In 1817, Baron von Drais invented a walking machine that would help him get around the royal gardens faster: two same-size in-line wheels, the front one steerable, mounted in a frame which you straddled. The device was propelled by pushing your feet against the ground, thus rolling yourself and the device forward in a sort of gliding walk. The machine became known as the Draisienne or hobby horse. Von Drais' invention was the embryonic phase of what came to be known as the bicycle through its many variations.

The bicycle has played a prominent part in our childhood, youth, and even adulthood. It was through learning how to ride a bicycle that many of us first felt an exhilarating feeling of operating a moving mode of transportation. It propelled us to make friends, get good exercise, and appreciate the outdoors. In communities across the world, there is a growing need and responsibility to provide options that give people the opportunity to bike more often, and to bike to more places. The benefits of riding a bicycle - whether for utilitarian or recreational purposes—can be expressed in terms of improved environmental and personal health, reduced traffic congestion, enhanced quality of life, economic rewards, as well as others.

Nevertheless, there are risks involved when bicyclists do not follow bicycle safety tips and break traffic laws. In 2008, 716 bicyclists were killed and an additional 52,000 were injured in traffic crashes. Bicyclist deaths accounted for two percent of all traffic fatalities, and bicyclists made up two percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year. Even though many of those were caused by motor vehicle driver error, a bicyclist must always be in tune to the defensive side of riding a bike. It's not always as easy as it seems, and maybe its not like "riding a bike" or maybe it is if you get in the habit of riding safely.

The following are some bicycle safety tips from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) that should be followed in going through and continuing the cycle of bicycle safety.

Protect Your Head; Wear a Helmet - Never ride a bicycle without wearing a properly fitted helmet. Helmets are proven to be 85-88 percent effective in preventing traumatic brain injury, the primary cause of death and disabling injuries resulting from cycling crashes.

Assure Bicycle Readiness, Ensure Proper Size and Function of Bicycle - Use a bicycle that fits you, and check all parts of the bicycle to make sure they are secure and working well.

Ride Wisely, Learn and Follow the Rules of the Road - Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators on the road and must follow traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles. Always ride with traffic and obey traffic lights, signs, speed limits, and lane markings. Know your traffic laws found in the state drivers’ licensing handbook. Signal in advance of a turn, use correct hand signals so others can anticipate your actions. Yield to pedestrians and other vehicles, as appropriate. If you choose to ride on a sidewalk, take extra caution at driveways and other intersections. Check for traffic by looking left-right-left before entering a street. Control your speed by using your brakes. If your bicycle has hand brakes, apply the rear brakes slightly before the front brakes.

Be Predictable, Act like a Driver of a Vehicle - Always ride with the flow of traffic, on the right side of the road, and as far to the right of the road as is practical and safe. Motorists do not expect to see traffic coming in the opposite direction or on the sidewalk. When motorists don’t expect to see you, they may pull across your path or turn into you, causing a crash. Ride straight and do not swerve in a lane or in and out of traffic.

Be Visible: See and Be Seen at All Times- Always assume you are not seen by others. To enhance your visibility at night or in low-visibility conditions: wear neon & fluorescent colors, wear special clothing from reflective materials, and install bicycle reflectors on both the front & back of your bicycle. Remember that young children should be discouraged from riding at night.

"Drive" with Care, Share the Road - Choose to ride in the bike lane, if available. If the roadway or bike lane is wide, ride to the right; if the lane is narrow, you may choose to ride in the middle of the lane just like a motorized vehicle. Take extra precautions when riding on a roadway: make eye contact, smile, or wave to communicate with motorists; be considerate and aware of motorists and pedestrians, learn to anticipate their actions, and remember that pedestrians do have the right of way; ride far enough from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars; keep control of your bicycle, look behind you while maintaining your bicycle in a straight path; always look over your shoulder, and if possible, signal before changing lanes; use bells, horns, or your voice to alert pedestrians and bicyclists that you are approaching or passing.

Stay Focused, Stay Alert - Never wear headphones or use an I-Pod while riding, they hinder your ability to hear traffic. Always look for obstacles in your path (potholes, cracks, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you fall). Be aware of the traffic around you, ride defensively. Use extra care when riding in wet weather, slow your speed and allow extra time to stop. Use caution when crossing a railroad track; cross tracks at a 90-degrees angle and proceed slowly.

