what a bicycle saftey course should have

1) Basic bicycle handling skills, • balancing, pedaling, steering, and braking, and 2) Physical safety skills, • searching for traffic (moving the head), • quickly moving through the chosen traffic gap, • engaging the brakes to stop at lights and stop signs, and • engaging in the physical behavior of signaling when turning.

Full Answer

What are some facts about bicycle safety?

First, know some bicycle safety facts: Bicyclist deaths occur most often in urban areas (78%) compared to rural areas (22%) in 2019. Bicyclist deaths were 6 times higher for males than females in 2019.

What do we do to promote bicycle safety?

We provide bicycle safety tips, educational material and other resources. We also conduct public awareness campaigns, such as Bicycle Safety Month, encouraging motorists to share the road with bicyclists.

How can I learn to ride my bike safely in traffic?

No one learns to drive a vehicle safely without practice and experience; safely riding your bike in traffic requires the same preparation. Start by riding your bike in a safe environment away from traffic (a park, path, or empty parking lot). Take an on-bike class through your school, recreation department, local bike shop or bike advocacy group.

What should you do to avoid a crash with a cyclist?

Obey the speed limit, reduce speed for road conditions and drive defensively to avoid a crash with a cyclist. Give cyclists room. Do not pass too closely. Pass bicyclists as you would any other vehicle—when it’s safe to move over into an adjacent lane.

What do you need for bike safety?

Wear equipment to protect you and make you more visible to others, like a bike helmet, bright clothing (during the day), reflective gear, and a white front light and red rear light and reflectors on your bike (at night, or when visibility is poor).

What are 3 important components of a bike safety checklist?

Bike safety checklist: Important checks to make before you rideTires, pressure and wheels. Obviously the first and foremost practise before EVERY ride is checking tire pressure. ... Wheels and QR levers. ... Equipment check (helmet, spares, tools and parts) ... Nuts and bolts. ... Chain check and lubrication. ... Frame check. ... Brakes. ... Cables.

What is the most important safety in cycling?

Wearing a helmet that fits well every time you're on a bike helps protect your face, head, and brain if you fall down. That's why it's so important to wear your bike helmet whenever you are on a bike. Bike helmets are so important that the U.S. government has created safety rules for them.

What are the three rules of bicycle safety?

When riding, always:Go With the Traffic Flow. Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. ... Obey All Traffic Laws. A bicycle is a vehicle and you're a driver. ... Yield to Traffic When Appropriate. ... Be Predictable. ... Stay Alert at All Times. ... Look Before Turning. ... Watch for Parked Cars.

What are 2 safety checks before riding your bicycle?

How to do a Pre-Ride Safety CheckBefore heading out on a bike ride, there are a few things you should do to make sure that your bicycle is safe. ... Check your tire pressure. ... Check wheel quick-releases. ... Check your brakes. ... Check your wheels. ... Check your crank arms and pedals. ... Check stem and headset. ... Check your chain.

What does a pre-ride safety check consist of?

Pre-ride bike checks should also include a bit of general maintenance. Cast an eye over your bike chain and gauge its condition; are there any rusty or seized links? If so, you might want to consider getting a replacement in the very near future. Rusty chains are less efficient and prone to snapping suddenly.

Why is bicycle safety so important?

Bike riding is a lot of fun, but accidents happen. Every year about 300,000 children go to the emergency room because of injuries, and at least 10,000 children have injuries that require a few days in the hospital. Most deaths from bike accidents are due to head trauma.

What are the most common causes of bicycle accidents?

According to an NHTSA National Survey on Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behaviors, the six most common causes of injury to cyclists were:Hit by a car (30 percent)Fell (17 percent)Roadway not in good repair (13 percent)Rider error (13 percent)Crashed/ collision with fixed object (7 percent)More items...

What is the importance of observing safety in cycling?

Riding safely Take the time to understand the road rules and gain riding experience before you ride in traffic. Riding in a predictable manner and knowing how to react to hazards or navigate the road network can help you have the safest journey possible while riding.

Where do most bike accidents occur?

Twenty-seven percent of fatal bicycle accidents happened at intersections. Sixty-three percent occurred in some other area of the road besides intersections. Ten percent of fatal bicycle accidents occurred at other locations like sidewalks, medians, trails, roadsides, parking lanes, and more.

How can we avoid bike accidents?

Tips To Avoid Mishaps While Riding Two WheelerSafeguard Yourself by Wearing Proper Gear. You should wear long pants and shirts that have sleeves. ... Wear a HELMET. ... You Should Always Be Alert While Riding The Two wheeler. ... Don't Ride In Bad Weather.

Are bicycle helmets important?

Each year in the United States, about 800 bicyclists are killed and another 500,000 end up in hospital emergency rooms. About 2/3 of the deaths and 1/3 of the injuries involve the head and face. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury to bicyclists by as much as 85 percent.

How to be safe on a bicycle?

The first step to bicycle safety is using a helmet. 70-80 percent possibility of head injuries can be decreased if you have worn a helmet during a crash. However, avoid cheaply made helmets. Get a CPSC or CE-certified helmet.

