Bicycle Safety for Parents and Kids How to Ride Safe

BikeEd League of American Bicyclists Kids I: Safety for parents and children Kids II: Safety for older children Street Skills 101: Adults riding on the road Road II: Advanced mechanics and techniques Commuter: Issues in transportation cycling Motorist: Share the road

League of American Bicyclists

Kids I: Safety for parents and children

Kids II: Safety for older children

Street Skills 101: Adults riding on the road

Road II: Advanced mechanics and techniques

Commuter: Issues in transportation cycling

Motorist: Share the road

What did your first bike mean to you? Fun Freedom Independence Responsibility Transportation paper routes (commercial) visit a friend (recreational) go to school (commuting)

Fun

Freedom

Independence

Responsibility

Transportation

paper routes (commercial)

visit a friend (recreational)

go to school (commuting)

Vehicular Cycling Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles. John Forester Graphics compliments of the Des Moines Register

Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles. John Forester

Roadway Skills Freedom, independence, responsibility These are attributes that will guide children into a lifetime of responsible roadway usage Now let’s keep them safe

Freedom, independence, responsibility

These are attributes that will guide children into a lifetime of responsible roadway usage

Now let’s keep them safe

Why are we here? To Learn: How we keep them safe… and let them grow You are parents: concerned, responsible ensuring that your children have safe learning experiences. You are kids: Exploring Discovering Looking for fun Testing your parents and boundries

To Learn:

How we keep them safe…

and let them grow

You are parents:

concerned,

responsible

ensuring that your children have safe learning experiences.

You are kids:

Exploring

Discovering

Looking for fun

Testing your parents and boundries

Does education benefit children? Most parents think so or they wouldn’t spend time and money for music lessons dance lessons gymnastics classes soccer

Most parents think so or they wouldn’t spend time and money for

music lessons

dance lessons

gymnastics classes

soccer

Is bicycle education effective? Absolutely! BikeEd Hawaii (for 4th graders) 1993: Crashes decreased by 77% Sidewalk riding decreased by 47% Helmet usage increased by 13% Right side riding improved by 7% Northern European Countries have it as a standard part of education. Texas SuperCyclist Project 2003: Helmet usage and fit up by 18% Hands on handlebars increased by 18% Hand signals up 15% Right side riding improved by 8%

Absolutely!

BikeEd Hawaii (for 4th graders) 1993:

Crashes decreased by 77%

Sidewalk riding decreased by 47%

Helmet usage increased by 13%

Right side riding improved by 7%

Northern European Countries have it as a standard part of education. Texas SuperCyclist Project 2003:

Helmet usage and fit up by 18%

Hands on handlebars increased by 18%

Hand signals up 15%

Right side riding improved by 8%

The bicycle is not a toy! It is a vehicle! § 541.201. VEHICLES. In this subtitle: (2) "Bicycle" means a device that a person may ride and that is propelled by human power and has two tandem wheels at least one of which is more than 14 inches in diameter. § 551.101. RIGHTS AND DUTIES . (a) A person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle under this subtitle, (b) A parent of a child or a guardian of a ward may not knowingly permit the child or ward to violate this subtitle.

§ 541.201. VEHICLES. In this subtitle:

(2) "Bicycle" means a device that a person may ride and that is propelled by human power and has two tandem wheels at least one of which is more than 14 inches in diameter.

§ 551.101. RIGHTS AND DUTIES .

(a) A person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle under this subtitle,

(b) A parent of a child or a guardian of a ward may not knowingly permit the child or ward to violate this subtitle.

Getting Started A properly sized, adjusted and maintained bicycle A properly fitting and adjusted helmet This bicycle is too small, or the seat is too low.

A properly sized, adjusted and maintained bicycle

A properly fitting and adjusted helmet

Helmets Variety of sizes and styles. Involve your child Fit and adjustment Start early Always wear your helmet!

Variety of sizes and styles.

Involve your child

Fit and adjustment

Start early

Always wear your helmet!

Helmet Fit Eyes Able to see the front edge of the helmet. Ears Straps meet just below the ears. Mouth When buckled, the chin strap should be tight enough that the helmet moves when the mouth is opened wide.

Eyes

Able to see the front edge of the helmet.

