Safety Tips - Bicycles

ALWAYS wear a helmet when you ride.
ALWAYS do a safety check before you ride your bike (nothing loose or damaged).
NEVER give anyone a ride on your handlebars.
ALWAYS wear bright colors, so you can be seen.
ALWAYS have a light mounted on your bike when you ride at night.
ALWAYS make sure no loose clothing can get tangled in the wheels or bike chain.

TEN RULES OF THE ROAD:
1) Obey the same traffic signs and symbols cars and trucks obey.
2) Never go so fast that you can't turn or stop.
3) Look left, right and left again for traffic before entering or crossing a roadway.
4) Ride single-file and to the right on a roadway.
5) ALWAYS stop at STOP SIGNS and the curb.
6) Keep bike steady and ride in a straight line. DON'T clown around.
7) ALWAYS use hand signals when you stop and make a turn.
8) ALWAYS signal with your LEFT HAND.
9) ALWAYS brake before turning.
10) Walk (don't ride) your bike across busy intersections.

HARD FACTS:
*Bike crashes kill 813 people every year and send another 567,000 to hospital emergency rooms with injuries.
*Bicyclists under the age of 16 account for 31% of all bicyclists killed and 43% of those injured in crashes in 1997. Bicyclists between the ages of 5-15 accounted for 30%.
*Every year 350,000 children under the age of 16 go to the hospital emergency room with bike related injuries; 130,000 of these children suffer head injuries.
*Bike helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by 85%.
*Bike helmets are the single most effective safety device for reducing head injuries and death from bike mishaps.
*Broken arms mend, bruises heal, but a head injury can be forever.

See "Documents, Maps & Code of Ordinances" for relevant City Codes.