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Bicycle Safety

Rules of the Road

Always ride with your hands on the handlebars.
Always stop and check for traffic in both directions when leaving a driveway, alley or curb.
Cross at intersections. When you pull out between parked cars, drivers can't see you coming.
Walk your bike across busy intersections using the crosswalk and following traffic signals.
Ride on the right-hand side of the street, in the same direction as cars do. Never ride against traffic.
Use bike lanes or designated bike routes wherever you can.
Don't ride too close to parked cars – doors can open suddenly.
Ride single file on the street with friends.
When passing other bikers or people on the street, always pass to their left, and call out "On your left!," so they know that you are coming.

Helmets Safe cycling starts with always wearing a helmet. California state law requires everyone 18 and younger to wear a helmet when riding a bike on public roads, sidewalks or bike paths. Safety experts recommend that everyone wear a helmet regardless of age. That's even true for worldclass cyclists like those in the Amgen Tour of California. Get in the habit of always buckling your chinstrap before you step on a bike pedal.

Every year, more than 700 people are killed in bicycle accidents. Most of these deaths are caused by head injuries.

You should only wear a certified bicycle helmet; look for the initials of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Wearing A Helmet Step 1 - Size: Measure your head for size. Try the helmet on to ensure it fits snuggly. While it is sitting flat on top of your head, make sure it doesn't rock from side to side. If needed, use the sizing pads that come with helmets to ensure that yours fits securely to your head. Check your child's helmet periodically, and remove the padding as need as your child's head grows. If the helmet has a universal fit ring instead of sizing pads, adjust the ring to fit the head.
Step 2 - Position: The helmet should sit level on your head and low on your forehead – one or two finger-widths above your eyebrow.
Step 3 - Buckles: Center the left buckle under the chin. On most helmets, the straps can be pulled from the back of the helmet to lengthen or shorten the chin straps. This task is easier if you take the helmet off to make these adjustments.
Step 4 - Side Straps: Adjust the slider on both straps to form a "V" shape under, and slightly in front of, the ears. Lock the slider if possible. Step 5 - Chin Strap: Buckle your chin strap. Tighten the strap until it is snug, so that no more than one or two fingers fit under it.
Step 6 - Final Fitting:

Does your helmet fit right? Open your mouth wide … big yawn! The helmet should pull down on your head. If not, go back to step 5 and retighten the chin strap.
Does your helmet rock back more than two fingers above eyebrows? If so, unbuckle and shorten the front strap by moving the slider forward. Buckle, retighten the chin strap and test again.
Does your helmet rock forward into your eyes? If so, unbuckle and tighten the back strap by moving the slider back toward the ear. Buckle, retighten the chin strap and test again.
Roll the rubber band down to the buckle. All four straps must go through the rubber band and be close to the buckle to prevent the buckle from slipping.

For information, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Bike Helmet Safety Diagram