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Bicycle Safety

 

KIDS AND BIKE HELMETS: THE RIGHT FIT

Bike helmets are not optional equipment.

Universal use of bike helmets by children ages four to 15 would prevent an estimated 135 to 155 deaths annually.

Helmets have been shown in studies to reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by 90 percent. Nationally, only 15 percent of children bicyclists used bicycle helmets.

Here are some points to consider when purchasing or fitting a bike helmet on a child:

  • The helmet should sit on the child's head so that the front rim is just above the eyebrows. If the helmet rests on the back of the head, the forehead, nose and chin will be exposed.
  • Before buckling the chin strap, have children shake their head from side to side. The helmet should generally stay put. If it moves excessively, it's too big and won't protect the head no matter how tight the chin strap is pulled.
  • When the chin strap is buckled, children should be able to open their mouth and feel the helmet press firmly against the top of their head.
  • Buy a new helmet. Helmets that have suffered even a single fall or have been exposed to heat for a long time (i.e., kept in the trunk of a car) lose the cohesion that keeps the helmet intact during impact.
  • Don't forget to set an example by wearing a helmet yourself!
  • Remember the bike safety rules

 

Laws to remember...

  • Ride your bike on the right hand side of the road.
  • Always ride in the same direction as the cars.
  • Use a bike path if one is available.
  • If you are with others, ride single file, not side by side.
  • When on the sidewalk remember to be careful around the people that are walking.
  • Always wear a bicycle helmet!
  • Obey all traffic signs.

Safety Rules...

  • Stop your bike at street corners.
  • Look to the right, left, and behind you before you start to cross the street.  Make sure all cars stop and drivers see you before you step into the street.
  • If the light is red, you need to stop just like the cars.
  • If the light is green, you should check that all cars see you before you cross the street.
  • Walk your bike when you are in the crosswalk.
  • Wear light colors and reflective strips when riding at night.
  • Oh yeah!  Always wear a bicycle helmet!

Skates and Skateboards...

Bike safety tips are useful when you use skates or a skateboard too!

  • Ride on sidewalks, not in traffic.
  • Do not ride through crosswalks.  Carry your skateboard in your hand so you do not startle other pedestrians and so you don't fall in the roadway.
  • Never hang onto a moving vehicle when on your bike, skates, or skateboard.
  • Oh yeah!  Always wear a bicycle helmet!