I can still remember my first bicycle;
it was a hand-me-down from my older brother. It had a blue frame, white
handlebar grips and a multi-color banana seat. It didn’t matter to me that it
was an older used bicycle, all I cared about was that it was all mine.
A bicycle is the first form of transportation
most of us use, but typically once the training wheels are gone so is the
education. However, each year 100 children die and 245,000 are injured as a
result of a bicycle-related
accident.
Not all of these accidents are caused by
lack of skill or education of the rider; often a poorly maintained bicycle is
to blame. The ABC
quick check (detailed below) takes less than five
minutes and can help to prevent injuries and inconveniences (like a broken
chain far from home).
A
is for Air: Check the air pressure in your tires.
Similar to a car, the recommended air pressure (or PSI) is written on the
sidewall of your tire. Use a pressure gauge to reduce the risk of injuries
caused by over or under inflation.
B
is for Brakes: Pay attention to the wear on your brake
pads. Most brake pads have grooves cut in them to help clear debris. When any
part of those grooves disappear it’s time for new pads. Also, hold down your
brake lever and check to see that your brake pads only make contact with the
rim and not the rubber of the tire.
C
is for Chain and Cranks: Be sure your chain is rust and gunk free. Pull on your
cranks (what attaches your pedal to your bike) to see that they are not loose.
Quick
Release: Many bikes have quick
release tires and seats. Make sure your quick
releases are tightened and secured in a way that won’t catch clothing on the
release. If your bicycle does not have quick releases, it is still a good idea
to check that your tires, seat, and handlebars are all properly tightened and
secured.
Check: Take
a slow, short ride to check that your bike is working properly.
After your bike has been checked,
looking at your helmet
should be your next step. Wearing a properly
fitted helmet is crucial to bike safety. Be sure to
check your helmet before each ride for cracks or dents that may make it less
effective in the event of a crash.
Once you are cruising through the
neighborhood the keys to safe cycling are visibility and predictability. In
most riding situations you’ll need to know how to ride
safely around cars, other cyclists, and
pedestrians. The best way you can stay safe around such a wide variety of road
users is to be seen and predictable with your actions.
- Ride where people can see you. Many children and new cyclists tend to ride only on the sidewalk. While it can be safer to travel on the sidewalk in busy areas, it is actually safer to travel in the same direction as traffic on the road.
- Wear bright clothing. It is important to be as visible as possible. Wear colors like yellow, orange, and red to increase your visibility. Keep a yellow reflective vest handy in case you are wearing darker clothing or are riding at night.
- Use a front white light, rear red light and reflectors at dusk and in bad weather. Just like a car has front headlights and rear red running lights, a bicycle should too. Many cyclists turn on their lights no matter what time of day or weather conditions to increase visibility.
- Make eye contact. Eye contact can communicate our intentions. When at a four-way stop, take a moment to make eye contact with other drivers before proceeding through the intersection. This ensures that other drivers see you and do not try to use the intersection at the same time.
 |
| Bicycle hand signals |
- Scan, signal, scan before you turn. Scanning the area around you ensures the lane is free and also alerts motorists in the lane that you are about to change your position. You should then signal your turn, and then scan again before turning.
- Signal your turns. After you scan to check if the lane you want to use is free, you must signal your intentions. Signaling on a bicycle is just like signaling a turn in a motor vehicle. You should signal for 4-6 second before returning your hand to the handlebars.
Can’t get enough bike safety? Join us for the Bike
Block Party on May
18, 2019 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
at the Plattsburgh
Farmer’s Market. The first 125 participants will
receive free safety gear and a new, properly fitted helmet!
Kim Cummins
Bike Block Party Planning Committee
