As the new school year begins, the Alachua County Public Works Department would like to share some tips for parents, guardians, and kids on Bicycle Safety.
Bicycling is fun, healthy, and a great family activity, but a bicycle isn’t a toy; it’s a vehicle!
Bicycles on the roadway are considered vehicles, and bicyclists are the drivers, with the same rights and responsibilities as motorists to follow the rules of the road. When riding, always:
- Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. Go with the flow – not against it. Obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.
- If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and you are coming from a smaller roadway (out of a driveway, from a sidewalk, a bike path, etc.), you must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before proceeding. Stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk.
- Use your eyes and ears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. Don’t use personal electronics when you ride. Watch for the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).
Before riding, make sure you and the bicycle are ready to ride. Remember to:
- Wear a Bicycle Helmet. Everyone should wear bicycle helmets. For more guidance on fitting a helmet, see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s "Fitting Your Bike Helmet" tip sheet.
- See and Be Seen. Whether daytime, dawn, dusk, bad weather, or at night, make yourself visible to others. Wear neon, fluorescent or other bright colors when riding, to be most easily seen. Remember, just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean the driver can see you.
- Use Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication. This includes eye contact with drivers, turn signals, pointing to road hazards for bicyclists behind you, and stating “passing on your left,” or “on your left.”
See more youth bicycle safety tips.
Visit the NHTSA website.
For more information, contact Alachua County Public Works Senior Engineer Technician Clark Collins at 352-548-1271 or cccollins@alachuacounty.us.
