Bicycle/Walking Safety
Safety is an important consideration in any Safe Routes to School Program. In this section, we present an introduction to safety topics, including How to Bike and Walk Safely, Helmet Safety, Hydration and Sun Protection and Healthy Snacks. We provide links to established websites with more complete information on all of these topics. We also provide information about our Bike Safety Rodeos for children and parents and links to current Missouri and Illinois Bicycle and Walking Policy and Legislation.

		...it is important for children to know how to bike and walk safely. We cover crossing safely, bus safety, intersections and parking lot safety for pedestrians and helmet safety, preparing to ride safely, traffic laws and hazards and basic bike skills for bicyclists. We also cover the importance of making children visible as bicyclists and pedestrians. Read more>
		...a helmet is your last line of defense in an accident; never ride without one. Helmets can reduce serious head injuries by 85% in a crash. Read more>
		...when bicycling and walking for transportation, it is important to stay hydrated and use sun protection during all seasons, and to know the symptoms of and avoid both heat exhaustion and the more serious, life threatening heat stroke. Read more>
		...when walking or bicycling to school, you should always be sure to drink plenty of water — before you start, during, and after you're done, even if you don't feel thirsty. Read more>
		...Trailnet offers Bike Safety Rodeos to children and parents. Read more>
		...by law bicyclists are to ride on the right with the flow of other traffic. By law pedestrians are required to walk on the left, facing traffic. Bicycles are classified as vehicles in all 50 states and their operators are subject to all the rights and responsibilities of other vehicle operators. By state law, motorists are required to yield to all pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks. Read more>

Bike and Walk Safely

	Bicycle Lessons for Children
	1. Helmet Safety
	Always wear a helmet when you ride a bike Make sure that your helmet first properly (level on your head, with front and back straps equally tight and space for 1 finger between your chin and chin strap) Replace your helmet if it is banged hard or if it is in a crash
	2. Preparing to Ride Safely
	Check to make sure you are ready to ride (wearing a helmet, wearing brightly colored clothes with no dangling pant legs or shoe laces and NO headphones) Check to make sure that the bike fits properly (you should be able to stand over the bike with 1” to 3” of clearance over the top bar) Check to make sure your tires are properly inflated Check to make sure that your brakes work properly Check to make sure that your chain is not loose or rusty Check to make sure that your wheels spin smoothly
	3. Traffic Laws and Hazards
	Bicycles are vehicles and must obey all traffic laws, including stopping at all stop signs and red lights Use hand signals before turning left or right and slowing or stopping Be aware of and avoid hazards such as debris, potholes and parked cars
	4. Basic Bike Skills
	Practice starting, stopping and dismounting Ride on the right side of the road with traffic Ride predictably and in a straight line Look in front of you, beside and behind you as you ride so that you are aware of surrounding traffic When crossing the road, look for other vehicles and pedestrians from the left, right and left again Make eye contact with motorists and never cross an intersection until you know that the driver has seen you Never ride in the dark, even with a light (adults who ride at night are required by law to use a light)
	Pedestrian Lessons for Children
	1. Crossing Safely
	Walk on sidewalks or paths, and if none are available, walk as far away from cars as possible and facing traffic Always cross streets with an adult Choose an appropriate place to cross the street, use crosswalks when available and try to avoid crossing between parked cars or at the top of a hill Stop at the edge (where you can see the traffic) before crossing the street When crossing, look left, right and left again for traffic and keep looking for traffic until you have finished crossing the street Walk in a straight line from one side of the street to the other Walk across the street, do not run
	2. Bus Safety
	Stay on the sidewalk away from the street when waiting for the bus Stay out of the danger zones around a bus (10 feet in front of the bus and 5 feet on either side) Never cross the street behind a bus
	3. Crossing the Intersection
	Do not assume that drivers will stop for you in crosswalks Cross when the pedestrian signal says “WALK,” and do not start crossing (but complete crossing if you are in the street) when the signal says “DON’T WALK” When crossing at an intersection, look left, right and left again and then behind for traffic and keep looking for traffic until you have finished crossing the street When crossing at an intersection, wait for turning cars to pass
	4. Parking Lot Safety
	Stay close to the car and wait for an adult to help crossing the parking lot Walk two steps away from the rear bumpers of the line of cars in a parking lot if there is no sidewalk or median
	Download Printable Guidelines here Source: http://www.walktoschool.org/resources/safety-education.cfm (The USA website for International Walk to School Week)

Reflectors, Lights and High Visibility Clothing
By law, you must have a front white light and red rear reflector on your bicycle when riding at night. Front lights can illuminate your path or more importantly make you visible at night and many models are available at reasonable cost. Blinking lights are more visible than static and many low cost models are available. When bicycling or walking at night, dusk or dawn, high visibility clothing will make you more visible to motorists.
Source: http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/better/roadrules.php (League of American Bicyclists)

Helmet Safety
Bicycle helmets are 85 - 88 % effective in preventing head and brain injuries. Estimates indicate that only 20 - 25 % of all bicyclists wear bicycle helmets. Helmet use for any activity is lowest among children ages 11 to 14 (11 %).

