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Sun City Bicycle Safety CA NEWS

Submitted by Jim McNamara, EMC Committee Member JUNE 2016 SUNRAYS | 11

Riding a bicycle in Sun City Texas is a pleasant
and healthful way to get around. To ensure
your safety, follow the Seven Smart Routes
to Bicycle Safety:
1. Wear a helmet. Helmets are effective in preventing trau-
matic brain injury, the primary cause of death and disabling
injuries from cycling crashes.
2. Bicycle size and function. Use a bicycle that fits you - there
should be one to two inches of clearance between you and
the top tube. Adjust seat height. Check all parts to ensure
they are secure and in good condition, particularly brakes
and tires.
3. Follow the rules of the road. Always ride with traffic and
obey traffic lights, signs, speed limits and lane markings.
Use correct hand signals so others can anticipate your ac-
tions. Yield to pedestrians and other vehicles as appropriate.
Check for traffic by looking left-right-left before entering a
street. Control your speed.
4. Be predictable. Always ride with the flow of traffic, on the
right side of the road and as far to the right as is practicable
and safe. Motorists do not expect to see traffic coming in
the opposite direction.
5. Be visible. Always assume you are not seen by others! Wear
neon and fluorescent colored clothing with reflective mate-
rial. Install reflectors on the front and back of the bicycle.
A flashing red light on the rear and a bright white light on
the front will increase your visibility to others.
6. Ride with care. Make eye contact or wave to communi-
cate with motorists. Courtesy and predictability are key
to safe cycling. Be considerate and aware of motorists and
pedestrians. Learn to anticipate their actions. Remember,
pedestrians have the right of way. Always look over your
shoulder and signal before changing lanes. Use bells, horns
or your voice to alert pedestrians and bicyclists that you
are approaching or passing.
7. Stay alert and focused. Never wear headphones; they hinder
your ability to hear traffic. Look for obstacles in your path:
potholes, cracks, expansion joints, wet leaves, drainage
grates or anything that could trigger a fall. Ride defensively!
Adapted from National Highway Safety Administration
(NHTSA) website at www.nhtsa.gov/bicycles

CPR/FIRST AID/AED CLASSES
CPR/First Aid/AED classes are taught frequent-
ly in Sun City. For information, contact Barbara
Akers at [email protected].

ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG