Bicycling can be a safe way to get aerobic exercise while enjoying the outdoors. However, more than half a million bicycle-related injuries are treated in emergency rooms each year. Bicycle injuries can be prevented by following a few simple rules.
Rules and Tips for Safe Bicycling
Bicyclist Always wear an approved bike helmet to avoid head injuries. A helmet can reduce risk of head injury by 85 percent. Let your child help pick out the helmet because it must be worn every time he/she rides the bike.- Check your bike before riding to be sure the brakes, tires and other mechanical parts are in working order. Children should do this with the assistance of an adult.
- Ride a bike that fits your size. You should be able to straddle your bike with both feet flat on the ground.
- Do not wear loose clothing that may catch in the chain or wheels.
- Always wear closed-toe shoes to avoid foot injuries.
- Go slowly on sidewalks and bike paths. Yield to pedestrians. Give audible warning when you pass pedestrians. Bikes in the City of Ottawa must be affixed with a bell. Don’t cross driveways or intersections without slowing down and looking very carefully for automobiles
- Walk your bike across busy intersections.
- When riding in the street, the cyclist must obey the traffic laws that apply to motor vehicle operators, such as obeying traffic signs, following lane markings and using correct hand signals.
- When riding in the street, ride on the right side of the road in the same direction traffic is flowing. When riding with friends, ride single file — not side by side.
- Don’t weave between parked cars. Motorists may not see you when you move back into traffic.
- Don’t pass on the right. Motorists may not look for or see a bicycle passing on the right.
- Use hand signals before turning and follow rules of the road established for all vehicles, including bicycles.
- Take care of your bike.
Three Common Collisions
- Bicyclist Left Turn or Sudden Swerve: The bicyclist makes a sudden turn left without checking the traffic behind or signaling. Bicyclist needs to look behind and yield to overtaking traffic when changing lanes and use hand signals.
- Stop-Sign Ride-Out: This accident occurs when a bicyclist fails to stop/slow and look for traffic before entering an intersection. Bicyclist needs to obey all traffic signals and stop at the stop sign, not in the intersection.
- Mid-Block Ride-Out: This is the most frequent accident type for young riders and occurs soon after the bicyclist enters the road from a driveway, alley or curb without slowing, stopping or looking for traffic. The bicyclist’s sudden entry leaves the motorist too little time to avoid the collision. Bicyclist needs to stop and look left-right-left for traffic before entering the road.
Bicycling is Fun! Be Safe!