Bike safety - 10/15/2003

Cole McNew, 7, is a second-grader at Waterloo Elementary School. At Jack’s Bicycle and Fitness in Monroe he learned how to correctly put on a bicycle helmet.

The safe, cool way to ride your bike

If you’ve ever fallen down and hit your head, you know it can hurt! The skull is thick and strong but if you fall or get into an accident while riding a bike, your skull isn’t enough to protect your brain. That’s why you need a helmet.

A helmet should be light-weight, cool and comfortable, says Specialized, a company that makes helmets. It should come in different sizes, and have extra pads to make it the perfect fit for your head. It should have a strap that can be loosened or tightened, but once the strap is in place, don’t play with it! Only an adult should change your strap. If your helmet is too loose, wearing one won’t protect you in an emergency.

Helmets are serious business because bike riding can be dangerous. Did you know that every year 800 bicyclists die in the U.S.? And half of those people were under the age of 15.

So if you don’t have a helmet, ask your parents to get you one. If you do, make sure you wear it. Riding a bike is about having fun, not getting hurt.