Recommended Bicycle Safety Education Materials

Over the years, there have been many materials produced on bicycle safety, some better than others. Following is a short list of books, videos, web sites and classes that we recommend.

Safety Books for Children

Kids on Bikes in Illinois, 12 pages, cartoon style, easy reading, directed toward 9 to 11-year olds with two pages for teachers and parents. The booklet covers riding on sidewalks, where to ride on streets, helmet usage and proper bicycle fit. Spanish version available. Free from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety, 217-557-0132 or as Adobe Acrobat^® format from www.dot.state.il.us/bikemap/litlist.htm.

Bicycle Rules of the Road, Illinois Secretary of State, an eight-page booklet with general rules for all bicyclists, but geared toward younger riders. Free, call 217-557-5581.

Bicycle Rodeos

Guide to Bicycle Rodeos, by John Williams and Dan Burden, is highly recommended for anyone planning on a bicycle rodeo. It deals with problem situations for children, such as entering roadways, and includes advice for parents. Available from the Adventure Cycling Association, PO Box 8308-Z5, Missoula, MT 59807, 800-721-8719, M-F, 8-5 Mountain time. Price $5.00.

Safety Books for Teens and Adults

Safe Bicycling in Illinois, a comprehensive 34-page booklet covering a wide range of on-road and trail riding skills, as well as fitting a bike, minor maintenance and dealing with rude motorists. Spanish version available. Free from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety, 217-557-0132 or as PDF from www.dot.state.il.us/bikemap/bikesafe.htm.

Bicycling Street Smarts, by John S. Allen, copyright 1988, 2001 by Rodale Press, 46 pages. This is a concise booklet covering all the essential aspects of safe on-road cycling, which has been adopted by the Pennsylvania and Missouri Departments of Transportation as their official Bicycle Driver's Manual. It may be viewed at http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/. Available from Rubel Bikemaps, (617) 776-6567 http://www.bikemaps.com/bss.htm for $4.95 each, $3.00 for 2-24 and less for larger quantities.

Effective Cycling, 6th Edition, by John Forester copyright 1993, MIT Press, 587 pages. For those who want to know it all (as of 1993 anyway), including some of Forester’s very strong opinions. Available from LAB, 202-822-1333 for $25.00, and from Amazon.com.

Videos for Children

Bicycle Safety Camp is an entertaining 25-minute video for all grade school kids. This classic video gives a series of basic safety measures to take when riding in the streets. Produced in cooperation with TIPP, the Injury Prevention Program of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Available from David Lewine Associates, 310-657-5782, www.justpushplay.com and www.onlinesports.com for $14.95 plus shipping.

The Bicycle Zone is a 12-minute humorous piece that covers fundamental bicycling skills. It teaches kids that safe bicycling is both fun and cool. Available in Spanish. The first video is $22 and each additional video is $15 (includes tax and shipping, Transit Media Communications, 22-D Hollywood Avenue, Hohokus, NJ 07423, or call (800) 343-5540 to order.

The Perfect Fit, is a 6-minute guide to helmet fit, $10 from www.teletechvideo.com.

Videos for Parents

A Kid’s Eye View, points out how children’s perceptions differ from adults and why this knowledge is important when teaching children to ride. Available from LAB for $10, 202-822-1333.

Videos for Adults

Effective Cycling, by John Forester, a 40-minute video. How to deal with traffic, and emergency maneuvers as well as some of Forester’s very strong and controversial opinions on bicycle facilities. Available from LAB for $25, 202-822-1333.

Web Sites

The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, www.bhsi.org, is a remarkable site with everything from helmet promotional materials to where to get inexpensive helmets. A sample on helmet fit:

“Now put the helmet on and fasten the buckle. Be sure the front is in front! You want to adjust it to the "Eye-Ear-Mouth" test developed by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. When you look upward the front rim should be barely visible to your eye, the Y of the side straps should meet just below your ear, and the chin strap should be snug against the chin so that when you open your mouth very wide you feel the helmet pull down a little bit.”

The Bicycling Safety Education Resource Center at the Federal Highway Administration has many links to safety items at http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/ee/.

The National Strategies for Advancing Bicycle Safety is at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/bicycle_safety/.

Classes

League of American Bicyclists Bike Ed courses are taught by LAB certified League Cycling Instructors (LCIs). Bike Ed courses range from 45-minute presentations to 9-hour courses for adults and children. Find course descriptions and a list of instructors at www.bikeleague.org/. Contact an LCI in your area for details regarding your specific needs. Still have questions? Email bikeleague@bikeleague.org or call 202-822-1333.

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