What is the importance of visibility in cycling?

Visibility is a crucial step to bicycle safety. Be careful about the traffic around you and also make you be seen among traffic. Do the following to see and to be seen.

Can you ride a mountain bike at night?

Try not to ride at night. It’s risky to go out on dark roads, especially for mountain bikers. If it’s urgent, you can commute at night but take these precautions for safety.

How to teach bicycle safety?

Utilizing physical education classes to teach bicycling instruction can be challenging due to the limited time allowed per class. Getting children helmeted and matched with the correct size bicycle can take a good deal of class time. Scheduling a series of classes at the end of the day in combination with an after school program allows ample time required for this type of instruction. Summer camps offer another venue for bicycle safety instruction. However, both school-based and camp programs can be expensive to implement, as secure space, a fleet of bicycles and safety equipment is necessary to conduct these programs.

How much does a bicycle helmet reduce brain injury?

Bicycle helmets are proven to decrease the risk of bicycle-related traumatic brain injury by 88 percent. It is critical that bicyclists learn about the reasons behind helmet use and accept that riding without one is not an option.

What should bicyclists know about bicycle accidents?

Bicyclists should understand how unexpectedly and quickly a mishap can happen when bicycling. Advanced Injury Prevention: More experienced bicyclists can be taught skills to minimize adverse effects of bicycle crashes. These skills can help protect hands, wrists and shoulders during a fall.

What are the behaviors of a cyclist?

Traffic Behavior: Being visible when riding, using appropriate bicycle lights at night, signaling to other vehicles in traffic to let them know your intentions, practicing scanning at intersections and teaching a child to "creep and peek" when they cannot see beyond parked cars are essential behaviors to learn. Bicyclists should also have the ability to interact successfully with pedestrians, in-line skaters, and other cyclists when riding on paths or trails. They should stay to the right, signal or verbalize intentions and respect the "right of way" of others.

How old do you have to be to ride a bicycle in New York?

New York law requires that children under the age of 14 wear an approved bicycle helmet while bicycling. When fitted properly, bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by 85 percent and traumatic brain injuries by 88 percent. Providing bicycle safety education to children can help increase helmet use and reduce the incidence ...

Why is bicycle helmet important in New York?

New York State encourages the use of bicycle helmets for all ages because of their proven effectiveness. Local health departments and traffic safety boards are also encouraged ...

How to make sure a bicycle is safe?

Using the " ABC " Quick Checklist is an easy way to make sure a bicycle is safe before riding. Make sure tires have adequate air. Squeeze front and rear brakes to make sure that they stop and lock the wheels in place. Ensuring that breaks work properly is critical in crash prevention.

How to fit a child's bike?

The bike should fit your child at his or her current age. The child shouldn’t “grow into it.”. Make sure the type of bike matches your child’s abilities. For instance, gears and shifting can be confusing for a young child. Start your child with a one-speed and work up. Keep the bicycle in good repair. Inspect it often.

How to keep kids safe on the road?

Have your child wear a helmet every time he or she rides a bike—no exceptions. Teach your child the rules of the road to keep him or her safe while riding on the street. Make sure your child’s bike is kept in good working order. Read on for more details about bike safety and children.

How to know if a bicycle helmet fits?

It should not rock back and forth or side to side. The strap should be buckled and snug under the chin. For more information on helmet fit, visit www. nhtsa.gov and search for “bicycle helmet fit.”

How old do you have to be to ride a bike?

As a rule, children under 10 years old should ride on the sidewalk, not on the road (even in the bike lane). Use your best judgment about whether your child is ready to ride on the road. Make sure he or she can demonstrate the skill and knowledge needed to keep safe.

What should a bike rider do before pulling into the street?

Before pulling into the street at an intersection, a bike rider should always: Stop, look left, look right, and look left again. Look back and yield to any traffic coming from behind. Bike riders should always watch for cars coming out of driveways, parking spaces, and parking lots.

How to keep a bicycle in good condition?

Keep the bicycle in good repair. Inspect it often. Things to check include the brakes, the tire pressure, and the tightness of the chain.

What happens if a child's bike falls out of their ears?

If the equipment falls out of your child’s ears, it could get tangled in the bike’s wheels, causing an accident.

What role do parents play in a child's life?

Parents can also play a crucial role. The more vigilant a parent is (providing supervision at young ages, knowing where teenage children are, etc.) the more likely they will have a child who takes fewer risks and experiences fewer injuries (Arnett & Balle-Jensen, 1993; Morrongiello & Hogg, 2004). Parents who also model safe behavior have children who not only engage in safe behavior but intend to continue safe behavior in adulthood (Bandura, 1991; Morrongiello, Corbett, & Bellissimo, 2008).

How does social influence affect children?

Social influences also affect children’s decisions to take risks. The presence of peers makes children and adolescents take more risks (Gardner & Steinberg, 2005; Miller & Byrnes, 1997; Morrongiello & Sedore, 2005), but some research suggests that peers can also serve as models for safe behaviors (Babu et al., 2011). Therefore, it may be beneficial for parents to know the peers their children ride with and have children and peers participate in a bicycle-safety education program together.

