Bicycle Tips Learn and Use Proper Hand • Children under 14 must wear an Left hand up, Right hand approved helmet* Signals right angle straight out SAFETY at elbow. to right. • If there’s no , ride on the One way to stay safe while biking is to use far right with * and the New York State . Hand signals help prevent • Never ride against traffic* Helmet Law accidents and injuries by letting motorists and other cyclists know when you are • Obey all traffic signs, signals and turning or stopping. pavement markings* Make sure you practice the hand signals Left hand • Use proper hand signals* (illustrated at right) before you ride your Left hand down, bike on the roads. straight out right angle • Yield to emergency vehicles, to left. at elbow. pedestrians and approaching vehicles* • Walk your bike across intersections and busy streets • Use a headlight and tail light at night,* and wear reflective clothing Basic Safety Handle Grips • Watch out for opening doors and pulling into traffic Equipment Warning • Wear bright-colored clothing State law requires be equipped Red or Amber Light Bell/Horn with: • Avoid objects on the pavement that White Light • Bell or horn Reflector may cause you to lose control of Coaster Brake your bike • Brake Reflectors • Keep at least one hand on the • Reflective devices on front and rear handlebars at all times* wheels (or reflective tires) and pedals • Riding the right-sized bike helps Use lights at night, both front and rear: keep you safe. Make sure you can front light (white), visible from 500 feet; stand over the top bar rear light (red or amber), visible from 300 of your bike. Read the Courtesy of feet. At least one of these lights should be owner’s manual to Speaker of the Assembly visible from at least 200 feet from the side. adjust your bike to Reflectors For additional safety, bicycles should be Chain Guard better fit you. Carl E. Heastie equipped with chain guards and handle * New York State law 250 Broadway, Suite 2301 grips. Riders should wear approved New York, NY 10007 helmets, use pant-leg clips and wear 212-312-1400 bright-colored clothes. New York State Law requires riders and passengers under the age of 14 to wear Room 932, LOB Source: New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Albany, NY 12248 Committee approved safety helmets. 518-455-3791 [email protected] Updated 7/21 Use your head and Parents and children! Take the… Rules of the road always wear a helmet! • Stop at red lights, stop signs and before BICYCLE SAFETY QUIZ entering a roadway. Answer TRUE or FALSE • Never wear more than one earphone attached to a radio or other audio device.

T F 1. All bicycles must be equipped T F 5. Before you make a left turn, look • Children under 14 years of age must wear bicycle with a bell that can be heard from quickly over your to find helmets; child passengers from age 1 to age 100 feet away. out what is coming from behind. 4 must ride in secure safety seats and wear a certified . The law prohibits carrying 2. Traffic signs and signals are only 6. Before riding, make sure you can passengers under age 1. Do not carry more Pictures courtesy of Consumer Product Safety Commission T F T F passengers than the bicycle is designed to carry. for car drivers. stand over the top bar of your To prevent head injuries, your helmet should: bike. • Any parent or guardian who permits their child T F 3. You only need to wear a helmet to violate the helmet law is subject to a fine of • Fit comfortably, touching the head all the way when riding on busy streets. T F 7. Your brakes are good enough up to $50. around; be level and stable enough to resist if your rear wheel skids on • For any bicycle accident involving death or even violent shakes or hard blows and stay in T F 4. Before you enter a street from loose dirt, but not on dry level serious injury, you must file a report with the place. an alley or , you should pavement. Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days. • Have fit pads or rings that can be adjusted to always stop first. • Ensure the bicycle has the equipment required secure the helmet. It should sit level on your T F 8. A loose bicycle chain means that by law. See the front page. it is easier to pedal. head, evenly between the ears, low on your • Bicyclists must know and follow the NYS forehead and about two finger-widths above Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL). You will be 9. Sidewalks are safer to ride on than the eyebrows. T F ticketed for violating the law, which could result roads. in fines. Local ordinances may also apply. • Have straps adjusted so when you look up, the front rim should be barely visible to your T F 10. You don’t have to stop at a stop E-bikes eye; the “Y” of the side straps should meet just sign if there are no vehicles As of 2020, state law allows the operation of below your ear. coming. multiple classes of bicycles with an electric assist • Have an adjustable chin strap that is snug (e-bikes) on some streets and highways in New T F 11. It’s generally a good idea to ride York State. Statewide safety regulations include: against your chin so when you open your a bicycle at least 4 feet out from mouth very wide, you feel the helmet pull parked cars even if it means being • E-bike users must be 16 years of age or older down a little bit. The chin straps should be closer to moving cars. strong enough to keep your helmet in place • E-bike use is prohibited on sidewalks during a fall or collision. 12. Bicycles should be operated in the • The maximum assisted speed limit is 20 miles T F per hour for Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes and 25 middle of traffic lanes. • Helmets made for the U.S. must meet the miles per hour for Class 3 e-bikes U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standard. Look for the CPSC label. The • Helmets must be worn by Class 3 e-bike riders American Society for Testing and Materials Cities, towns or villages may also set further standard is identical (ASTM F1447), although safety regulations, such as mandating helmet it is self-certifying, so a manufacturer use for Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, setting a can state that its helmets meet the ASTM maximum speed that is lower than the statewide standard without independent certification. requirement, setting clothing requirements to

avoid undue interference with traffic, unless turning left or avoiding obstructions. obstructions. avoiding or left turning unless traffic, with interference undue avoid increase visibility or choosing to opt-out entirely State law requires bicycles to be operated in bike lanes, or near the right-edge curb or shoulder to to shoulder or curb right-edge the near or lanes, bike in operated be to bicycles requires law State signs. stop at stop . False 12. . True The Snell Memorial Foundation standard 11.

Cyclists must must Cyclists obstacles. and driveways restrictions, sight of number the to due dangerous more be can Sidewalks . False 10. . False (B-95) is more strict, but seldom used. 9. from allowing e-bikes. Be sure to check with your

A loose chain can cause chain slippage or derailment, which can cause injury to cyclists. cyclists. to injury cause can which derailment, or slippage chain cause can chain loose A jamming. or instability without stops . False 8. 8. local municipality to learn more.

Brakes should provide fast, easy easy fast, provide should Brakes 14. age under cyclists by worn be it and bicycle, a ride you . . False 7. . True 6. . True 5. . True 4. must

A helmet should be worn anytime anytime worn be should helmet A signals. and signs traffic obey must road the using Everyone False. 3. False. 2. True.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, www.cpsc.gov 1. ANSWERS: Source: New York State Department of Transportation, www.dot.ny.gov/display/programs/bicycle