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| Home > Fact
of the Week > Bike
Safety |
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10-4-2010
Preparedness
Facts of the Week
by
Elizabeth Hall, Emergency
Services Specialist -
Kings County Office of Emergency Management |
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| As
a kid “back in the
day”, we were taught the rules
of bike safety on a regular basis
both at home and at school in some
form or another. I can remember every
year as a kid our local police department
would send over two officers to my
school and demonstrate bike safety
with their “Stop on a Dime” program.
If you have never heard of this program,
it was designed to teach elementary-aged
children the “Rules of the
Road” regarding bicycle safety.
These demonstrations would include
the use of a police car and a volunteer
from the audience on a bike to show
the different distances it takes
bicycles and cars to stop at various
speeds. After their demonstrations,
you could register your bicycle and
get one of those peel-off- the-back
stickers similar to a vehicle registration
sticker, only larger, and they would
usually be placed on the back fender,
or on the front bar of the bike. As I drive around town and observe
kids riding their bikes today,
I have to wonder if bike safety
is even taught anymore. Judging
by the way kids AND many adults
are riding their bikes these days,
I would say not.
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Back
in the day, we were
taught that if you
came to an intersection,
you were to get off
your bike, and when
safe, you WALKED your
bike across to the
other side. We were
also taught that sidewalks
were for walking on;
not for riding your
bikes. Of course, we
allowed little ones
who were learning to
ride their bike to
ride on the sidewalk.
We were also taught
to respect pedestrians
walking on the sidewalk – they
have the right of way;
always! |
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Check Out These
Basic Safety Tips; How many do
you know?
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Every
year in California over 100 people are killed
and thousands more are injured in bicycle
collisions. Follow these safety tips to help
ensure that you are not one of the statistics.
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- Always
wear a helmet. By law, bicycle riders
under 18 years of age must wear a
bicycle helmet while riding on a
public road (VC 21212) WEAR
YOUR HELMET CORRECTLY!.
- You
should carry identification
- Obey
all traffic controls. Bicyclists
must obey ALL traffic signals and
stop signs.
- WALK
YOUR BIKE WHEN USING A CROSSWALK!
- Ride
your bicycle near the right-hand
edge of the road – ride in
the same direction as the traffic.
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- Always
use hand signals when turning
or stopping.
- Look
out for cars at cross streets, driveways
and parking places - -
ride defensively.
- Be
careful when checking traffic and don’t
swerve when looking over your shoulder.
- Give
pedestrians the right of way.
- Be
visible and alert! It should be
not be assumed that all drivers can see
a bicycle.
- Keep
on the lookout for hazards (i.e. potholes,
gravel, broken glass)
- Bicyclists
are not allowed to wear a headset covering,
or earplugs in, both
ears.
- Always
ride carefully.
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Resources |
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Kids Health |
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Bizrate |
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Knoxtrans |
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Three
River Kiwanis |
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Cobis Images |
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Do
your part for safety awareness by passing this
information along to anyone you can think of
who would benefit.
Have
a great week, and remember…… Be
Responsible - Be Ready - Be Prepared!
Teaming Up for Emergency Preparedness
Elizabeth Hall
Office of Emergency Management
280 Campus Drive Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 582-3211, Ext. 2634
www.kingscountyoem.com
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