Commissioners promote bicycle safety

VW independent/submitted information

With local schools now all on summer break — and the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA) coming through the county in a week — the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners is asking vehicle drivers, as well as bicycle riders, to step up their road safety awareness.

The following tips come from the Van Wert County Health District and National Traffic Safety Administration:

Five things to remember before taking off on a bike:

• Bike helmet. Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of brain and head injury by as much as 89 percent. The law doesn’t require riders to wear a helmet, but it could save one’s life or reduce the risk of serious head injury.
• Traffic. Bicyclists have all the same responsibilities as a motor vehicle, but different rules when moving through traffic. Motor vehicle drivers have the right of way and can expect bicyclists to yield. Drivers don’t expect traffic to appear from in-between parked cars. Those riding a bike into the street from a driveway or alley should stop first and look both ways before entering traffic.
• Signal. Ride in straight, predictable lines. Look over one’s shoulder for traffic and use hand signals before changing lanes. Motor vehicles are supposed to stay at least 3 feet from cyclists, but they can’t anticipate a cyclist’s next move.
• Stop. Bicycles must yield to pedestrians, stop for stop signs and travel with the flow of traffic. No taking shortcuts.
• Go with the flow. Ride with the flow of traffic, never against it. Drivers do not expect traffic to come from the wrong direction and head-on collision with a motor vehicle is likely to be deadly.