Test Your Bike Before riding, check to make sure your tires are adequately inflated. Test your brakes to make sure they are working. Keep your chains lubricated and clean. Always Wear a Helmet In the event of an accident, you want to make sure your brain is protected with a properly fitted helmet. Your helmet should be level on your head and cover most of your forehead. Tighten the chin straps so that you can’t move the helmet more than one inch in any direction. Ride With the Flow of Traffic Ride in the same direction as other vehicles. Bike with the flow of traffic, not against it. Don’t Distract Yourself Don’t try to talk on the phone or listen to music while you’re riding. Listening to the world around you is part of biking safely. Stay Alert Look ahead, not down, in order to avoid potholes and other hazards. Watch doors on parked cars to make sure you have time to brake if someone opens one. Keep Hands on Handlebars Always bike with at least one hand on the handlebars. If you are transporting items, put them in a backpack or basket that’s attached to your bike. Use Hand Signals Use hand signals to alert drivers and other riders when you plan to stop or turn. To signal a left turn, extend your left arm from your chest until it’s straight. To signal a right turn, bend your right arm up into an L shape. To signal a stop, bring your arm down to your side and out about a foot. Ride Single File If there are bikers ahead of you, ride in a single file line with plenty of space between bikes. Wear Bright Colors Don’t wear white. Instead choose something neon, fluorescent, or colorful. Avoid Riding at Night When you ride at night, you’re much harder for cars to see. If you do have to ride at night make sure you have reflectors on the front and rear of your bicycle. The front lights should be white and the back should be red.