when passing, avoiding unsafe conditions, turning left, or on narrow lanes).

Road Rules Look both ways before crossing the street!

Look left, right, and left again.

Always ride on the right side of the road. Look for and avoid glass, potholes, and wet areas.

Use caution at intersections. Watch for cars and pedestrians. In areas with heavy walk your bike across the street at crosswalks.

Steer Away from Parked Cars. Watch for doors being opened.

Be familiar with all street signs like other drivers:

Stop- red with eight sides

Yield- red and white triangle

Warning- yellow, diamond shaped

Information/Regulations- square or rectangle that come in a variety of colors

Railroad Crossing- yellow circle with an “X” through it

Road Rules- Street Signs

Road Rules- Traffic Signals

Obey Traffic Signals:

Green= Go

Yellow= Warning to stop

Red= STOP!

Green Arrow= Protected turn

Blinking Yellow= Slow down, drive with caution

Blinking Red= Stop, look both ways, continue if clear

Road Rules- Hand Signals

Slow/Stop= left arm bent downward

Right turn= left arm bent like an

“L” or right arm held out straight

Left turn= left arm held out straight

Safety Tips While Riding

Always look both ways before crossing the street!

Be familiar with the rules of the road: street signs, traffic signals, and hand signals.

Stay in areas you’re familiar with!

Things to Watch Out For!

Road conditions. Look for tree branches, bumps,

curbs, railroad tracks, leaves, sand, and rocks.

Pedestrians

Animals

If attacked, get off of your bike and put it between you and the animal for protection.

Additional Safety Tips

Ride in single file on the sidewalk. If in the street, no more than two

bike riders are allowed in the lane.

Don’t show off! Both hands on the

handlebars. One person on a one

seat bike at a time!

Additional Safety Tips

Never hold onto a car, truckor other bicycle while riding!

Don’t wear headphones! You need to be able to listen out for car hornsor other alert noises!

Be extra cautious in bad weather. Rain can affect your brakes.

Prevent Your Bike From Getting Stolen!

Always secure your bike!

Use bike locks, chains, or cables to lock your bike on

a fixed object.(Bike Rack at school)

Register Your Bike! Contact the National Bike Registry (NBR) at

800-848-BIKE for registration programs.

If your bike is ever stolen and it’s registered, you’ll have a better chance of retrieving it.

* With the help of an adult, record the bike’s serial #, keep the receipt (if possible), and a picture of the bike.

* With the help of an adult engrave your name, or a set of numbers, on the bike to make it unique.

Can You Find the Safety Hazards in this Picture?

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1. Your bike helmet should fit loose and move around on your head.

2. To signal a left turn, extend you left arm straight out.

3. It’s safe to drive your bike facing traffic.

4. Always drive as close as you can to parked cars.

5. A flashing red light means stop, check for traffic, then drive on carefully.

6. A yield sign is in the shape of a square or rectangle.

7. If you ride on the sidewalk, pedestrians should get out of your way.

8. You should ride single file when riding in a group.

What Have You Learned?Take our True/False Quiz:

FALSE

FALSE

FALSE

FALSE

FALSE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

Works Cited

“Sharing the Road”Nueces County Safe Communities Coalition

“The Smart Route to Bicycle Safety” National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)

“Kids, Bikes, & Safety” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

“Be an Expert Bike Driver”Corpus Christi- Nueces County Public Health District

“Texas Bicycle Driver Rules” Texas Department of Public Safety

Presentation revised 9/2012