bike safety

Jody Van Cooney volunteers for several nonprofit organizations, including the Lee County Injury

Prevention Coalition where she serves as secretary. Although she grew up in the Midwest, she’s made Fort Myers her home for the past 27 years.

HOW TO BIKE SAFELY

Bicycling is gaining popularity. Know how to do it in the safest way possible.

Bicycling is more essential to our lives than ever, according to the League of American Bicyclists. Their guiding principle is “When more people ride bicycles, life is better for everyone.” Their approach is to integrate bicycling into as many aspects of our daily lives as possible, from going to the grocery store to riding to the park.

The Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition, in partnership with other nonprofit organizations, promotes safety in all walks of life. In May, its members teamed up with the League of American Bicyclists to help prevent bicycle accidents. They offer these tips to keep kids — and adults — safe:

Bicyclists must follow rules

Bicyclists need to know and follow laws that are intended to keep them safe. Some of these laws include: » Ride only on the right side of the road and bike lanes going the same direction as motor vehicle traffic. » Stop at all stop signs and red traffic lights. » Never use earbuds or headphones when riding bicycles. » Don’t talk on cellphones when riding bicycles. » Bicyclists must yield to pedestrians when on paths, and bicyclists riding side by side must allow room for other bicyclists to pass. » Bicyclists must use a headlight

The Pilot Club of Fort Myers distributes bicycle helmets at various events during the year. Pictured above is member Joy Augustine fitting a helmet to a child. Helmets must be fitted to each person and cannot just be handed out.

and taillight when riding at night, dusk to dawn, rain or fog.

Bicyclists must make themselves known

Bicyclists need to ride defensively; don’t assume that motorists see you and will give you the right of way even when you have it. Bicyclists also need to be respectful of motorists.

Use a bell or horn to alert pedestrians that you will be passing; indicate vocally a comment, such as “passing on your left.”

Using a headlight and taillight during the day on flash mode will help motorists know that you are there.

Note: Pedestrians should walk facing motor traffic so that they can tell when a vehicle is approaching.

Brain injury or bad hairdo?

Would you rather have a messedup hairdo or brain damage? Many bicyclists think that just because they’re biking in their own community it’s not necessary to wear a helmet. But accidents happen there just as often as if you were on a long ride. It’s important, not only that you wear a helmet but also that the helmet is fitted properly.

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital recommends the following five steps in the proper procedure for fitting and wearing a bicycle helmet: » The helmet should be level on the head. » You should be able to place one or two fingers on the forehead between the bottom of the helmet and the eyebrow. » The front and back straps should be equally tight and meet a “V” just below the ears. » You should be able to fit one or two fingers between the chin and the chin strap. » A proper-fitting helmet will not move on your head.

For more safety information, visit the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition at leecountyinjuryprevention. org.