Bicycle trips make up only 1% of all trips in the United States. However, bicyclists account for over 2% of people who die in a crash involving a motor vehicle on our nation’s roads.

Note that bicycle refers to bicyclists and other cyclists including riders of two-wheel, nonmotorized vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles powered only by pedals.

Thousands of bicyclists are injured or killed in the United States every year

Deaths and Injuries

Nearly 1,000 bicyclists die and over 130,000 are injured in crashes that occur on roads in the United States every year.

Cost

The costs of bicycle injuries and deaths from crashes typically exceed $23 billion in the United States each year. These costs include spending on health care and lost work productivity, as well as estimated costs for lost quality of life and lives lost.

Some groups are at higher risk for bicycle injuries and deaths

Risks vary by age and sex

• Adults ages 55-69 have the highest bicycle death rates.
• Adolescents, teens, and young adults have the highest rates of bicycle-related injuries treated in emergency departments (EDs). People ages 10-24 account for nearly one-third of all bicycle-related injuries seen in US EDs.
• Male bicyclists have death rates 6 times higher and injury rates 5 times higher than females.

Additional risk factors

• Most bicyclist deaths occur in urban areas.
• About 64% of bicyclist deaths occur on sections of roads away from intersections (where higher speeds might occur) and 27% occur at intersections.
• About one-third of crashes that result in a bicyclist’s death involve alcohol for the motor vehicle driver and/or bicyclist.

Injuries and deaths among bicyclists are preventable

Effective Interventions

Effective interventions to reduce injuries and fatalities to bicyclists include the following:

• Bicycle helmets
• Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head and brain injuries in the event of a crash. All bicyclists, regardless of age, can help protect themselves by wearing properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride.

• Bicycle helmet laws
• Bicycle helmet laws are effective for increasing helmet use and reducing crash-related injuries and deaths among children and adults.

Promising Interventions

Interventions that have shown promise for reducing injuries and fatalities to bicyclists include rider visibility and active lighting. For example:

• Fluorescent clothing can make bicyclists visible from further away than regular clothing during the daytime.
• Retro-reflective clothing and materials on the bicycle can make bicyclists more visible at night.
• Active lighting may improve the visibility of bicyclists and is required by law in most states when bicycles are ridden after dark. Active lighting includes front white lights, rear red lights, or other lighting on the bicycle or bicyclist.

Decreasing risk of crashes

There are two main types of crashes: the most common (falls), and the most serious (the ones with cars). Regardless of the reason for the crash, prevention is the name of the game. There are things you can do to decrease your risk of a crash. First, know some of the latest bicycle safety facts:

1. Bicyclist deaths are highest during the summer months between June and September.
2. Nearly three quarters of all bicyclist deaths occur in urban areas.
3. Failing to yield the right of way is the highest factor in fatal bike crashes, followed by bicyclists not being visible.

Be prepared before heading out

Ride responsibly, and remember: All states require bicyclists on the roadway to follow the same rules and responsibilities as motorists.

• Ride a bike that fits you—if it’s too big, it’s harder to control the bike.
• Ride a bike that works—it really doesn’t matter how well you ride if the brakes don’t work.
• Wear equipment to protect you and make you more visible to others, like a bike helmet, bright clothing (during the day), reflective gear, and a white front light and red rear light and reflectors on your bike (at night, or when visibility is poor).
• Ride one per seat, with both hands on the handlebars, unless signaling a turn.
• Carry all items in a backpack or strapped to the back of the bike.
• Tuck and tie your shoe laces and pant legs so they don’t get caught in your bike chain.
• Plan your route—if driving as a vehicle on the road, choose routes with less traffic and slower speeds. Your safest route may be away from traffic altogether, in a bike lane or on a bike path.

