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PRINCIPLE #4:
PROTECT YOURSELF
Even very careful riders can fall or get hit by a motorist. And even a
simple fall can injure your head. The brain is very fragile and often
does not heal like broken bones. The damage can be for life. Helmets
provide proven protection.
It’s Oregon law: all bicycle riders under sixteen must wear an approved
bicycle helmet while riding on a public way. In the past, helmets met
voluntary standards like ASTM, Snell, or ANSI. After March 1999, there
is a new federal standard developed in cooperation with the Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC). If your bicycle helmet meets one of
the previous standards, you do not need to buy a new helmet. Unless
damaged, these bicycle helmets provide sufficient protection for their
useful life (usually 3-5 years). When you buy a new helmet look for the
label or sticker indicating it meets the CPSC safety standard.
Proper fit is important too. For a detailed brochure, contact the
Bicyclist Safety Program (address-front cover). Finally, if you crash
or fall, inspect your helmet; if there are signs of damage, replace it,
because it may no longer protect you.
PRACTICES TO AVOID
Now that you know what to do, you should also know what to avoid.
The following behaviors cause crashes and create an image of
bicyclists as irresponsible and foolish:
Don’t dart out suddenly
onto the roadway
When entering the road
from a driveway, always
yield to traffic. It is
dangerous to alternate
between the sidewalk and
road, by hopping the curb or
using driveway cuts. If you
ride on the sidewalk,
motorists may not see you,
and may not have time to
react and give you space if
you suddenly enter the road.
11
Darting out onto the road can put
you in the path of a moving car