LE police department tips for bicycle safety

Now that the 2010-2011 school year has begun, many students will be riding their bikes to and from their assigned campus. There are a number of things both the parent and the student rider can do to protect the rider, as well as protecting the bike itself when unattended.

Parents, one of the first things you can do is to make sure your child’s bike is in safe working order. Check that the seat and handle bars are securely adjusted to the correct height for your child. Make certain that the pedals are tight, lightly oiled, and operating properly. Be sure there are adequate reflectors, not just on the rear of the bike but on the wheels as well so the bike can be seen in low light conditions by a vehicle that may be approaching from any direction. While it is obvious that a good headlight is required at night, it is a good safety idea to use the headlight any time the bike is being operated. As with a motorcycle headlight, it brings extra attention to the bike and its rider. Finally, adjust and oil the chain so that it will operate smoothly, not come off easily and ensure the chain guard is in place so that clothing does not become entangled. Follow any other operating tips provided in the owner manual.

Both the parent and child should plan out a variety of safe routes between home and school. More than one route will provide safe alternatives when things like construction, wrecks or other activities restrict access to the primary route. Try to choose routes that are direct, but that also avoid crossing the least number of streets as possible, especially major roadways and busy highways. Avoid isolated or remote trails or areas that lack the presence of other people. Give preference to routes that have sidewalks and instruct your child to ride there, as opposed to the roadway. Remind them that, like a vehicle, they should ride to the right and slow down or stop if needed to allow pedestrians to pass safely. Instruct the child to stop at all stop signs and to walk their bike across streets, being sure to remain inside the marked crosswalk if one is provided. The parent should ensure that the child completely understands that they must always wear a helmet when riding, and the use of it should become routine and automatic for the child. Make sure the child wears light, or brightly colored clothing, with nothing loose fitting that may become ensnared by the chain or other equipment on the bike, or by objects along the route.

Unattended bikes at home should never be left outside, especially the front yard. Keep the bike inside a closed and locked garage, or inside a back yard that is fenced and gated. Many bikes that are stolen are simply crimes of opportunity. Someone merely walks by and sees an unattended bike in the driveway or yard, or even inside an open garage, and makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to take it. When the bike is at school or otherwise unattended away from home, a good quality portable locking device should be used to lock the bike to a provided rack, tree or other permanent structure.

Every bike has a unique serial number stamped on the bike by the manufacturer. Normally, but not always, it is on the frame directly underneath the pedal assembly. Turning the bike upside down is generally the easiest way to see it there. Consult the owner’s manual or look on-line for the bike’s manual to find the location if it is not there. Record this number and keep it in a safe location. If the bike is stolen this number needs to be given to law enforcement in order to enter the bike into the statewide database. Likewise, if the bike is stolen and found by police in another jurisdiction, the number will allow them contact information for the reporting agency, ultimately locating and returning the bike to its owner.

Another suggestion is to record the parent or adult owner's name and phone number on a piece of paper and either laminate it, or place it in a resealable bag, remove the handle grip on one side of the handlebar and place the sealed bag or laminated information inside the handlebar, replacing the grip. If the bike is recovered it gives strong, additional evidence of ownership of the bike, even if the serial number has been scraped off. Taking several quality, color pictures of your bike and keeping them with the recorded serial number is also good information to have on hand to give to police if needed.

Finally, if your bike is stolen, report the theft to police. In addition to allowing us to investigate and hopefully solve the crime, it will give us the opportunity to collect data with regard to locations, times, dates, etc. that thefts may be occurring, allowing us to better concentrate our limited resources in areas that may be experiencing crimes. Check back with us after a couple of weeks to see if a bike matching the description is recovered. This is especially true when the owner did not record the serial number and thus was unable to furnish traceable ownership.

As always, if you have questions, comments or have other crime prevention needs, contact the Little Elm Police Department at (214) 975-0460.

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