Drive defensively - focused and alert

Be focused and alert to the road and all traffic around you; anticipate what others may do, before they do it. This is defensive driving—the quicker you notice a potential conflict, the quicker you can act to avoid a potential crash:

• Drive with the flow, in the same direction as traffic.
• Obey street signs, signals, and road markings, just like a car.
• Assume the other person doesn’t see you; look ahead for hazards or situations to avoid that may cause you to fall, like toys, pebbles, potholes, grates, train tracks.
• No texting, listening to music or using anything that distracts you by taking your eyes and ears or your mind off the road and traffic.

Drive predictably

By driving predictably, motorists get a sense of what you intend to do and can react to avoid a crash.

Drive where you are expected to be seen, travel in the same direction as traffic and signal and look over your shoulder before changing lane position or turning.

Avoid or minimize sidewalk riding. Cars don’t expect to see moving traffic on a sidewalk and don’t look for you when backing out of a driveway or turning. Sidewalks sometimes end unexpectedly, forcing the bicyclist into a road when a car isn’t expecting to look for a bicyclist. If you must ride on the sidewalk remember to:

1. Check your law to make sure sidewalk riding is legal;
2. Watch for pedestrians;
3. Pass pedestrians with care by first announcing “on your left” or “passing on your left” or use a bell;
4. Ride in the same direction as traffic. This way, if the sidewalk ends, you are already riding with the flow of traffic. If crossing a street, motorists will look left, right, left for traffic. When you are to the driver’s left, the driver is more likely to see you;
5. Slow and look for traffic (left-right-left and behind) when crossing a street from a sidewalk; be prepared to stop and follow the pedestrian signals; and
6. Slow down and look for cars backing out of driveways or turning.

Improve your riding skills

No one learns to drive a vehicle safely without practice and experience; safely riding your bike in traffic requires the same preparation. Start by riding your bike in a safe environment away from traffic (a park, path, or empty parking lot).

Take an on-bike class through your school, recreation department, local bike shop or bike advocacy group. Confidence in traffic comes with learning how to navigate and communicate with other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Review and practice as a safe pedestrian or bicyclist is great preparation for safe riding.

• Ride in a straight line, single file.
• Go with the traffic flow. Ride on the right in the same direction as cars.
• Obey all traffic signs and signals.
• Ride with both hands on the handlebars except when signaling a turn or stop.
• Stop and look left-right-left for traffic before entering a street.
• Walk your bike across an intersection.
• Stay alert – use your eyes to look for things that could make you fall, like potholes, cracks, pebbles, or wet leaves.
• Stay alert – use your ears to listen for traffic. Don’t wear earphones while riding.
• Watch for parked cars and cars pulling out or into parking spaces or driveways.
• Check your equipment. Make sure your bike tires are properly inflated and that the brakes work.

Don’t forget your bicycle helmet. Wear it flat on your head and buckled!

While there is no concussion-proof helmet, a bike helmet can help protect your child or teen from a serious brain or head injury. The information in this handout will help you learn what to look for, and what to avoid when picking out a helmet for your child or teen.

Start with the Right Size:

BRING THE BIKE RIDER
Bring your child or teen with you when buying a new helmet to make sure that you can check for a good fit.

HEAD SIZE
To find out the size of your child’s or teen’s head, wrap a soft tape measure around his or her head, just above their eyebrows and ears. Make sure the tape measure stays level from front to back. (If you don’t have a soft tape measure, you can use a string and then measure it against a ruler.)

SIZES WILL VARY
Helmet sizes often will vary from brand-to-brand, so it’s important to check out the helmet brand’s fit and sizing charts to find out what helmet size fits your child’s or teen’s head size.

Get a Good Fit:

GENERAL FIT
The helmet should fit snugly all around, with no spaces between the foam and bike rider’s head.

ASK
Ask your child or teen how the helmet feels on their head. While it needs to have a snug fit, a helmet that is too tight can cause headaches.

