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Bicycle Safety
You know how much fun a bike can be, but bike riding can be dangerous if it isn't done right,
that's why South Dakota lawmakers and officers expect you to observe certain rules whenever
you ride your bike.
The information provided on this page will help you and your parents...
...to select the right bike for you
...to learn the rules
...how to take care of your bike
...and gives extra tips on safe operation of you bike.
It will also help prepare you for the time when you will want to get a license to drive a car.
Perhaps the most important thing to realize is, if you are in an accident with a car while
riding your bike, you are the one who will be hurt.
"Rules of the Road"
- Obey all traffic laws, signs, signals and pavement markings.
...Obeying the law can keep you out of many hazardous driving situations.
- Drive on the RIGHT-HAND side of the street.
...Move with the flow of traffic.
- Hand signal when you plan to turn or stop.
...Signaling tells other drivers what you and your bike are going to do.
- Slow down, look and listen when you come to a corner.
...Walk your bike across busy intersections and streets.
- Stop before you enter a street from a driveway or sidewalk.
...Look to the left and right before crossing.
- Try not to drive after dark or if the weather is bad.
...Have a white light on the front of your bike. Wear white or light-colored
clothing at night.
- Give pedestrians the right-of-way.
...It's an act of courtesy and it is safer too.
- Never hitch on to a moving vehicle.
...Never "stunt" or race in traffic, it is a good way to get hurt.
- Keep hands on handlebars (except when signaling).
..."Look, ma--no hands" spells danger on busy streets.
- Drive in a straight line.
...Cutting in and out of traffic is dangerous--car drivers can't always see you.
- Avoid broken pavement, litter, loose gravel, mud, or leaves.
...Any of these can cause you to lose control of your bike.
- Register and license your bike.
...Registering can help get your bike back if it's lost of stolen.
Safety Check
- Make sure your bike is the proper size.
...A bike that is too big or too small will be hard to control. When you're standing
on the ground you should have a 1-3 inch gap between you and the top bar. You'll
need more room if you're riding a mountain bike.
- Check to see if your bike seat is adjusted to the proper height.
...When you're sitting on the seat with
your foot on the pedal, your leg should be slightly bent. This will help avoid knee
strain.
- Make sure you have a reflector on the front and rear of your bike.
...The rear should be red and should be at least three inches across. Make sure the
reflector is pointed straight back to reflect the headlights of cars that are coming
up behind you.
- Check the bike's chain to make sure it's clean and lubricated.
...If it's not, take it to the local bike shop for a check up.
- Check your brakes for even pressure.
...They should make your back wheels skid on dry pavement, but you don't want brakes
that stick.
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated.
Helmet Safety
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A Bicycle Helmet is headgear that is especially made to protect your head in a fall. Bicycle
helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent. Most deaths related to bicycle falls
and collisions involve head injuries. This means wearing a helmet can save your life!
A fall can happen even to the most careful rider. Bicycle crashes don't happen only in the street,
they can happen in driveways, on bike paths, and on sidewalks or anywhere someone else is careless.
It's as important to wear a helmet as it is to buckle-up in a car!
Wear a helmet every time you ride a bike. You never know when something will happen.
Each year, bicycle-related deaths number about 900, and hospital emergency rooms treat more than
500,000 people for bicycle-related injuries. More children, ages 5 to 14, go to hospital emergency
rooms for injuries associated with bicycles than with any other sport. Many of these injuries
involve the head. If you do not wear a bicycle helmet, you are risking your life.
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