Live Smart: Health and Safety Activities for Youth Clubs

Bulletin 907

Cycling Safely

YOU WILL TEACH CLUB MEMBERS

To follow safety practices when bicycling.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Two bicycle horns, posterboard, markers, and game prizes (prizes are optional)

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Ask club members: Who owns a bicycle? How often do you ride? Where do you ride? Do you wear a helmet?

Ask club members: Is riding a bicycle dangerous?
Answer: You bet! Each year nearly one-half million people are injuried while riding a bicycle. Of those injured, about 900 die.

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW?

Tell club members: Many cycling injuries can be prevented by following a few safety tips. (You may want to list the following tips on a piece of posterboard.)

1. Always wear an approved bicycle helmet.
2. Obey all traffic laws.
3. Avoid riding at night or in bad weather. If you must ride after dark, make sure your bike has a white headlight and a rear light or reflector. Also be sure to wear light-colored clothing or reflective material.
4. Stay alert at all times.
5. Watch for road hazards including litter, loose gravel, mud, etc. These can cause you to lose control.
6. Walk your bicycle across busy intersections.
7. Use hand signals when you stop or turn.
8. Never carry extra riders.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Play "Bicycle Brainbusters" with the members. Read these statements to the group and ask for volunteers to answer whether the "Brainbuster" statements are true or false. Bring two members at a time to the front. Give them both a bicycle horn. Tell them that when either of them wishes to answer, he/she must honk the horn. The member who honks first, wins the chance to answer first. If that member does not answer the question correctly, the second member gets a chance to answer. If neither person answers correctly, allow anyone in the group to answer. After each correct response, tell the members why the statement is true or false and read them the facts written with the answers. Keep track of who answers the most questions. You may want to give the winner a prize like reflectors, a bicycle horn, etc.

1. Statement: Any way I wear my helmet is okay.
   Answer: False! Helmets must sit at a proper angle. They cannot be tilted over the forehead or rest solely on the back of the head.

2. Statement: Helmets are too heavy and expensive.
   Answer: False! Today's helmets only weigh about one-half pound and cost as little as $20.

3. Statement: Bicyclists must drive on the right-hand side of the road with traffic flow.
   Answer: True! Bicyclists travel with traffic. Never ride on the left-hand side facing oncoming cars. This confuses motorists and increases your risk of injury.

4. Statement: It is okay to wear headphones while riding as long as I am wearing a helmet.
   Answer: False! Headphones should never be worn while riding. Cyclists need to be aware of their surroundings, especially sounds of traffic.

5. Statement: It is okay to ride in the middle of a lane when traffic is slow.
   Answer: True! When you are at busy intersections or are moving at the same speed as the surrounding traffic, drive in the middle of the lane. This makes you more visible to motorists.

6. Statement: Good cyclists never scan the road behind them when riding.
   Answer: False! Alert cyclists are always aware of their surroundings. They use rear-view mirrors and learn to keep their balance while looking over their shoulders.

7. Statement: The law requires that bikes be equipped with a white headlight and a rear reflector when ridden at night.
   Answer: True! Bicycles must have a white headlight visible from at least 500 feet ahead and a rear reflector visible up to 300 feet from behind.

8. Statement: Bicycles can be ridden on all streets, highways, and interstates.
   Answer: False! Bicycles are prohibited on interstates and expressways.

9. Statement: If you are tired, it is okay to hitch onto a moving vehicle so that you do not need to pedal.
   Answer: False! Bike drivers must use their own energy to power their bikes at all times.

10. Statement: All bicycles are required by law to be equipped with a bell or other signaling device.
    Answer: True! All bicycles must have a bell or other signaling device which can be heard at least 100 feet away. Sirens and whistles cannot be used.

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