Bike Safety

黄鹂婷

Its a beautiful day—the sun is shining， the birds are chirping. What could be more perfect than a bike ride？ But wait！ Before you pull your bike out of the garage， lets find out how to stay safe on two wheels.

Why Is Bicycle Safety So Important？

Bike riding is a lot of fun， but accidents happen. The safest way to use your bike is for transportation， not play. Every year， about 300，000 kids go to the emergency department because of bike injuries， and at least 10，000 kids have injuries that need a few days in the hospital. Some of these injuries are so serious that children die， usually from head injuries.

A head injury can mean brain injury. Thats why its so important to wear your bike helmet （头盔）. Wearing one doesnt mean you can be safe enough， but a helmet will provide some protection for your face， head， and brain in case you fall down.

Be Seen， Be Safe！

Wearing bright clothes and putting reflectors （反光镜） on your bike also can help you stay safe. It helps other people on the road see you. And if they see you， that means theyre less likely to run into you. Daytime riding is the safest， so try to avoid riding your bike at night.

Youll also want to make sure that nothing will get caught in your bike chain， such as loose pant legs， backpack straps， or shoelaces. Wear the right shoes when you bike. And never go riding barefoot！ Riding gloves may help you grip the handlebars—and make you look like a professional！

But avoid wearing headphones because the music can keep you away from noises around you， such as a car blowing its horn， so you can get out of the way.

Where to Ride

You need to check with your mom and dad about where youre allowed to ride your bike. You need to know how far youre allowed to go and whether you should ride on the sidewalk or in the street. Kids younger than 10 years should ride on the sidewalk and avoid the street.

No matter where you ride， you need to keep an eye out for cars and trucks. Even if youre just riding on sidewalk， a car may pull out of its driveway into the path of your bike. If youre crossing a busy road， its best to walk your bike across the street.

A bike path free of cars is a great choice if theres one in your area. Just remember to share the path with the other riders， walkers， and strollers who also might be using it！ And if youre going on a long ride， bring some water along with you.

Keep an eye on the road ahead so you can be prepared for big hills and road obstacles （障碍物）.