Wil Mara - What Should I Do? On My Bike

Published in the United States of America by Cherry Lake Publishing Ann Arbor, Michigan www.cherrylakepublishing.com Content Adviser: Karen Sheehan, MD, MPH, Childrens Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois Photo Credits: Cover and page 5, Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock, Inc.; page 7, Emin Ozkan/Dreamstime.com; page 9, Martinmark/Dreamstime.com; page 11, Jiri Hera/Shutterstock, Inc.; page 13, Ron Chapple Studios/Dreamstime.com; page 15, Jeff Martinez/Shutterstock, Inc.; page 17, Semen Lihodeev/Alamy; page 19, Huating/Dreamstime.com; page 21, donatas1205/Shutterstock, Inc. Copyright 2012 by Cherry Lake Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Mara, Wil. What should I do? on my bike/by Wil Mara. cm.(Community connections) Includes bibliographical references and index. cm.(Community connections) Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61080-055-6 (lib. bdg.) ISBN-10: 1-61080-055-9 (lib. bdg.) 1. BicyclesSafety measuresJuvenile literature. I. Title.

GV1055.M36 2011 796.60289dc22 2011000127 Cherry Lake Publishing would like to acknowledge the work of The Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Please visit www.21stcenturyskills.org for more information. Printed in the United States of America Corporate Graphics Inc. July 2011 CLFA09

Bicycle riding can be fun. It is very good exercise . You can spend time with your friends and family.

Riding a bike can also be dangerous . You can get hurt if you arent careful. You should always follow safety rules. Bike riding can be a lot of fun if you remember to stay safe! LOOK! Take a look around the next time you are outside. Where are the most dangerous areas for bicycle riding? What could you do to avoid danger in these places?

Accidents can really hurt. You could fall off your bike while riding too fast.

You could run into something. You can get cuts, scrapes, and bruises. You could even break a bone. Accidents happen every day. Doctors put broken arms and legs into casts to make sure they heal correctly. MAKE A GUESS! Pretend you are riding a bike with a friend on a busy street.

Should you ride side by side or one behind the other? It is much safer to ride one behind the other. You will be too far out in the road if you ride side by side.

Always keep your bicycle in good shape. Make sure nothing is loose or broken. The chain should be tight. The tires should have plenty of air.

The seat and handlebars should be just the right height. The brakes should always work. Dont ride a bicycle if it has loose or broken parts. It could cause you to have an accident. ASK QUESTIONS! Ask an adult to show you how to keep your bicycle in top shape. You might not be able to fix a bicycle, but you should know when there is a problem.

Always check your bicycle before you go for a ride. Be sure to wear safety gear . It protects your body during accidents. Always wear a helmet. It should fit just right. Make sure it isnt too loose or too tight.

Elbow and knee pads are important, too. Your clothes should not be too loose. And watch out for untied shoelaces! They can get caught in your bike chain. Wearing a helmet when biking will help prevent a head injury if you have an accident.

You should always be alert when you ride. You need to watch what is happening around you.

Do not listen to music on headphones. Do not use a cell phone. Avoid talking to friends when there are cars nearby. Never fool around or show off on your bike. Make sure you are always paying attention when riding your bike. Try not to ride in the street. Try not to ride in the street.

Always ride on the right-hand side if you have to go in the street. Ride in a straight line. Obey all road signs and lights. Do not ride your bike through parking lots. They are filled with cars coming and going. The drivers might not see you.

Obey all signals and street signs. They are not just for cars. Always use a crosswalk to cross the street. Get off your bicycle and walk it to the other side. Be very careful at corners. You should stop before you get to a corner.

You cannot see what is coming around the other side. Look carefully before you start riding again. Using the crosswalk is the safest way to cross a street. Do not ride on a road that has a lot of cracks or holes. Be extra careful on roads that are slippery from rain, snow, or ice. Avoid all roads that have heavy traffic .

Ride with your parents or friends if you can. Always bring a cell phone along if you have one. You can use it to call for help if something happens. Dont ride on busy streets. Use roads with less traffic and only cross busy streets if you have to. CREATE! Make a map of your neighborhood.

Then mark the best roads for bicycle riding. Use them as much as possible. Also, check to see if there are any bike paths near your home. There are no cars on bike paths! The best time to ride your bike is during the day. You can see better in the daylight. People in cars can also see you better.

Make sure your bicycle has reflectors and a light if you have to ride at night. You can also wear reflective tape . Follow the rules and you will be safe on your bike! Reflectors help other people see you and your bicycle more easily.