Bicycle Safety

Safety

If You Ride a Bike or Walk, Follow Safety Rules

Concord is moving forward with plans to make City streets more bike and pedestrian friendly. But riders and walkers need to do their part to stay safe. Parents are encouraged to refresh their knowledge about the rules of the road and pass on the information to their children. Teens should also remember that drivers may not see them. Enjoy these videos, provided by AAA:

• AAA Video for Bike Riders
• AAA Video for Pedestrians

Helmets Save Lives

Each year, more than a thousand men, women and children are killed in bicycle-related accidents in North America. Seventy-five percent of those deaths could have been prevented if the riders of the bicycles had worn helmets. Even more lives can be saved if riders follow simple safety guidelines when riding their bicycles.

Helmets Are Required by Law for Riders Under Age 18

Effective January 1, 1994 all bicycle riders and passengers under age 18 must wear bicycle helmets while operating a bicycle in any public place. Additionally, the law states that bicycle helmets must meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation's standard for protective headgear. So, make sure when you purchase a helmet, it has either the Snell or ANSI sticker inside.

Equipment

Your bicycle must have the proper equipment and follow these guidelines:

• All bicycles must be equipped with a brake.
• The handlebars may not be elevated above the rider's shoulders.
• All bicycles operated during the hours of darkness must be equipped with: a front headlight (emitting a white light that can be visible from 300 feet), a red reflector mounted on the rear of the bicycle, a white or yellow reflector on each side of the bicycle.