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Bicycle Safety
By:
Published: August 17, 2006
Children hear it countless times from nurturing, seemingly over-protective parents: “Safety first.”
For the boundless, fearless explorer less than five feet tall, bicycle safety was like a stubborn leash, keeping them bound to some extension of their parent, constricting their enthusiastic desire to fully experience whatever was on the day’s exciting agenda.
Cracked skulls, fractured femurs and internal bleeding are some of the worst-case scenarios when a biker fails to use bicycle safety. Other tragic biking accidents can result in paralysis or death. However, there are some simple tips and guidelines bikers can abide by to ensure proper bicycle safety.
Before taking the bike out of the garage, make sure is functioning properly. Each spring, the bike should have an annual checkup, just like a car. Checkups generally cost $50 to $75 and greatly improve the bike’s performance.
Here are some smaller details to take care of in the meantime:
Chains need to be clean, oiled and secured; loose chains are asking for trouble.
Tires need to have an appropriate amount of air. The tire’s correct pressure can be measured at sides of each tire.
Adjust the seat accordingly. Local bike shops can help.
Ensure the breaks still work effectively and do not rub on the tires when pedaling.
Attach reflectors to the wheel spokes and the front and back of the bike; each reflector should be visible from 500 feet. Also, if riding during the evening or night, be sure to wear colorful attire to be identifiable by drivers.
Right before saddling up: Grab a helmet and strap it on! Of the 85 million bike riders trekking around American avenues and back roads, 67,000 suffer from head injuries and nearly one third of those injured bikers must visit the emergency room (statistics from www.helmet.org). A $50 helmet is exponentially cheaper than the cost of hospital bills.
Bicycle safety tips for while the wheels are in motion:
Unfortunately, street signs apply to quick-pedaling bike riders, and bike riders often overlook this aspect of bicycle safety. This means bike riders must make complete stops at stop signs, ride in the same direction as traffic and signal when turning.
Be aware of surroundings, such as possible car doors quickly opening, an indecisive driver unexpectedly swerving and crossing through intersections during yellow lights. While the road belongs to both the bike rider and driver, cars are infinitely more powerful than titanium bikes.
Apparently, the annoying phrase adults frequently uttered- “safety first”- had some relevance. It is a cliché needing to be put into practice.
It usually takes 20 minutes and some street awareness to achieve optimal bicycle safety. Taking the time before each ride to make sure the bike is functioning correctly will protect a rider from an injury or, even worse, never being able to ride a bike again.
For the boundless, fearless explorer less than five feet tall, bicycle safety was like a stubborn leash, keeping them bound to some extension of their parent, constricting their enthusiastic desire to fully experience whatever was on the day’s exciting agenda.
Cracked skulls, fractured femurs and internal bleeding are some of the worst-case scenarios when a biker fails to use bicycle safety. Other tragic biking accidents can result in paralysis or death. However, there are some simple tips and guidelines bikers can abide by to ensure proper bicycle safety.
Before taking the bike out of the garage, make sure is functioning properly. Each spring, the bike should have an annual checkup, just like a car. Checkups generally cost $50 to $75 and greatly improve the bike’s performance.
Here are some smaller details to take care of in the meantime:
Chains need to be clean, oiled and secured; loose chains are asking for trouble.
Tires need to have an appropriate amount of air. The tire’s correct pressure can be measured at sides of each tire.
Adjust the seat accordingly. Local bike shops can help.
Ensure the breaks still work effectively and do not rub on the tires when pedaling.
Attach reflectors to the wheel spokes and the front and back of the bike; each reflector should be visible from 500 feet. Also, if riding during the evening or night, be sure to wear colorful attire to be identifiable by drivers.
Right before saddling up: Grab a helmet and strap it on! Of the 85 million bike riders trekking around American avenues and back roads, 67,000 suffer from head injuries and nearly one third of those injured bikers must visit the emergency room (statistics from www.helmet.org). A $50 helmet is exponentially cheaper than the cost of hospital bills.
Bicycle safety tips for while the wheels are in motion:
Unfortunately, street signs apply to quick-pedaling bike riders, and bike riders often overlook this aspect of bicycle safety. This means bike riders must make complete stops at stop signs, ride in the same direction as traffic and signal when turning.
Be aware of surroundings, such as possible car doors quickly opening, an indecisive driver unexpectedly swerving and crossing through intersections during yellow lights. While the road belongs to both the bike rider and driver, cars are infinitely more powerful than titanium bikes.
Apparently, the annoying phrase adults frequently uttered- “safety first”- had some relevance. It is a cliché needing to be put into practice.
It usually takes 20 minutes and some street awareness to achieve optimal bicycle safety. Taking the time before each ride to make sure the bike is functioning correctly will protect a rider from an injury or, even worse, never being able to ride a bike again.
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