Keeping Cyclists Safe, One Head at a Time

Early on a recent rainy Saturday Morning, DOT Safety Education staff were busily preparing for one of their many bike helmet fitting and giveaway events. Soon the raindrops tapered off, and Tompkins Square Park filled with parents and children ready for the Lower East Side Kids’ Art Bike Parade. Bike New York offered lessons to get kids riding, volunteers helped attach brightly colored ribbons, stickers, flags and flowers to the bikes, and DOT staff provided helmets and helmet fitting advice.

At DOT’s helmet fittings, visitors are measured and shown the proper way to wear their new helmets. They can also pick up a copy of the new NYC bicycle map and fun, bike safety activity books. Nearly 300 children and adults left the event in Tompkins Square Park geared up for safety with their new helmets and our "Be Safe, Be Seen" retro-reflective arm bands.

To date DOT has fitted and distributed over 25,000 free helmets to kids and adults throughout the five boroughs. DOT will conduct bike helmet fittings and giveaways all summer long at community events throughout the five boroughs. For a complete list of upcoming events, visit the DOT’s online event calendar.

Tips for safe bicycle riding for you and your family

• Adults and kids over 12 should always ride on the street, not on the sidewalks.
• Wear a helmet, and make sure it’s fitted properly. Children under 14 must always wear a helmet, but helmets are recommended for everyone, even on short rides.
• Ride with traffic, not against it.
• Obey all traffic signals, signs and pavement markings. Cyclists must come to a complete stop at red lights and stop signs. Cyclists are required by law to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians, motor vehicles or other cyclists.
• Use marked bike lanes or paths when available, except when making turns or when it is unsafe to do so, etc. If the road is too narrow for a bicycle and a car to travel safely side by side, cyclists have the right to ride in the middle of the travel lane. Bicycling is permitted on all main and local streets throughout the City even when no designated route exists.
• Do not ride on expressways, drives, highways, interstate routes and thruways unless authorized by signs.
• Do not wear more than one earphone attached to an audio device (e.g. radio, ipod, walkman).
• Stay visible using:
  • White headlight and red taillights from dusk to dawn
  • Reflective tires or reflectors
  • Bells or horns
• Before heading out for a ride, make sure that your tires have air and your brakes are working properly.

When you’re on a bike, consider yourself the driver of a vehicle with the same responsibilities as all other drivers.

More Safety Resources

Free bike lessons for kids from Bike New York

Bicycle safety activities for you and your child from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Bicycle safety facts and myths from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Forward this email to a friend and tell them to sign up for monthly safety tips from DOT's Office of Safety Education, at www.nyc.gov/dotnews.

DOT Safety Education Events

Free Car-Seat Check
Is your child car-seat installed properly? Nine out of ten car seats are not. Find out if yours is. A trained car-seat technician will check your seat and demonstrate correct installation. No appointment is necessary.

Chevrolet Cadillac of Harlem
2485 Second Avenue at 127th Street, Manhattan
Saturday, June 12th
11 am - 3 pm

If you cannot attend this event, call 311 to make an appointment for a free child car seat inspection at a DOT Fitting Station. Car-seat checks are done by appointment Mondays through Fridays at all DOT inspection stations. Please note that we cannot accept walk-ins.

Bike Helmet Fittings and Giveaways

May 22
10 am - 2 pm
Carl Schurz Park
East End Ave & 86 St.

May 22
1 - 4 pm
Chatham Square Library
33 E. Broadway

June 5
12 - 4 pm
Family Festival
Governor's Island

June 8
4 - 7 pm
Lew Fidler's Concert/Youth Community Showcase
Marine Park
Brooklyn

June 12
11 am - 3 pm
Bike Swap
Socrates Sculpture Garden
Queens

June 19
12 - 4 pm
Adventures NYC
Central Park

The Department of Transportation will give away free bike helmets while supplies last. Helmets are available for all ages. You must be present to get a helmet and you must learn how to properly fit and wear it before you receive it. Adults over 18 receiving a helmet must sign a waiver, and a parent or legal guardian must be present to sign a waiver for children under age 18.