Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Chicks that learn

Congratulations to Chris, Becky, Karen and Pat who successfully completed the League of American Wheelmen Traffic Skills 101 class.

This was a free class sponsored by the Orange County Wheelmen and consisted of a Wednesday night classroom session followed by a Saturday on the bike skills lesson.

Traffic Skills 101 (TS101) gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. Through TS101, students learn how to conduct bicycle safety checks, fix a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques. The curriculum is fast-paced, nine-hours, and prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling.

Everyone thought the class was worthwhile and they each took away new found skills for riding on the road.    Next time you see them ask them about ABC Quick Check.

Following are some helpful items to remember when riding:

Five Steps to Riding Better

1. Follow the Rules of the Road
    • Ride with traffic and obey the same laws as motorists.
    • Use the rightmost lane that heads in the direction
       that you are traveling.
    • Obey all traffic control devices, such as stop signs,
      lights, and lane markings.
    • Always look back and use hand and arm signals
      to indicate your intention to stop, merge or turn.

2. Be Visible
    • Ride where drivers can see you.
    • Wear brightly colored clothing at all times.
    • At night, use a white front light and red rear light
      or reflector. Wear reflective tape or clothing.

3. Be Predictable
    • Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between
     parked cars.
    • Make eye contact with motorists to let them
      know you are there.
    • Do not ride on the sidewalk.

4. Anticipate Conflicts
    • Be aware of traffic around you and be prepared
      to take evasive action.
    • Learn braking and turning techniques to
      avoid crashes.
    • Be extra alert at intersections.

5. Wear a Helmet
    • Make sure that the helmet fits on top of your
      head, not tipped back or forward.
    • After a crash or any impact that affects your
     helmet, visible or not, replace it immediately.

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