CYCLING SENSE
Bicycles are vehicles and cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists!
Follow the rules of the road...
- stop at all stop signs and red lights
- cycle on the right side of the road
- ride on the road, not the sidewalk
- use proper lighting when riding at night
- use proper hand signalling when turning and stopping
- remember to wear a helmet (it's the law for cyclists under the age of 18)
- be predictable in traffic - ride in a straight line
- ride at least 1 meter from the curb
- give pedestrians the right of way
- always shoulder check when turning
- ride defensively
Choosing and Using the Correct Helmet
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Wearing a helmet while bicycling is the law for children and youth under the age of 18 years. Helmet use is also recommended for many other recreational activities. Helmets do not prevent an injury event from happening. However, they do help protect your child's head and decrease the chance of a brain injury in the event of a fall or collision. Some helmets, such as bicycle helmets, are designed to protect the head for a single impact and should be replaced once the helmet has received any strong impact. There are also helmets designed to withstand more than one impact (multi-impact), as well as provide protection from sharp objects that may hit the head.
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Children are often involved in more than one activity where a helmet is required or recommended; choosing the right helmet can be confusing. Below is a list of recommended helmets for a variety of recreational activities. The information was gathered from Health Canada, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), helmet manufacturers, Internet bicycle safety resource sites and sport retailers, and it is the best information available at this time. Currently, Canadian helmet standards exist for bicycle and hockey helmets only. Always ensure that the helmet you choose has been certified. You may see CSA, (Canadian), CPSC, Snell, ASTM (American) and CEN (European) insignias which identify that the helmet meets certification standards. Check with your local sporting goods store for more information on helmets available.
Fitting Tips
A helmet fits correctly when:
- It sits squarely on the head with the front of the helmet low on the brow (within 2 finger widths of the eyebrows) to protect the forehead.
- The padding gives firm, uniform pressure all around the head so that the skin on the forehead moves as the helmet is rotated from left to right and from front to back.
- The front and rear straps form a "Y" just below and forward of the ears; and,
- All straps are adjusted so there is no slack in the system when the chin strap is fastened.
Information will be available soon
