HomeMy WebLinkAboutEFD-EPDBikeSafetyPressRelease
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Jordan Gilgenbach, Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-826-0396 • jgilgenbach@EdinaMN.gov • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Practice Safe Bicycling This Summer
Edina, Minn., May 2, 2012 – As the temperature rises, so do the number of bicyclists on Edina’s roads. As
biking becomes more prevalent as a mode of transportation, it is important for people of all ages to
remember the rules of the road.
The first thing anyone should do before hopping on his or her bike is put on a bike helmet. According to the
“Safe Kids” campaign, bike helmets reduce the risk of serious head or brain injuries by 90 percent. The Bicycle
Helmet Safety Institute says fewer than half of U.S. Children wear bike helmets. Of those who do, 35 percent
wear them incorrectly.
“Parents should not only teach their kids to wear helmets beginning at an early age, but also teach them how
to wear them properly,” said Edina Fire Chief Marty Scheerer. “Bike helmets are one of the easiest ways to
reduce your risk of injury or death in a bike-car accident.”
Bicyclists should also heed these safety tips to ensure their safety:
Obey all traffic laws, street signs and traffic signals, just as a motorist would.
Ride in the same direction as traffic, not against traffic.
Be seen! Increase your visibility by wearing bright colors and using reflectors and lights.
Avoid biking in the dark.
When in a group, ride in single file.
Always pay attention to your surroundings. Never wear headphones.
Always look both ways at an intersection. Be attentive to cars leaving driveways and parking areas.
Announce your intentions; always signal and look behind you when changing lanes.
Use bike lanes or designated bike routes when possible. Walk bikes across busy intersections.
“It is important for bicyclists to be predictable, visible and safe,” said Morgan Pierce, a Patrol Officer with the
Edina Police Department who participates in the bike patrol. “Obeying all traffic laws allows a bicyclist to be
all three of these things."
It is also important for drivers of motor vehicles to be aware bikes are about. According to State law,
bicyclists have the right to ride on any Minnesota road, except where restricted. A three-foot clearance must
be maintained when passing bicyclists. Motorists and bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to each other
equally.
For more information about bike safety, visit www.sharetheroadmn.org.
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