Sarah Pryor

Accidents happen!Every year 300,000 kids go to

the emergency room because of bike inuries

Sarah Pryor

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 does not have a sticker, ask your mom or dad to get you one that does.

Always wear a helmet, even if you are going for a short ride

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You bike helmet should not be too small or too big.

Never wear a hat under your bike helmet

The helmet should be worn level and cover your forehead.

The straps should ALWAYS be fastened tight enough so you can’t pull or twist the helmet around on your head

Sarah Pryor

Sarah Pryor

It is important for children to also know where and how they can ride their bicycles. The following guidelines are from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration: Go with the traffic flow. Bicyclists should ride on the right side of the road in the same direction as other vehicles.

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Obey all traffic laws. A bicycle is a vehicle, and the bicyclist is the driver. It is important for bicyclists to obey all traffic signs, signals and lane markings.

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Be predictable. Bicyclists must ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Moves must be signaled to others.

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Yield to traffic, when appropriate. Almost always, drivers on a smaller road must yield or wait for traffic on a major or larger road. If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and a bicyclist is coming from a driveway, sidewalk, bike path, etc., they must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before they go on. This includes yielding to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk.

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Stay alert at all times. Bicyclists must watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make them lose control of their bike. To ensure bicyclists can hear when they ride, they should not wear a headset.

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Look before turning. When turning left or right, it is important to always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left or right-turning traffic.

Watch for parked cars. Bicyclists should ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening or cars pulling out).

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The safest place for bicycle riding is on the street. Children less than 10 years old are not mature enough to make decisions necessary to safely ride in the street.

Children less than 10 years old are better off riding on the sidewalk.

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It is important for children to abide by safe riding tips. The following guidelines are from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration:

•Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet. •Check your bicycle equipment. Before

riding make sure tires are inflated properly and that the brakes work.

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Adjust your bicycle to fit. Stand over your bicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube (bar), if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches, if it is a mountain bicycle. The seat should be level from front to back. The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee, when the leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat.

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Control your bicycle. Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars. Carry books and other items in a bicycle carrier or backpack.

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See and be seen. Always wear fluorescent, neon or other bright colors when riding day or night. Wear something that reflects light, such as reflective tape or markings, or flashing lights. Remember, just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean they can see you.

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Avoid riding at night. It is more dangerous for children to ride bikes at night than during the day. Do make sure there are reflectors on the front and rear of the bicycle, in addition to reflectors on tires. Many states require bicycles to have white lights on the front and red rear reflectors.

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When turning or stopping, always use hand signals.

Look both ways at street corners and driveways.

Always ride with the traffic, to the right.

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Always stop at STOP signs and the curb.

When you ride on the sidewalk watch out for people.

Riders must always wear their helmet.

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In conclusion, riding bikes can be very fun and to avoid something fun into something into something dangerous: FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES .

Sarah Pryor