Bicycle Safety

About 800 people in the United States are killed from bicycle injuries each year, most of them from head injuries. And many more get injuries like broken bones or deep cuts that require emergency medical treatment. That's why it's so important that you protect yourself and your children with the right equipment and knowledge of bicycle safety.

For young children, set the following hard and fast rules:

• No playing on the road.
• No riding on busy streets.
• No riding at night.
• Stop for all stop signs.
• Ride on the right with traffic.
• Make your own decisions.

Bike Maintenance

Regular maintenance of any bike is important to you and your child's safety as well as the long life of your bicycle. Maintenance isn't just a yearly tune-up. It means inspecting all bikes every time you take them out for a ride. Listed below are a few things to check out before heading out.

• Make sure your bicycle is the right size. When you are on your bicycle, stand straddling the top bar of your bike so that both feet are flat on the ground.
  • There should be 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimeters) of space between you and the top bar.
  • The bike seat should be adjusted so that after sitting on the seat with your foot on the bike pedal, your knee will be slightly bent.
• Tighten your bike's seat, handlebars, and wheels. Make sure the wheels are straight.
• Check and oil your chain regularly.
• Always check your brakes before riding to make sure they are working properly and do not stick.
• Check your tires to make sure they have enough air and the correct tire pressure.
• If you'll need to carry something while you ride, attach a basket to your handlebars or a rack over your rear tire.
• Put reflectors on your bike to help people see you. You should put a red reflector, 3 inches across, behind your front seat. There should also be a white reflector in front of the handlebars, and other reflectors in the spokes of both wheels.

How to Purchase a Helmet

Helmets do not come in one-size fits all. Children and adults heads vary widely in shape and size so it's important that the cyclist try the helmet on before purchasing it. When shopping for a helmet, look for the following features:

• The helmet should stay on your head and should not slide back and forth. It should sit level and fit snugly, but not so tight that it is uncomfortable.
• The helmet should cover as much of your head as possible, including your forehead.
• Make sure the helmet has a SNELL, ASTM, or ANSI label. These labels indicate the helmet has been tested and safety approved.

How to Fit a Bicycle Helmet

Put the helmet level on the head, not tilted back or sideways.
The strap should be comfortably snug with only one finger width between it and the chin when buckled.
It will take a little time to get a good fit - be patient.

For more information visit:

• Helmet Junction
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
• Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
• Bicycle Safety for Kids
• Gearing up for Bicycle Safety
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Research
• Bicycle Safety.com
• Bicycle Traffic Safety
• Bicycle Safety Education Resource Center
• National Safe Kids Campaign
• CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
• Utah Bicycle Laws
• Bicycling Restrictions on State of Utah Highways
• Bicycle Safety and Skills for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
• Should You Take Your Baby Along? - Bicycle Safety Article