By constantly following & applying the magnificent seven bicycle safety messages on the "cycle of bicycle safety", you can play an imperative role in reducing fatalities & injuries to bicyclists and be breaking away from danger.

Labels: bicycle safety, bicyclists, bike safety, traffic safety

Bicycle riding is fun and healthy. But remember, a bicycle is a vehicle, not a toy. When you ride, be sure to:

• Make sure your bicycle is ready to ride.
• Before riding, always inspect your bike to be sure all parts are secure and working properly.
• Protect your brain and save your life.
  

Always wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet. For more information, consult the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publication "Easy Steps to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet."

• Make sure your bicycle fits your body. If using a road bike, here should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube (bar); if using a mountain bicycle, it should be 3 to 4 inches. Front to back, the seat should be level. Adjust the seat height to allow a slight bend at the knee when your leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be aligned with your seat.
• Check your tires and brakes. Inflate tires properly and check that your brakes work before riding.
• See and be seen. You need to be seen by others, whether you’re riding daytime, dawn, dusk, foul weather, or at night. It has not been shown that wearing white does not make you more visible. Instead, always wear neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding, and add something that reflects light, such as reflective tape or markings, or flashing lights. It is wise to remember that just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean the driver can see you.
• Control your bicycle. Never ride without at least one hand on the handlebars at all times. Books and other things should be carried in a bicycle carrier or backpack.
• Watch out for and avoid road hazards. Potholes, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves, and dogs are just some hazards that can cause a crash. Yell out and point to the hazard to the cyclists behind you if you are riding with someone.
• Do not ride at night. It is far more risky to ride at night because it is harder for others to see you. If you must ride at night, wear something that makes you more easily seen by others. Be sure you have reflectors on the front and rear of your bicycle (many states require white lights on the front and red rear reflectors), in addition to reflectors on your tires, so others can see you.
  

Rules of Bicycling on the Road

Many bicycle-related crashes resulting in injury or death are the result of the bicyclist’s behavior, including such things as not wearing a bicycle helmet, cycling into a street without stopping, making a left or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind, blowing past a stop sign, and cycling the wrong way in traffic. To be the safest you can be, always wear a helmet AND follow the rules of the road.

In many states, bicycles are considered vehicles, and cyclists have the same responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists. When cycling, always:

• Ride with the traffic flow. Bike on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. Ride with the flow - not against it.
• Follow all traffic laws. You’re the driver, and bicycle is a vehicle. When biking in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.
• Yield to traffic when you should. Drivers on a smaller road almost always must wait for traffic on a major or larger road. If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and you are coming from out of a driveway, from a sidewalk, or a bike path, for example, you must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before proceeding. You must also yield to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk.
• Don't be surprising. Stay straight, not in and out of cars. Signal your turns to others.
• At all times, stay alert. Use not only your eyes but your ears too. Be on the lookout for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. To avoid dangerous situations, you need your ears to hear traffic; don't wear a headset when you ride.
• Look before turning. Always look behind you for a break in traffic before you turn, then signal before making the turn. Look out for left- or right-turning traffic.
• Look for parked cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (opening doors, or cars pulling out, for example).
  

Street versus Sidewalk Riding

The street is the safest place for bicycle riding, where bicycles are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorists and ride in the same direction.

• Children less than 10 years old are not mature enough to make the decisions necessary to safely ride in the street. Kids are better off riding on the sidewalk.

If you must ride on a sidewalk:

• Check the law in your state or jurisdiction to make sure riding on the sidewalk is allowed.
• Look out for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways.
• Halt at corners of sidewalks and streets to look both ways for cars and to make sure the drivers see you before crossing.
• Enter a street at a corner as opposed to entering between parked cars. Alert pedestrians that you are closing upon them by saying, "Excuse me," or, "Passing on your left," or use a bell or horn.
  

Schools, parents and communities can learn more about driver education and safety at America's Driver License Headquarters TestQuestionsandAnswers.com. Try a Free DMV Practice Test online!

Labels: bicycle safety, bike safety, traffic laws