HAIRSTYLE
Bike helmets are available for riders with long hair. Your child or teen should try on the helmet with the hairstyle he or she will wear while bike riding. Helmet fit can change if your child’s or teen’s hairstyle changes. For example, a long-haired bike rider who gets a very short haircut may need to adjust the fit of the helmet.

ADJUSTMENTS
Some bike helmets have removable padding or a universal fit ring that can be adjusted to get a good fit.

COVERAGE
A bike helmet should not sit too high or low on the rider’s head. To check, make sure the bottom of the pad inside the front of the helmet is one or two finger widths above the bike rider’s eyebrows. The back of the helmet should not touch the top of the bike rider’s neck.

VISION
Make sure you can see your child’s or teen’s eyes, and that he or she can see straight-forward and side-to-side.

SIDE STRAPS
The side straps should make a “V” shape under, and slightly in front of the bike rider’s ears.

CHIN STRAPS
The chin strap should be centered under the bike rider’s chin, and fit snugly so that no more than one or two fingers fit between the chin and the strap. Tell your child or teen to open their mouth wide…big yawn! The helmet should pull down on their head. If not, the chin strap needs to be tighter. If needed, you can pull the straps from the back of the helmet to adjust the chin straps. Once the chin strap is fastened, the helmet should not move in any direction, back-to-front or side-to-side.

Take Care of the Helmet:

CHECK FOR DAMAGE
DO NOT allow your bike rider to use a cracked or broken helmet, or a helmet that is missing any padding or parts.

CLEANING
Clean the helmet often inside and out with warm water and mild detergent. DO NOT soak any part of the helmet, put it close to high heat, or use strong cleaners.

PROTECT
DO NOT let anyone sit or lean on the helmet.

STORAGE
Do not store a bike helmet in a car. The helmet should be stored in a room that does not get too hot or too cold, and where the helmet is away from direct sunlight.

DECORATION
DO NOT decorate (paint or put stickers on) the helmet without checking with the helmet manufacturer, as this may affect the safety of the helmet. This information may also be found on the instructions label or on the manufacturer’s website.

Look for the Labels:

LOOK FOR A BIKE HELMET WITH LABELS THAT:

• Have the date of manufacture. This information will be helpful in case the helmet is recalled; and
• Say U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)1 certified. That label means that the helmet has been tested for safety, and meets the federal safety standard.

Some bike helmets may also have a label stating that they are ASTM2, Snell3, or ANSI4 certified. These labels let you know that the helmet has also passed the safety tests of these organizations.

When to Replace a Bike Helmet:

ONE IMPACT
Replace any bike helmet that is damaged or has been involved in a crash. Bike helmets are designed to help protect the rider’s brain and head from one serious impact, such as a fall onto the pavement. You may not be able to see the damage to the foam, but the foam materials in the helmet will crush after an impact. That means that the foam in the helmet won’t be able to help protect the rider’s brain and head from another impact.

Multi-Use Helmets:

Some helmet companies have created multi-use helmets for biking, skateboarding, and other activities. Multi-use helmets are designed to withstand multiple very minor hits; however, a multi-use helmet MUST be replaced if it has been involved in a serious crash, or if it is damaged. Before your child or teen uses a multiuse helmet for biking, make sure the helmet has a CPSC label certifying it for biking.

People on bicycles have the same rights and responsibilities as people behind the wheel of a vehicle.

• Yield to bicyclists as you would motorists and do not underestimate their speed. This will help avoid turning in front of a bicyclist traveling on the road or sidewalk, often at an intersection or driveway.
• In parking lots, at stop signs, when packing up, or when parking, search your surroundings for other vehicles, including bicycles.
• Drivers turning right on red should look to the right and behind to avoid hitting a bicyclist approaching from the right rear. Stop completely and look left-right-left and behind before turning right on red.
• Obey the speed limit, reduce speed for road conditions and drive defensively to avoid a crash with a cyclist.
• Give cyclists room. Do not pass too closely. Pass bicyclists as you would any other vehicle—when it’s safe to move over into an adjacent lane.