A helmet is your last line of defense in an accident; never ride without one. Helmets can reduce serious head injuries by 85% in a crash. Helmets with CPSC approval are good for biking and in-line skating and are available in most sporting goods stores. "Multi-sport" helmets with a Snell B-95 approval are designed for skateboarding, roller-skating, and riding scooters as well as biking and in-line skating. Snell B-95 rated helmets provide more protection but you may have to check out more stores to find one. Your helmet should sit flat on your head — make sure it is level and is not tilted back or forward. The front of the helmet should sit low — about two finger widths above your eyebrows to protect your forehead. The straps on each side of your head should form a "Y" over your ears, with one part of the strap in front of your ear, and one behind — just below your earlobes. If the helmet leans forward, adjust the rear straps. If it tilts backward, tighten the front straps. Buckle the chinstrap securely at your throat so that the helmet feels snug on your head and does not move up and down or from side to side.

Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch article 2/20/06, http://www.bam.gov/sub_yoursafety/index.html (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Body and Mind), http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/better/beginningcycling.php (League of American Bicyclists), http://www.bhsi.org (Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute), and http://www.cpsc.gov/KIDS/kidsafety/correct.html (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Hydration and Sun Protection

Hydration
Drinking water before, during, and after physical activity is one way to keep your body's air conditioner working. Keep these tips in mind to help your body stay cool: Keep a water bottle handy when bicycling or walking. Try to drink about 10 ounces — that's about 10 large gulps from your water bottle — every 15-20 minutes. Don't depend on your thirst to tell you whether or not your body needs a refill. Make sure you drink water a few hours before gearing up for physical activities, and keep drinking after you're done. Stay away from drinks that have caffeine, lots of sugar, or carbonation in them — like soda or tea. Sports drinks are great when you're active, but not when your done — they have high levels of sugar, salt, and potassium that you don't really need unless you are working your body hard.
Source: http://www.bam.gov/sub_yoursafety/index.html

Sun Protection
The sun is strongest between 10:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon, and wearing sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher is recommended between those times. Make sure your sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Put it on 30 minutes before you go out in the sun, and reapply every couple of hours. Sunglasses that block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays are also recommended.
Source: http://www.bam.gov/sub_yoursafety/index.html (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Body and Mind)

Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Heat Exhaustion occurs when fluid losses from sweating and respiration are greater than internal fluid reserves. Its symptoms may include sweating, pale and clammy skin, increased pulse, increased respiration, normal or slightly elevated temperature, decreased urine output, anxiety, nausea and vomiting. Treatment includes having the person lie or sit down (preferably in the shade or in a cool environment), elevating the feet and giving fluids (particularly those containing salt), and refraining from vigorous activity for at least the rest of that day. Heat Stroke is a life threatening medical emergency; victims can die within minutes if not properly treated. Heat Stroke is caused by an increase in the body's core temperature, with core temperatures over 105 deg F; (41 deg C) possibly leading to death. Its symptoms may include hot skin, pale skin, increased pulse rate, increased respiration, increased temperature, decreased urine output, severe changes in mental status, and dilated pupils. Treatment must include efforts to reduce body temperature immediately, volume replacement and basic life support, CPR if necessary.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001201-d001300/d001215/d001215.html (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nation Ag Safety Database)

Healthy Snacks
When walking or bicycling to school, you should always be sure to drink plenty of water — before you start, during, and after you're done, even if you don't feel thirsty. You should also take along some healthy snacks to refuel when you’re done. Some great snack ideas include: fresh fruits like bananas and grapes, fresh veggies like carrots and celery sticks, snack-sized boxes of raisins, fruit juice boxes (make sure you choose 100% pure fruit juice), low-fat yogurt, pretzels, graham crackers, animal crackers, bagels, and fig bars.
Source: http://www.bam.gov/sub_foodnutrition/fuelup.html (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Body and Mind)

Bike Safety Rodeos
Our Rodeos include, bike safety checks, local hospitals’ bike helmet programs (nominal charge helmets and helmet fittings), bike safety presentation, practice courses and safety quiz. All participants receive a certificate after completing a safety quiz. For more information or to schedule a Bike Rodeo, call 314/436-1324 x 113 or

Bicycle/Walking Policy and Legislation
Missouri and Illinois policies and legislation are presented below. Also check you local municipal ordinances for additional regulations, such as helmet laws.

Missouri
• For more information on Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Policy and Legislation from the Missouri Department of Transportation

• Missouri Bicycle Statutes - http://www.modot.org/othertransportation/bike_ped/
documents/biketips_statutes05_000.pdf (9 kb, 2pages)

• Missouri Pedestrian Statutes - http://www.modot.org/othertransportation/bike_ped/
documents/PedTips_PedLaws.pdf (11 kb, 2 pages)

Illinois
On most roadways, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other roadway users. Bicyclists are prohibited on limited-access highways, expressways and certain other marked roadways. Without a vehicle or protective equipment, pedestrians are the roadway users most at risk in traffic. Drivers and pedestrians are both responsible for traffic safety. A simple rule is that drivers should always be prepared to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

For more information on Illinois Bicycle and Pedestrian Policy and Legislation from the Illinois Department of Transportation

View the official wording of the law