Bicycle Safety Tips
Bicycle riding is fun, healthy and a great way to be independent. But it is important to remember that a bicycle is not a toy; it is a vehicle!
Follow some basic safety tips when you ride.
Before using your bicycle, make sure it is ready to ride. You should always inspect your bike to make sure all parts are secure and working properly.
Remember to: 
Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit
Stand over your bicycle. There should be one to two inches between you and the top tube (bar) if using a road bike and three to four inches if a mountain bicycle. The seat should be level front to back. The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat.
Check Your Equipment
Before riding, inflate tires properly and check that your brakes work.
See and Be Seen
Whether daytime, dawn, dusk, foul weather or at night, you need to be seen by others. Wearing white has not been shown to make you more visible. Rather, always wear neon, fluorescent or other bright colors when riding day or night. Also wear something that reflects light, such as reflective tape or markings or flashing lights. Remember, just because you can see a driver does not mean the driver can see you.
Control Your Bicycle
Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars. Carry books and other items in a
bicycle carrier or backpack.
Avoid Road Hazards
Be on the lookout for hazards such as potholes, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves and dogs. All these hazards can cause a crash. If you are riding with friends and you are in the lead, yell out and point to the hazard to alert the riders behind you.
Avoid Riding at Night
It is far more dangerous to ride at night than during the day because you are harder for others to see. If you have to ride at night, wear something that makes you more easily seen by others. Make sure you have reflectors on the front and rear of your bicycle (white lights on the front and red rear reflectors are required by law in many states), in addition to reflectors on your tires, so others can see you. Many bicycle-related crashes resulting in injury or death are associated with the bicyclist’s behavior, including such things as not wearing a bicycle helmet, riding into a street without stopping, turning left or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind, running a stop sign and riding the wrong way in traffic. To maximize your safety, always wear a helmet AND follow the rules of the road.
Be Predictable 
Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others.
Stay Alert at All Times
Use your eyes AND ears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. You need your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; do not wear a headset when you ride.
Look Before Turning
When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, and then signal before making the turn. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.
Watch for Parked Cars
Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening or cars pulling out).
Rules of the Road
Bicycles in many states are considered vehicles, and cyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists. When riding, always:
Go With the Traffic Flow
Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. Go with the flow – not against it.
Obey All Traffic Laws
A bicycle is a vehicle and you are a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals and lane markings.
Yield to Traffic
Almost always, drivers on a smaller road must yield (wait) for traffic on a major or larger road. If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and you are coming from a smaller roadway (out of a driveway, from a sidewalk, a bike path, etc.), you must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before proceeding. This also means yielding to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk.
Sidewalk versus Street Riding
- The safest place for bicycle riding is on the street, 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, however, are not mature enough to make the
decisions necessary to safely ride in the street.
- Children less than 10 years old are better off riding on the sidewalk.
- Check the law in your state or jurisdiction to make sure sidewalk riding is allowed.
- Watch for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways.
- Stop at corners of sidewalks and streets to look for cars and to make sure the drivers
see you before crossing.
- Enter a street at a corner and not between parked cars. Alert pedestrians that you are
near by saying, “Excuse me,” or, “Passing on your left” or use a bell or horn.
Protect Your Brain-Save Your Life
Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet.
Helmets come in various sizes, just like hats. Size can vary between manufacturers. For the most comprehensive list of helmet sizes according to manufacturers, go to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI) site: www.danscomp.com/products/charts/helmetchart.htm
To select and properly fit a bicycle helmet, follow the helmet fitting instructions below. It may take some time to ensure a proper fit.
Step 1 - Size: Measure your head for approximate size. Try the helmet on to ensure it fits snuggly. While it is sitting flat on top of your head, make sure the helmet does not rock side to side. Sizing pads come with new helmets; use the pads to securely fit to your head. Mix or match the sizing pads for the greatest comfort. In your child's helmet, remove the padding when your child's head grows. If the helmet has a universal fit ring instead of sizing pads, adjust the ring size 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 the strap.
Step 6 - Final Fitting:
- Does your helmet fit right? Open your mouth wide…big yawn! The helmet should pull down on the head. If not, refer back to step 5 and tighten the chin strap.
- Does your helmet rock back more than two fingers above the eyebrows? If so, unbuckle, 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, 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.
- Replace any helmet that has been involved in a crash, is damaged or has been outgrown and buy a helmet that fits your head now, not a helmet to “grow into.”
- The helmet should be comfortable. If it feels small, put in the thinner sizing pads or purchase a larger helmet. Ideally, select a helmet brand and size that fits well prior to any adjustments. If you buy a helmet that you find comfortable and attractive, you are more likely to wear it.
- The helmet must cover your forehead.
- The chin strap must be tight and properly adjusted.
- The helmet should not rock forward or backward on your head. If it does, see Step 6.
- A bicycle helmet can protect your head and brain ONLY if you wear it each time you ride!
~ Article Source: www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/EasyStepsWeb/index.htm
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