Bicycle Safety
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Always wear a proper bicycle helmet when riding a bike — whether on City streets or along our bike trails.
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A bike helmet should be made of shiny plastic with a foam interior. In the event of an accident, cloth helmets can catch on sticks, branches or other items and cause additional neck injury to the rider.
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Ensure your bike helmet fits appropriately. A helmet should sit snugly on your head, with about two fingers’ width between your eyebrow and the bottom of the helmet.
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Always wear the helmet with the chin strap fastened.
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Make sure your helmet is approved by ANSI.
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When riding after dark, make sure your bike has reflectors on the wheels, a headlamp and a light that emits a continuous red beam in the back. Also, wear light-colored clothing.
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Wear protective glasses when riding. It’s easy to get a stick, pebble, insect or other foreign matter in your eye.
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Treat your bicycle just like a motor vehicle. Ride with traffic, use proper hand signals and follow the same laws as motor vehicles. That includes obeying traffic signals.
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If you have been in a bicycle accident, consider replacing your helmet — or at least seek the advice of a local bicycle shop. A helmet may not appear damaged — but could prove less effective in a future accident.
- In case of emergency, call the Division of Police or Washington Township Fire Department Rescue at 9-1-1.