1- Wear a Helmet!

The first rule of riding scooters, skateboards, bikes, and rollerblades is "Wear a Helmet"! It seems like such a simple life-saving device, but for some reason many sports enthusiasts forget to don their headgear. The sad part- many children are killed or severely disabled from head injury on bikes and boards!

Never heard of such a case?

South Bend Tribune South Bend, Indiana
August 31, 1998
"Three teens injured in car-bike crash"

Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia, Missouri
January 10, 2000
"Moberly child dies in car-bicycle accident"

Studies show that 74-85% of bicycle related head injuries could be prevented with the proper use of a helmet. So, what is "proper use"?

The first step is to buy a good helmet. Although second hand helmets may work just as well, a new helmet is less likely to be cracked or weakened from use. Then, make sure it fits! Adjust the side straps first, then the chinstrap until the buckle fits neatly against the bottom of the chin. The helmet should fit snugly against the top of the head, and secure against the bottom of the chin without any excess strap.

The second step is the one most cyclists miss. Wear your helmet every time you get on the bike! (This means with the straps fastened!) Many children are injured on their very own neighborhood street, so safety is important even when just riding next door. If other kids aren't wearing helmets, be the one who starts a trend! A white helmet with personalized glow-in-the-dark or metallic stickers is a great way to make friends jealous. ;)

The third step is one of choice. Talk to your family and decide whether you should wear gloves, kneepads, and elbow pads. Although pads are not as necessary while riding on grass or turf, a blow from concrete to the elbow or knee can cause permanent damage. Gloves can add grip to the handlebars, as well as padding during a fall. Extra safety precautions can help riders avoid injuries that would keep them from their bicycle for the rest of their life.

Riding, rolling, and wheeling is a most excellent way to get healthy! Unfortunately, it is also a great way to get severely injured or killed. Although the safety gear lowers a kid's chance of death or injury on a bike, it takes a community effort of awareness and widespread education to stop the present fatal trend. We must all work together to see that rolling sports are safe for everyone involved!

If that isn't enough reason, take into consideration the boy in California who was arrested and handcuffed because of no bicycle helmet. The nine-year-old boy was warned twice by a local police officer to wear his helmet. When he did not comply, the officer reminded him with a court date and handcuffs. Since helmet laws are in effect throughout much of the world, children need to be aware that it is their responsibility as citizens to obey the law while operating a vehicle.

Don't let yourself become the next news story. Wear a helmet.

2- Don't ride in high traffic areas.

Many of us see mature cyclists riding safely alongside traffic, but for kids this is extremely dangerous! Children under 10 should never attempt to ride near traffic, and should always ride with an adult.

3- Make sure the bike fits the rider.

Many accidents occur when children try to ride a bike that is too big for them. To see if your bike fits properly, sit on the seat and try to balance the bike with your toes. If the bike is too high, you may be able to adjust the seat lower until it fits. If not- find a bike that fits!

4- Obey traffic rules and use hand signals.

A bicycle is a "vehicle". This means that bikes are in the same category as cars. Learn hand signals, and obey signs and lights as if you were driving a car. The stop sign pertains to cyclists, as well as motorists.

5- Watch for Road Hazards.

It's a sad day when a cyclist is hurt and a bike is broken due to a wandering dog. Be constantly aware of objects in your path, and watch the roadside for large, furry hazards, potholes, people, gravel, or other obstacles.

6- Check your bike for safety.

Important safety gear includes reflectors, brakes, a headlight, and a basket. Make sure your bike has reflectors on front and back. Be sure the brakes will stop the bike smoothly in a short distance. Use a headlight for the hour before dusk, so cars are better able to spot you. A basket is necessary to safely carry packages; otherwise a cyclist's hands are full of package and not handlebars.

Check mechanics such as tires, brake, handlebars, and chains to be sure they work properly.

7- Wear reflective clothing.

Dusk is a time of danger. Just as the sun goes down, cyclists become almost invisible to motorists. Be sure drivers can see you well enough to avoid a collision by wearing bright, white, or reflective clothing.

8- Ride on the right side of the road.

Or the left, if you're in the UK! Cyclists should always ride in the same direction as traffic. Since bicycles are vehicles, cyclists must obey the traffic signs and regulations. Ride in the direction of traffic so motorists are better able to see and avoid you!

9- Look left, right, left when entering traffic.

If you're on the right side of the road, and entering traffic be sure to look both ways and then back again. Cars can actually speed down the highway at a rate where one second may make all the difference. Be sure to look left again before pedaling into a traffic area.

10- Ride in single file.

Riding as a group is always safer! Take several friends on your next bike excursion, but remember to ride in single file. When riding abreast, one ride's mistake can mean a shove into traffic for the person beside him. Stay in a single file and be alert for hand signals and swerves from the rider in front. Their quick thinking might save you from an obstacle as well!

11- Walk your bike across an intersection.

Most accidents occur near intersections. This inflow of traffic, pedestrians, and signals causes a dangerous situation. Whenever possible use a crosswalk and a crossing light. But always walk the bike across the street. A mishap in the middle of the road could quickly lead to further injuries for all involved.

12- Pedestrians have the right-of-way.

Pedestrians are the people on the street. Whether they are walking on the sidewalk, crossing the street, or even meandering blindly through your bike lane, a pedestrian has the right-of-way. It is a cyclists responsibility to watch carefully for those on foot and yield to them whenever necessary.

13- NEVER listen to headphones while riding or skating.

As in the virtual skating and BMX games, jammin' music usually accompanies great skating or biking. But headphones can in reality be one of the most dangerous things a wheeler can wear. Safe cyclists are reliant on their ears to bring sounds of approaching vehicles, animals, and people so don't intentionally cut off the extra safety precaution with loud sounds.