Bicycles are subject to the same laws as motor vehicles. Riders of all ages should use the following tips to help ensure safe and legal bike operation:

• Be a responsible bicyclist - obey all traffic control devices and use proper hand signals.
• Dress safely - wear a helmet, wear bright colored clothing, and secure loose pant legs.
• Ride defensively - anticipate the actions of other road users and watch for road hazards.
• Pass vehicles with extreme care - turning vehicles may not see you.
• Be aware of motor vehicle blind spots while riding or when stopped at an intersection.
• Maximize your visibility at night - wear reflective clothing and apply reflective tape to your bicycle.
• Walk your bicycle when you get into traffic situations beyond your cycling abilities.
• Exercise great caution when riding in bus traffic - watch out for buses pulling to and from curbs and passengers getting on and off buses.
• Park your bicycle so you do not block sidewalks, disabled accesses, building accesses, or emergency drives.
• Ensure young children are properly supervised and never allow them to ride their bicycle in the street.
• The decision to allow older children to ride in the street should depend on traffic patterns, individual maturity, and an adequate knowledge and ability to follow the "Rules of the Road."
• Children must be provided with helmets approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and taught to wear them properly on every ride, starting when they get their first bike or tricycle.
• Children should never ride at dusk or in the dark, because it is extremely risky. Your child should be told to call home for a ride rather than ride a bike in the dark.
• Children should receive training in bicycle riding, including the "Rules of the Road (below)," and have their bike privileges withheld if they ignore safety rules.
• Children should learn how to keep their bikes in good repair, with parents checking the tires, brakes, and seat and handlebar height annually.

Bicycle Rules of the Road

• Ride with traffic.
• Stop and look both ways before entering the street.
• Stop at all intersections, marked and unmarked.
• Before turning, use hand signals and look all ways.