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As the weather gets warmer, the Ridgewood Health Department and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center want you to be safe when you and your family ride bicycles

Bike Lane Traffic Easing Ridgewood

April 8,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, on April 5th it was Injury Prevention Day for National Public Health Week. Here’s important information from the Ridgewood Health Department.

Bicycle Safety
As the weather gets warmer, the Ridgewood Health Department and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center want you to be safe when you and your family ride bicycles. Bicycle trips account for only 1% of all trips in the United States. However, bicyclists face a higher risk of crash related injury and deaths than occupants in motor vehicles.
Always Ride with Traffic and Follow the Rules of the Road
You are better off riding with the flow of traffic, not against it. Crash data tells us that getting hit from behind is extremely unlikely.
You are more predictable and visible to motorists, especially at intersections and driveways.
Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars, and use hand signals when turning and stopping.
Obey traffic signs, signals, and lane markings and yield to traffic when appropriate, including pedestrians.
Don’t Ride on the Sidewalk
Although you might think it’s a safer option, motorists are simply not looking for bicyclists on the sidewalk, especially those riding against the direction of traffic.
At every driveway and intersection, you are at greater risk of being hit by a motorist than if you were riding on the road with traffic.
Pedestrians will thank you for riding on the road as well.
Ride on the trail, paved shoulder, bike lane, or bike route. You still need to follow the rules of the road and watch out for your fellow travelers. Ride to the right, signal your turns, obey traffic signs and signals.

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Be Predictable and Visible:
Try not to be hesitant or do things that motorists and other travelers may not be expecting.
Make sure everyone can see you and knows where you are and where you are going.
If riding in the dark, use headlights, taillights, and reflectors and wear reflective materials and brightly colored clothing.
Do not wear headphones or talk on a cell phone while bicycling.
Watch for Stuff on the Road or Trail that Might Make you Fall or Swerve:
Rocks, trash, storm grates, wet leaves, potholes, gravel, railroad tracks, and even wet pavement markings can all send you flying.
Also watch for parked cars, doors opening, and cars pulling in and out of driveways.
Watch for Turning Traffic
Most car/bike collisions happen at intersections and driveways when motorists or bicyclists are turning.
At every intersection and driveway; keep a careful eye out for motorists turning right in front of you, you may be going faster than they think. Also, look for motorists turning left across your path, drivers are looking for gaps in traffic and may not be paying attention to anything other than other motor vehicles.
Wear a Helmet
“Use your head, wear a helmet.” It is the single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes.
Find the Right Helmet Fit
Make sure your child has the right size helmet and wears it every time when riding, skating or scooting. Your children’s helmet should meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) standards. When it’s time to buy a new helmet, let your children pick out their own; they’ll be more likely to wear them for every ride.
Make sure the helmet fits and your child knows how to put it on correctly. A helmet should sit on top of the head in a level position, and should not rock forward, backward or side to side. The helmet straps must always be buckled, but not too tightly.
EYES check: Position the helmet on your head. Look up and you should see the bottom rim of the helmet. The rim should be one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows.
EARS check: Make sure the straps of the helmet form a “V” under your ears when buckled. The strap should be snug but comfortable.
MOUTH check: Open your mouth as wide as you can. Do you feel the helmet hug your head? If not, tighten those straps and make sure the buckle is flat against your skin.
Use Appropriate Helmets for Different Activities
Children should always wear a helmet for all wheeled sports activities.
A properly-fitted bike helmet is just as effective when riding a scooter, roller skating or in-line skating.
When skateboarding and long boarding, make sure your child wears a CPSC certified skateboarding helmet.
Proper Equipment and Maintenance Are Important
Ensure proper bike fit by bringing the child along when shopping for a bike. Select one that is the right size for the child, not one he or she will grow into.
When children are sitting on the seat of the bicycle, their feet should be able to touch the ground.
Before the ride, make sure the reflectors are secure, brakes work properly, gears shift smoothly, and tires are tightly secured and properly inflated.
Long or loose clothing can get caught in bike chains or wheel spokes. Dress young kids appropriately to ensure a safe ride.
Keep an Eye Out
Actively supervise children until you’re comfortable that they are responsible to ride on their own.
Every child is different, but developmentally, it can be hard for kids to judge speed and distance of cars until age 10, so limit riding to sidewalks (although be careful for vehicles in driveways), parks or bike paths until age 10. No matter where you ride, teach your child to stay alert and watch for cars and trucks.
Children should be able to demonstrate riding competence and knowledge of the rules of the road before cycling with traffic.
Model and Teach Good Behavior
You’d be surprised how much kids learn from watching you, so it’s important for parents to model proper behavior. Wear a helmet, even if you didn’t when you were a kid.
Teach your kids to make eye contact with drivers. Bikers should make sure drivers are paying attention and are going to stop before they cross the street.
Tell your kids to ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against it. Stay as far to the right as possible. Use appropriate hand signals and respect traffic signals, stopping at all stop signs and stoplights. Be predictable when riding.
Stop and look left, right and left again before entering a street or crossing an intersection. Look back and yield to traffic coming from behind before turning left.
Be Bright, Use Lights
When riding at dusk, dawn or in the evening, be bright and use lights – and make sure your bike has reflectors as well. It’s also smart to wear clothes and accessories that have retro-reflective materials to improve biker visibility to motorists.
Most states require a front light but allow the use of a rear reflector. Headlights aren’t so much for bicyclists to see where they are going but for others to see them. Riding without a headlight means drivers won’t see you, and surprising motorists is never a good idea.

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5 thoughts on “As the weather gets warmer, the Ridgewood Health Department and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center want you to be safe when you and your family ride bicycles

  1. Yes, be the first ever person to cycle along that green path.

  2. Fix the pot holes

  3. #GreenLanesMatter

  4. I can’t wait for the county to repay Ridgewood Avenue

  5. County needs to have PSE&G come back and fix the driveway aprons they destroyed before they pave. Otherwise, they county will repave and then PSE&G will come back and wreck it when they fix the aprons (if they ever come back . . . ).

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