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Cyclists Practicing Safety Go With Flow Of Traffic, Wear Helmet

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

Enjoying a springtime bike ride is an excellent way for families to bond with one another.

Riding provides limitless hours of fun and is great cardiovascular exercise; however, biking is the cause of numerous emergency room visits each year, with many riders suffering serious head injuries.

Cyclists have the same right to the roadways as all vehicles, and like all motorists, cyclists are expected to abide by all traffic laws and statutes. This includes using proper hand signals so that drivers are aware of the cyclist's intentions.

Deputy Bill Sanders has been involved with bicycle education for 10 years. The biggest mistake he sees riders making is riding against traffic, he says.

"The law requires riders to ride with the flow of traffic. The belief is that riders fare best when they act like, and are treated like, vehicles. It has to do with crash dynamics," he says.

Nighttime riding is responsible for many of the cycling fatalities in Hillsborough County. To avoid becoming a statistic, wear reflective stripes or colors on clothing. Florida law requires that all riders have a light on the front of the bike, but an additional light in the rear will also increase visibility in the dark.

Although the law requires only cyclists younger than 16 to wear a helmet, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office urges all riders to don one every time they ride.

Proper fit is important for a helmet to function correctly. It should securely fit the head even without the chin straps.

Sanders reminds riders that helmets do expire and can be rendered ineffective if left out in the heat for extended periods. Any helmet involved in a crash should be discarded.

"I'm a big advocate of parents modeling good behavior for their children by also wearing a properly fitted helmet on every ride," he says.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office offers free bicycle safety courses for kids. At the end of the course, bicycle helmets are provided free to every participant.

To schedule a program in your community, contact Deputy Sanders at (8130 975-2050.

Keyword: Crime Fighter, for a discussion on the Crime Fighter column. Charity Arthur is a patrol deputy for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in the northwest area of Hillsborough County. If you have questions for her or suggestions for topics for

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