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TOWNSHIP |
Pride in Plumsted, the State's
Center
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PLUMSTED POLICE
BICYCLE SAFETY |
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Bicycle Safety |
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Plumsted Police Department |
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The Plumsted Police Department is concerned
about your safety. In cooperation with the National Crime Prevention Council we
bring you these safety tips and reminders.
1. Protect your Head. Wear
a Helmet.
Studies have shown that using a bicycle helmet can reduce
head injuries by up to 85%. Select a helmet that has a snug, but comfortable
fit. Look for the helmet labels that show they are recommended by either the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation.
2. See and Be Seen.
Wear proper clothes. Wear clothes
that make you more visible. Clothing should be light in color and close fitting
to avoid being caught in the bicycle's moving parts. Also, be sure that books
and other loose items are secured to the bike or are carried in the backpack.
3. Go With the Flow of Traffic.
You must obey the rules
of the road. These include all traffic signs, signals, and road markings. Ride
on the right side of the street in single file. Use proper hand signals. Never
weave from lane to lane or tailgate to hitch rides on moving cars or trucks.
4. Look Both Ways.
Be aware of traffic around you. Seven
out of ten car-bicycle crashes occur at driveways or other intersections.
Before you enter a street or intersection, check for traffic and always look
left-right-left. Walk you bicycle across busy streets at corners or crosswalks.
5. Stay Alert! Keep a look=out for obstacles in your path.
Watch out for potholes, sewer gratings, cracks, railroad tracks,
loose gravel, and broken glass. Before going around any object, look ahead and
behind you for a free gap in traffic. Plan you move, and then signal your
intentions. Be especially careful in wet weather, as water can make you slip
and make your brakes work improperly.
6. Beware the Dark Side.
If you have to ride at night, display front and rear reflectors on your
bicycle. Wear reflective clothing or materials, especially on your ankles,
wrists, back, and helmet. Ride in areas that are familiar and on streets that
are brightly lighted. NOTE: New Jersey Motor Vehicle law requires headlights
and taillights on bikes after dark.
7. Go Off-Road
Use
bicycle routes if available. Bike paths are special areas reserved for bikes.
Become familiar with such accommodations for cyclists in your area.
8. Fix it Up.
Make sure your bicycle is adjusted
properly. Your bicycle should be correctly adjusted to fit you; your feet
should rest on the ground while sitting in the seat. Before using your bike,
check to make sure that all parts are secure and working. The handlebars should
be firmly in place and turn easily; the wheels should be straight and secure.
9. Stop It Check your brakes before riding.
Control your
speed by using your brakes. If your bicycle has hand brakes, apply the rear
brakes slightly before the front brake. Remember to ride slowly in wet,
slippery weather and to apply brakes earlier since it takes more distance to
stop.
| Bicycle theft
can be costly. |
With some new bicycles on the market, costs for
the bike and equipment can be in the hundreds. Protect your investment. Here
are some tips that may prevent your bike from ending up amongst the missing:
- Always lock and store your bike. Even if it's only
a few minutes. It only takes seconds for a thief to ride off with it.
- Use a U-lock device that secures the bike to a
solid stationary object such as a tree or bike rack. The use of a heavy chain
and lock will also work. Make sure that you place the chain through both the
frame and the wheels. Placing the chain through the wheel alone will only save
your wheel. The rest of you bike may be long gone.
- Record the serial number of your bike. Keep your
records. There are also commercial companies that will register your bike for
you (at a cost). Each year police finds thousands of bikes and the owners are
never identified because the serial numbers are not known.
- Photograph your bike. If you have added or
specialized equipment this may help identify the bike and the extras. Engrave
identifying numbers such as your social security number on specialized parts to
identify them if they are separated from the rest of the bike.
- Always question someone trying to sell you or your
child a bike at a cost too good to be true. When in doubt, have a police
officer check the records. Unlike cars, bikes do not usually have a bill of
sale or title. Extra precautions are in order
Plumsted Police
Department
2 Cedar St.
New Egypt, NJ 08533
609-758-7185 |
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