BICYCLE RULES FOR THE ROAD

[Music] [Laughter] isn't it wonderful to be able to ride a bicycle now you're ready to go places or are you the twins Barb and Cathy felt they were now skillful enough to ride anywhere but dad pointed out that some of the most important things about riding a bicycle still or to the store or anywhere you must know the bicycle rules of the road bicycles share the streets with automobiles and anyone who uses the streets has to follow certain strict rules the ones who don't follow the rules can be involved in accidents and get hurt in 3 out of 4 cases the accident is the fault of the bike rider to avoid such accidents follow the bicycle rules of the road let's see what they are we will assume your bicycle is always in good riding condition here is rule number 1 see where you're going and be sure other drivers see you a large percentage of all bike accidents happen when the riders first enter the street before you ride out into the street stop and look in both directions to be sure there are no cars coming sometimes it's best to walk your bike out and get on after you're sure you're in the clear always ride on the right side of the street in the same direction the cars are moving and always in the single-file as close to the curb is practical keep an eye on the cars ahead that are parked at the curb just because they're parked it's no sign there isn't someone in one of them ready to step out or warlock unfortunately not all drivers make the proper signals when an automobile stops for a stop sign be sure the driver sees you before you cross the street sometimes from where the driver is sitting part of the car makes a blind spot if you can see his eyes you can tell if he sees you as you cross check to see that no other car is coming in the second lane although the first driver stopped the second might not at busy intersections always walk your bike across the street and here's another good idea wait for a new green light one that has just changed to green places along a straight with parked cars or shrubbery are called blind spots here you are hidden from the view of approaching drivers so always enter the street from a place where you can see both ways and we're approaching drivers can see you now rule number two make turns and lane changes properly after giving the proper signals in making a signal you're letting others know what you are going to do put your left arm out or a left turn like this the same signals are used by bicycle riders and people operating automobiles in making a left turn don't try to get across to the left lane at the last minute allow yourself time to get to the turning position safely but just giving the signal does not give you the right to turn without being sure it's safe put your left arm up when you're making a right turn after you've made the signal complete the turn with both hands on the handlebars if you're about to slow down and stop drop your arm with the hand facing backwards like this it's important to give moving cars plenty of room because even when the driver wants to be stopped instantly an official police car will show us how long it takes to stop a car traveling at only 25 miles an hour in this test the driver pretends he sees a bicycle rider turning in front of him he wants to stop right away but his car has already gone 30 feet before his foot gets to the brake pedal then after he steps on the brake it takes another 30 feet to stop the car this is 60 feet in all or more than ten times the length of your bicycle cars that are traveling faster and many of them do take much longer to stop let's see how a bicycle rider does in the same test traveling at average speed you cover 10 feet before you can reach the brake then another 25 feet before the bicycle is stopped so give yourself plenty of room both you and the cars take longer to stop than you think now here's rule number three obey all signs and signals when the sign says stop come to a complete stop and look in both directions before starting again when a traffic light turns yellow you'll stop because that's a warning it's going to turn red right away and you won't have time to make it of course you always stop when the light is red the best time to go is when the light has just turned green if the intersection is busy use the crosswalk but remember the crosswalk is not like a fence that can actually stop cars you yourself must still be alert and careful what does happen when an automobile hits a bicycle to answer this question tests supervised by the Highway Patrol were photographed especially for this motion picture a bicycle was positioned as though the rider were changing lanes without looking the cars speed is only 25 miles an hour even at this low speed a bicycle is no match for an automobile what will happen at a higher speed another bicycle is placed on the test strip the station wagon gets up to speed in this instance 47 miles an hour the driver and our car are okay the bicycle is not but then automobiles and bicycles never did mix well together several months have passed the twins have become such good observers of the bicycle rules of the road that dad thinks he can let them check out young brother Bill let's see how well you remember the rules let's just go through the motions and see a few can remember them all right Bob what was rule number one see where you're going and be sure other drivers see you see where you're going and be sure other drivers see you okay Kathy what was rule number two make turns and lane changes proudly after getting the proper signals make turns and lane changes properly after giving the proper signals now for rule-free twins what was rule free obey are all signed and signals obey all signs and signals bicycle riding is fun to be sure it's a safe and fun way of getting anywhere remember and follow the bicycle rules of the road [Music]