Welcome to  Bicycling In Kids Education  Kids II Class  Second “Inside Class” Session

Today’s Class  Traffic controls.  Road hazards.  Choosing a route.  You should write your name on all four of your sheets of paper, then turn them over.

“Bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.” J. Forester

Good Bicyclists (Drivers) are  Visible  Predictable  Alert  Assertive  Courteous

Traffic Controls Scramble Drill

Traffic Law Respect

Basic Traffic Principles  First Come, First Served –Drivers have a right to their space  Ride on the right, with traffic and where they can see you. –Riding against traffic is a leading cause of car-bike crashes. –Riding on the sidewalk is 3 ½ times more dangerous than using the street. Can you guess why?  Yielding to Crossing traffic –Drivers on less important roads yield to those on more important roads.  Yielding when changing lanes  Speed Positioning –Parked cars at the curb, slow cars on the right, faster cars pass on the left  Intersection Positioning –Approach intersections in the proper position

Basic Rules of the Road and Signs When approaching someone from the rear, let them know that you will be passing them by calling out “passing on your left” or “hello”. A bell works well also.  Scan before signaling: –Hand signal for turning. Scan before signaling, signal then turn. –Hand signal for stopping or slowing- vehicles have brake lights, bicycles do not. Drivers behind you need to know that you plan to stop. –Scan and signal before moving left in a lane to avoid an obstacle or to turn or change lanes.

Kinds of Traffic Controls  Road Markings  Signs  Lights

Road Markings

Traffic Signs

Pedestrians  Yield to pedestrians- stop and let them cross.

Stop signs  Stop Signs: always require a complete stop! Check for traffic – look left, right, left – go when it is your turn and it is clear. Four way stops show how right of way works.  Stop and check for traffic.

Yield Sign  Yield sign: check for traffic and let vehicles crossing your path go first!

One Way and Do Not Enter  One way and do not enter: all traffic must follow the direction the sign indicates.

Traffic Lights  Traffic lights: Green means go with caution, Yellow means the light is about to turn red and to “clear the intersection”  Cyclists must stop on yellow because they cannot make it through the intersection before the light turns red. Red means everyone stops.

Flashing traffic lights  Flashing traffic lights: –Flashing red means come to a complete stop. –Flashing yellow means slow down and proceed with caution.

Emergency Vehicles  Emergency vehicle sirens: you must pull off of the roadway immediately and stop until the vehicle has passed you.

Who gets to go first?

Not all Railroad Tracks

Hazards What is a hazard?

Hazards A hazard is something that can harm you.

Types of hazards  Visual  Surface  Collision  All vehicles have to worry about hazards.  Always drive carefully because hazards can be everywhere!

Visual Hazards  Visual hazards block the drivers view. –Bushes, trees, fences, buildings and parked cars can hide a car coming out of a driveway or intersection. This also blocks the car drivers view of the cyclist. –Bright lights and flashing lights –Darkness is a problem also.  NEVER drive your bike at night without the proper equipment! –That means HEADLIGHTS and TAIL LIGHTS as well as reflective clothing.  If you do not have good night riding equipment, call someone to come get you!

Visual Hazards

 You must slow down enough to allow yourself time to see and avoid the hazard.

Visual Hazards  What do you do?

Surface Hazards  Surface Hazards are found on the road and can cause the cyclist to lose control. –They include surface defects of many kinds.

Surface Hazards  Rocks  Sand  Gravel  Leaves –These things make your wheels slip out from under you.  Potholes  Raised bumps –Can make you lose control, so look before you scan back!

Surface Hazards  Sewer grates  Manhole covers

Surface Hazards  Road Debris  Railroad tracks

Why are railroad tracks a possible hazard?  Because of the slot that the train wheel rides in!  This can catch even the widest bicycle tire!

Dealing with railroad tracks

Dealing with Railroad Tracks

Take the correct angle toward the tracks!

Puddles  What does that puddle hide?

There are many other Surface Hazards- look carefully!  Tall curbs in driveways, cracks, glass, wet road markings

Surface Hazards  You must look down the road and see the surface hazard in time to steer around it.  If you can’t steer around slippery spots on the road, go straight until you are past it.

Surface Hazards  What do you do?

Collision Hazards  Collision hazards put the bicyclist in danger of crashing.  Examples include: –Entering the roadway or street without stopping and scanning. –Intersections with cars coming from several directions. –Cars turning in front of a bicyclist without signaling. –Cars coming out of a driveway. –Cyclists on bike paths or a sidewalk risk collision with other bikes and pedestrians. –Dogs chasing or other animals crossing.

Collision Hazards  You must watch the other road users and be ready if they do something to cause a collision hazard.  Make sure that you follow the rules when you drive.

Collision Hazards  Most importantly, if you do not follow the rules of the road, YOU are a collision hazard.

Choosing a route  Bicyclists can avoid hazards by being familiar with the roads they travel to their destinations. Taking a planned route regularly will assist the rider in dealing with the hazards of that route. In selecting a safe route for travel, first ask yourself these questions. –Where are you? –Where do you want to go? –What are the requirements of a safe route?

Criteria for a safe route  Straight roads with quiet intersections and 90 degree left and right turns.  Stop signs and stop lights.  These things will make your route safer and more pleasant by slowing the car traffic down.

Challenges to a safe route  Narrow streets with parked cars.  Turns at busy intersections.  Railroad tracks at bad angles.

Homework due tomorrow:  What does that sign mean? –Match the letter to the definition  It’s a jungle out there! –Find at least ten hazards  Cue sheet –Choose, then write down the safest possible route from your home to school Example: –I leave my driveway and turn left. –Left at school street –Right into school

 You Lose 5 points on your grade average if it is not all turned in tomorrow (or the next school day)!