Full Notification

BICYCLE TRAFFIC SAFETY

The Upland Police Department welcomes back students and parents. Bicycling can be a fun way to get to school. Below are some safety points students and parents can go over together.

BEFORE RIDING YOUR BIKE

• Talk with your parents. Are you allowed to ride by yourself or with friends? What route will you ride to school?
• Practice riding the route to school with your parents. Doing so will help you know where to stop, signal, and walk your bike.
. Dress to be seen. Wear brightly colored clothes and reflective gear, such as a reflective vest, book bag tags, or pant leg straps. Remember, just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean the
driver can see you.
• Tie and tuck. Loose laces and pant legs can get caught up in your bike and cause you to crash. Tie shoelaces and tuck the hanging ends into your shoe, and tie wide pant legs with a reflective strap or tuck them into socks.
• Check your bike for safety. Make sure the tires have enough air, the brakes and gears work, the chain isn’t loose, and the wheels and bolts are tight. You should also have reflective gear on your bicycle. Have your parents help you fix anything that’s not right.
• Put on your helmet. Make sure it’s properly adjusted. The Hard Facts: more children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms for injuries related to biking than any other sport. Helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88 percent, yet only 45 percent of children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet. "Use your head, wear a helmet."


WHILE RIDING YOUR BIKE
• Look and listen for traffic. Also, look for things that could make you fall, like potholes and storm grates. Never use a cell phone or wear headphones.
• Watch for vehicles going in and out of driveways. Keep both hands on the handlebars, except when signaling. Carry books and other items in a backpack or bag designed to fit on a bicycle.
• Stop before crossing the street, entering a road, or turning. Look left, right, left, and behind you for traffic, including pedestrians, bicycles, and cars.

IF YOU ARE ALLOWED TO RIDE IN THE STREET
• Ride to the right side of the road, but far enough from parked cars to avoid any car doors that suddenly open. Ride single file and in the same direction as cars.
• Obey traffic laws. Follow all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.
• Be predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Use hand signals.

If you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to call the Upland Police Department at (909) 946-7624 and ask for the watch commander.