SAFETY TIPS

Bicycle Safety

Most serious bike crashes happen close to home on quiet streets. The vast majority of bike crashes DO NOT involve motor vehicles. About 95 percent of all injury-producing bike mishaps occur when a cyclist falls or runs into something like a pothole, a post, a pedestrian or another bike.

Bike crashes are the leading cause of brain injury to school-aged children. A brain injury is not like a broken bone, it doesn't fully heal. Brain injury can lead to death or permanent disability. Survivors with brain injury may suffer seizures, intellectual and memory impairment and personality changes.

Prevent Bike Crashes

Follow these basic rules of the road:

• STOP before riding into traffic from a driveway, sidewalk, alley or parking lot.
• LOOK left, right and left again before entering.
• RIDE on the right with traffic.
• OBEY all traffic signs and signals. Walk bikes across all intersections.
• LOOK back over your left shoulder and yield to traffic coming from behind before moving out into traffic.

Got a Brain? Get a Helmet

Bike helmet protection is priceless. Your brain, your life and your future are at stake. Research shows that safety approved bike helmets reduce the risk of brain injury by over 85%. Today, helmets are designed to look good and feel great. They are light, cool, comfortable, affordable, attractive and easy to wear.

Helmets that meet safety standards are the investment that you can't afford to overlook. You always need to wear a helmet wherever you ride. All cyclists crash eventually and even a low speed fall on a bike path can cause a brain injury.

Getting into the Helmet Habit

• Cyclists who choose their own helmets are more likely to wear them. There are a variety of helmet styles available. Choose a helmet that you will enjoy wearing.
• Start the habit early. As soon as a child gets their first set of wheels, whether it be a tricycle, a training bike or a bike trailer, they should be wearing a helmet for every ride.
• As a parent, always insist your child wears a helmet. The rule is simple - no helmet, no bike.
• Be an example for others. Wear your helmet for every ride.
• Talk to other people about the role helmets play in preventing bicycle-related brain injuries.

Choosing a Helmet

• Make sure it meets the standards. Look for a Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Snell Memorial Foundation (Snell) or American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards sticker inside the helmet.
• Make sure it fits. A good fit means that with the straps adjusted, the helmet is level on the head, touching all around, comfortably snug but not tight. You should not be able to move a well-fitted helmet in any direction. Use the sizing pads for a comfortable fit and take time to adjust the chin straps.
• Use a bicycle helmet. Bike helmets are safety tested for the types of falls that happen when biking. Hockey, football or other sports helmets are not effective at preventing bike related brain injuries and are not for use when cycling.
• A helmet that has been in a crash must be replaced even if it doesn't appear to be damaged.

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