How does cognitive development affect bicycle safety?

In the area of cognitive development, there are important areas to consider when working with children and bicycle safety. For instance, while children have fully developed spatial and temporal abilities allowing them to choose the same gap sizes to cross in traffic as adults, they are slower to execute their actions once their decision is made (Plumer t, Cremer, & Kearney, 2004). Children have slower response times that gradually improve with age and are adult-like by approximately 14 years old (Kail, 1991). This means that children have a delay from the moment they make their decision to the moment they begin to act on their decision, which can be dangerous for them during normal riding conditions and emergency situations. Finally, changes in knowledge do not necessarily lead to changes in behavior (e.g., learning that one must stop at a stop sign does not mean that a child will actually do it). Each domain needs to be taught separately and in environments similar to where they will be executed (Percer, 2009; Tulving, 1975).

Why is it important to protect children while riding a bicycle?

In addition, ongoing interest and increases in Safe Routes to School programs, national and community interest in increasing physical activity for children, and the development of communities that promote more walking and bicycling may increase children’s bicycle riding exposure. Therefore, now is the time to ensure that safety programs are adequately preparing children for increased exposure to traffic and potentially lay the foundation for safe riding over their lifetime.

How do children become proficient at both skills?

In order for children to become proficient at both these skills, both skills must be practiced frequently and together so that the skills become automatic (Clark, 2007).

What are the basic bicycle handling skills?

1) Basic bicycle handling skills, • balancing, pedaling, steering, and braking , and 2) Physical safety skills, • searching for traffic (moving the head), • quickly moving through the chosen traffic gap, • engaging the brakes to stop at lights and stop signs, and • engaging in the physical behavior of signaling when turning.

Why are risk taking behaviors heightened in adolescence?

This means that not only do emotional reactions occur easily in adolescence, but that emotionally positive situations are intensely rewarding. As a result, risk-taking is heightened during adolescence because risk-taking behaviors tend to be exhilarating. For instance, risk-taking while riding a bicycle would become more prevalent in early adolescence because it is emotionally rewarding. Because the pre-frontal cortex is still maturing during adolescence, it has difficulty regulating behavior under emotional situations during adolescence (Steinberg, 2007). The pre-frontal cortex can regulate impulses from the socio- emotional center when it is fully developed during one’s early to mid-twenties. Researchers argue that this is why adolescents are more likely to take risks than adults.

BikeSafe Teacher Training: Schools

The BikeSafe Curriculum is a series of off-bike lessons for 6th – 8th grade students, designed for P.E. classrooms that do not have access to bicycles (an optional on-bike module is included). The Curriculum provides educators a self-contained, bike safety course that can be split between multiple classes or grouped as necessary.

2. Confirm Training Participation

Following completion of the training video, please fill out the four question Training Submission Form.

4. Submit Curriculum Completion Form

After implementing the BikeSafe Curriculum, one teacher ( on behalf of the school) must fill out our online completion form.

What are the safety requirements for bicycles?

Good bicycle or pedestrian safety curriculums should include at least the following basics: 1 how to cross the street safely –stop, look and listen 2 basic bike and helmet fitting – especially important for parents 3 how to position yourself properly on the road – the three positions 4 how to let drivers know your intentions – be predictable 5 how to safely negotiate turns and intersections – hand signals, signs, traffic awareness 6 the basics of traffic law – right of way and rules of the road 7 skills practice – 3-6 adult-led hours on a bike; one hour walking in a neighborhood

How many hours of bike instruction is required for BTA?

To be taught by expert cyclists, this ten-hour curriculum includes four hours of in-class and six hours of on-the-bike instruction. This curriculum is in use in many communities around the US. The BTA also offers a pedestrian safety curriculum.

What grades are bicycle safety courses?

Pedestrian safety courses or programs will be most effective with K-3rd grades, and bicycle safety courses or programs will be most effective with 4-8th grades. There are many examples of safety education curriculums currently in use in the US. Some are brief overviews such as a bicycle or traffic safety rodeo, or a class or school assembly, ...

What is a bicycle safety rodeo?

A bicycle or pedestrian safety rodeo or assembly is a one-time or annual safety event designed to engage and entertain children while providing safety skills and knowledge, and should include: Safety skills course marked with chalk or traffic cones, expert leaders and a spectator area.

Why do children walk to school?

Children have been walking and bicycling to school since the concept of school was invented. As Safe Routes to School programs become established, more children get to school under their own power and need bicycle and pedestrian safety education to help make the trip safer and more appealing to their parents and community members.

What grades are safe routes to school?

Pedestrian safety courses or programs will be most effective with K-3rd grades, and bicycle safety courses or programs will be most effective with 4-8th grades.

What is the walk Boston?

Walk Boston (Boston, Massachusetts; walkboston.org)#N#The 15 Safe Routes to Schools lesson plans teach students how walking is good for their bodies and the environment, and to connect walking, health and the environment. The lesson plans are for Kindergarten - Grade 5 students, and provide lessons in Health, Math, Social Studies and Science / Technology.