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

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
What is a hazard?
A hazard is something that can harm you.
Types of hazards
 Visual
 All vehicles have to
worry about hazards.
 Surface
 Always drive carefully
because hazards can
be everywhere!
 Collision
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
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)!