Every year emergency rooms see more than a half a million people
for injuries related to bicycle accidents. Sadly most are head
injuries which could have been prevented had the cyclist been
following bike safety. Follow these 5 tips to ride your bike safely
and reduce the risk of injury
1. Wear a helmet
You can reduce the risk of brain injury by as much as 88% and
face injury by 65%. Only 25% of children aged 4-15 years wear
a helmet when riding. Teen use is nearly zero and adult use
is around 50%. Train yourself and your family to think of a
helmet as a necessity, not an accessory. In fact, in many parts
of the world it is illegal to ride your bike without a helmet.
When choosing a helmet, make sure it is the right size for your
head. It should sit on the top of your head in a level position,
but it should not tilt back on the head. Adjust the straps for
a snug, comfortable fit.
2. Ride on the right
Always ride on the right side of the road, with the flow of
traffic, not against it. Riding against traffic is dangerous
and confuses or surprises drivers. Pass on the left. Do not
dart in and out around cars. Use bike lanes or bike trails and
paths if they are available. When ever you are moving slower
than the normal traffic speed, stay near the right edge of the
road, except when: Passing another bicycle or vehicle; getting
ready to turn left; passing a parked vehicle or to avoid other
objects; on a one-way road, two lanes or wider, then cyclist
may ride near either the left or right side.
3. Obey the rules
Obey all signs, just as if you were in a car. Use hand signals
so other riders and drivers know where you are going. The signals
are: Left turn - left arm straight out pointing left;. Right
turn - left arm pointed straight up, or right arm straight out
pointing right; Stop - left arm pointed straight down Stop and
look both ways before entering a street. Yield the right-of-way
to pedestrians and skaters.
4. Reflective clothing
If you will be riding at dusk, dawn, or at night, wear reflective
clothing. It is also a good idea to put reflective strips on
your bike. You should also have a bike headlight and rear reflector
installed on your bicycle.
5. Age restrictions
Do not let children under 10 onto roadways. Have your children
stay on bike paths or sidewalks until they are at least 10 years
old, and have developed good riding skills. They must be fully
able to comprehend the rules of the road.
Bike riding is an excellent form of transportation, fun, and
relaxation. But sadly when an accident occurs, the injuries can
be serious. Follow these 5 simple tips to keep you healthy, safe,
and enjoying your bike rides all year round!
