Bicycle Safety

Did You Know?

Every two minutes, a child is treated in an emergency room for an unintentional cycle-related incident.
More children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms for biking related-injuries than any other sport.
Helmet use is the most effective way to reduce bicycle-related fatalities.
Non-motorized scooters cause more injuries to kids than any other toy.
Every $12 spent on a bicycle helmet for a child generates $580 in cost-saving benefits to society.

Wear a Helmet. It is the single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes.
Find the Right Helmet Fit. Make sure your child has the right size helmet and wears it every time when riding.
Make sure the helmet fits and your child knows how to put it on correctly. A helmet should sit on top of the head in a level position, and should not rock forward, backward or side to side. The helmet straps must always be buckled, but not too tightly.
Check your equipment. Before the ride, make sure the reflectors are secure, brakes work properly, gears shift smoothly, and tires are tightly secured and properly inflated.
Dress young kids appropriately. Long or loose clothing can get caught in bike chains or wheel spokes.
Stay Alert. Teach your child to watch for cars and trucks.
Children should be able to show they know the rules of the road before cycling with traffic.
Model Good Behavior because kids learn from watching you. Wear a helmet, even if you didn’t when you were a kid.
Ride with traffic, not against it. Stay as far to the right as possible. Use appropriate hand signals and respect traffic signals, stopping at all stop signs and stoplights.
Stop and look left, right and left again before entering a street or crossing an intersection. Look back and yield to traffic coming from behind before turning left.
Be Bright. Use Lights and reflectors so drivers can see you.