New Bicycle Safety Requirement

Bicycle Permits Recommended
Posted on 10/18/2020

At Thrasher, students in grades 3 – 5 have been permitted to ride to and from school without an adult. This year, we have seen a pattern of unsafe riding. It seems to us that student bike riders are simply unaware of safety practices. Starting now, students may pass a short bicycle safety quiz to earn a bicycle parking permit. Permits are free. Once students pass the quiz, please print the certificate or take a screen shot of it. Send certification to Mrs. Johnston to receive a bicycle parking permit. Permits will not expire.

Instead of creating our own quiz, we worked with the Illinois Department of Transportation which already had developed a safety review for students. They were kind enough to share their work with us and give us some guidance in these practices.

The safety quiz is open now under the "Students" tab! Bicycle permits will be recommended starting November 2nd.

Here is a study guide:

  1. Walk bicycles on Thrasher's property to be safe around cars, buses, and walkers.
  2.  Bicycle riders tend to cause the accidents between bicycles and cars.
    1. Thrasher prefers bicycles use sidewalks.
    2. If you ride on the road, ride on the right side of the road (as a car would do).
    3. An important skill to master is the ability to look behind you when riding. You should be able to look over your shoulder to see if a car is coming without swerving or wobbling.
  3. When bicycle riders use a street or road, they must follow the same rules as car drivers.
    1. Bicycle youth riders are allowed to use the street when their parents are confident in their ability to ride safely.
    2. If you are riding on the street and are passing parked cars, stay in the street lane and stary far enough from cars to avoid doors opening unexpectedly.
    3. When cars or bicycles come to an intersection, right of way laws are important to understand.
      1. Vehicles arriving at intersections first have the right of way for leaving the intersection first.
      2. If two or more vehicles arrive at an intersection at the same time, vehicles going straight have right of way over people turning.
      3. If two or more vehicles arrive at an intersection at the same time, vehicles turning right have right of way over people turning left.
  4. If someone is blocking your path on a sidewalk, you should stop or slow down, let the person know that you are there, and announce your plan to pass safely.
  5. Helmets are required in Tennessee for people 15 years of age and younger. A policeman can cite a parent with a $500 ticket if a child is not wearing a helmet properly while bike riding.
    1. Helmets should be level on the head (not tilted back) so that the forehead (and frontal lobe) is protected.
    2. The helmet strap should be snug under the chin.
  6. When riding at night, lights and reflectors are required.
  7. Tires should be inflated for safety. You can check tire inflation by squeezing the tire. If it is squeezable, the tire is probably not safe for bicycling.
  8. Bicycle riders should understand these hand signals.
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