Ears

Straps meet just below the ears.

Mouth

When buckled, the chin strap should be tight enough that the helmet moves when the mouth is opened wide.

First bike Small enough for control Coaster brakes Small hands may not be big enough or strong enough to use hand brakes. Multiple gears not necessary Kids can’t deal with complexity Training wheels? Usually better without Skoot, Gyrobike, no pedals

Small enough for control

Coaster brakes

Small hands may not be big enough or strong enough to use hand brakes.

Multiple gears not necessary

Kids can’t deal with complexity

Training wheels?

Usually better without

Skoot, Gyrobike, no pedals

Bicycle - Correct size only! Stand over height Both feet on the ground Clearance (3-4 inches) above the top tube Seat height Novice: Feet flat on the ground when seated. Experienced: Full leg extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Stand over height

Both feet on the ground

Clearance (3-4 inches) above the top tube

Seat height

Novice: Feet flat on the

ground when seated.

Experienced: Full leg extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

What mistakes do children make? Crash Causes (responsible for 75% of fatalities) Ride outs – failure to yield the right of way, mid-block/driveways intersections (stop signs). Wrong way riding. Left turn or sudden swerves without scanning behind for traffic. Poor judgment of traffic speed and distance. Visibility their ability to see and be seen they assume motorists see them. Lane position – ride all over the street. Ride in groups – instead of single file.

Crash Causes (responsible for 75% of fatalities)

Ride outs – failure to yield the right of way,

mid-block/driveways

intersections (stop signs).

Wrong way riding.

Left turn or sudden swerves without scanning behind for traffic.

Poor judgment of traffic speed and distance.

Visibility

their ability to see and be seen

they assume motorists see them.

Lane position – ride all over the street.

Ride in groups – instead of single file.

Crash Statistics In 2000 27 % of fatalities were between 5 - 15 years old. Rate was 4.1 per million population Rate for all cyclists 2.5 Injury rate was 465 per million population, compared with Rate for all cyclists 186

In 2000

27 % of fatalities were between 5 - 15 years old.

Rate was 4.1 per million population

Rate for all cyclists 2.5

Injury rate was 465 per million population, compared with

Rate for all cyclists 186

What skills does your child need? Right of way and yielding look before entering (left, right, left) Ride on the right Scanning (looking) and signaling Passing parked cars Left turns (box left, vehicular) The Kids II class teaches these skills and others in small steps and repeated drills, which has proven to be the best way for children to learn skills.

Right of way and yielding

look before entering (left, right, left)

Ride on the right

Scanning (looking) and signaling

Passing parked cars

Left turns (box left, vehicular)

The Kids II class teaches these skills and others in small steps and repeated drills, which has proven to be the best way for children to learn skills.

What can you do? Equipment Appropriately sized and adjusted bicycle. Appropriately fitted and adjusted helmet. Teach skill set. Set a good example. Set rules for the children about when and where they may ride. Instill beginning rules of the road Ride in a straight line with traffic. Behave predictably. Follow rules of the road (traffic laws).

Equipment

Appropriately sized and adjusted bicycle.

Appropriately fitted and adjusted helmet.

Teach skill set.

Set a good example.

Set rules for the children about when and where they may ride.

Instill beginning rules of the road

Ride in a straight line with traffic.

Behave predictably.

Follow rules of the road (traffic laws).

ABC Quick Check Pre-Ride Safety Check A- Air B- Brakes C- Chain & Crank Quick- Releases Check- with a short/safe ride Basic Tools Allen Wrench, spare tube/patch kit, pump, levers Tire Repair Punctures, snake bites, & everything else Gears & Derailleurs Cadence (75-95rpm) Brakes Lube

Pre-Ride Safety Check

A- Air

B- Brakes

C- Chain & Crank

Quick- Releases

Check- with a short/safe ride

Basic Tools Allen Wrench, spare tube/patch kit, pump, levers

Tire Repair Punctures, snake bites, & everything else

Gears & Derailleurs Cadence (75-95rpm)

Brakes

Lube

Parking Lot Drills Starting & Stopping Straight Line Scanning Signaling

Starting & Stopping

Straight Line

Scanning

Signaling

Let’s Ride!