In most communities, it is illegal to ride a
bicycle on the sidewalk. According to Missouri state law, bicycles are
vehicles and should be ridden on the street.
Bicycles should travel the same direction as
the vehicles. This means you should ride on the right hand side of the
street. Bicycles are also required to obey all traffic laws. You must obey
stoplights and stop signs and any other traffic laws. Bicyclists are also
required to use hand signals to notify motorists of turns or stops.
Bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent. Most
deaths related to bicycle falls and collisions involve head injuries. This
means that wearing a helmet can save your life.
Each year, bicycle-related deaths number
about 900, and United States hospital emergency rooms treat more than
500,000 people for bicycle-related injuries.
More children, ages 5 to 14, go to United
States hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with bicycles than
with any other sport. Many of these injuries involve the head. If you do not
wear a bicycle helmet, you are risking your life. Once you have suffered a
brain injury, medicine cannot fix the injury. You may have permanent brain
damage for the rest of your life.
The helmet should fit comfortably and
securely. It should be worn so that it is level on the head (not tilted back
on the crown or pulled low over the forehead). You should not be able to
move the helmet in any direction, back-to-front or side-to-side. The chin
strap should be securely fastened. If needed, the helmet's sizing pads can
help improve the fit.
Make sure you have the proper size helmet for
your head. Try the sizing pads included in the helmet box. If you still have
trouble, ask a knowledgeable salesperson to help you. Properly fitting a
bicycle helmet takes time, but it is worth the effort. If your helmet does
not fit properly, it will not protect your head if you have a fall or
collision.