Bicycle Safety Tips and Injury Prevention

Bicycling popularity is on the rise.Whether one rides for transportation, recreation, sport or exercise, safety should be a number one priority. Significant injury can result if basic bicycle safety is not observed. Injuries can be vast ranging from minor cuts and bruises to the more serious broken bone(s), internal injuries, head injuries, and even death.

Common causes of injury on a bicycle

• Loss of control: Most bicycle injuries result from falls or collisions with stationary objects, after the bicyclist loses control.
• Riding after dark: Visibility is down for the rider and the vehicles sharing the road with them.
• Hidden driveways: Driveway ride-outs with obstructed view of road traffic can be a hazard. Bushes and trees can obstruct the view of both the rider and the passing motorists.
• Failure to follow the rules of the road:  Running stop signs, unexpected turns, improper lane changes, and improper yielding to others on the road.

These dangers are all avoidable. Following are some simple bicycle safety tips to help prevent injury and keep the sport of bicycling fun and safe.

Bicycle Safety Tips

1. Wear a helmet
2. Be seen
3. Stay alert
4. Obey traffic laws

Wear a Helmet

• Protects against head injury.
• Increases rider visibility.
• Helmet should sit flat atop the head and have a snug fit.
• Helmet should be leveled over forehead and not slip foreword or backward.
• Use the extra padding that comes with a helmet to obtain a better fit for children.
• Encourage young children by allowing their helmet to be a fashion statement. This will not only ensure the wearing of the helmet but also increase their visibility.
• Treat your helmet as part of the bicycle; it is as necessary as the wheels.

Be Seen

Wear cloths that increase your visibility, bright colors, neon, and florescent.

Stay Alert

• Know your surroundings.
• Watch your path for anything that can make you fall. Watch out for potholes, cracks in the pavement, wet leaves, or sewer grates to name a few hazards.
• Never ride with headphones on.
• Be aware of vehicles and pedestrians around you.
• Secure your driveway. Clear any shrubs or trees that will decrease visibility for the bike rider and motor vehicles.

Obey Traffic Laws

• Obey all traffic signs, lane markings, and traffic lights.
• Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic. Motorists expect bicyclists to ride with traffic; it is the law.
• Use proper hand signals when making turns. Always use your left hand to signal. A left turn is signaled by extending your left arm straight out away from your side. To turn right, extend left arm, bend at elbow with your hand up. To signal a stop, extend your left arm, bend at elbow with your hand down.
• Follow lane markings just as any motor vehicle must. For example, if a lane is marked right turn only do not go straight.
• Be aware of the road behind you.   Practice looking back over your shoulder and maintaining balance in order to monitor your surroundings.
• Pedestrians have the right of way. Yield to pedestrians always, yield to other vehicles as road laws dictate.

Special Tips for Young Riders

Generally it will be the parent who teaches a child to ride their first bike. It is in these early years as a bike rider that habits will be established. As a parent you have an opportunity to instill safe riding practices. Following are some tips to help guide your young rider and hopefully teach them to adopt safe riding habits.

• The bike and helmet must fit the child. Both feet should touch the ground when the child is on the bike and the helmet must fit securely.
• No riding the bike at night.
• No riding in the street.
• No riding a bike without a helmet.
• Stop at every corner; bike to be walked across the street.