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E. Night Riding
Riding a bicycle at night is much more dangerous than riding during the day. A bicyclist is very
difficult for motorists and pedestrians to see. Therefore, children should never ride at dawn, at
dusk or at night. Adults who chose to accept the greatly increased risk of riding at dawn,
at dusk or at night need to take extra care both riding and choosing specific equipment which
helps reduce that risk. Consult your dealer about night riding safety equipment.
WARNING: Reflectors are not a substitute for required lights. Riding at
dawn, at dusk, at night or at other times of poor visibility without an adequate
bicycle lighting system and without reflectors is dangerous and may result in
serious injury or death.
Bicycle reflectors are designed to pick up and reflect car lights and street lights in a way that
may help you to be seen and recognized as a moving bicyclist.
CAUTION: Check reflectors and their mounting brackets regularly to
make sure that they are clean, straight, unbroken and securely mounted. Have
your dealer replace damaged reflectors and straighten or tighten any that are
bent or loose.
The mounting brackets of front and rear reflectors are often designed as brake straddle cable
safety catches which prevent the straddle cable from catching on the tire tread if the cable
jumps out of its yoke or breaks.
WARNING: Do not remove the front or rear reflectors or reflector
brackets from your bicycle. They are an integral part of the bicycle’s safety sys-
tem. Removing the reflectors reduces your visibility to others using the roadway.
Being struck by other vehicles may result in serious injury or death. The reflector
brackets may protect you from a brake straddle cable catching on the tire in the
event of brake cable failure. If a brake straddle cable catches on the tire, it can
cause the wheel to stop suddenly, causing you to loose control and fall.
If you choose to ride under conditions of poor visibility, check and be sure you comply with all
local laws about night riding, and take the following strongly recommended additional precau-
tions:
•
Purchase and install battery or generator powered head and tail lights which meet all
regulatory requirements and provide adequate visibility.
•
Wear light colored, reflective clothing and accessories, such as a reflective vest, reflective
arm and leg bands, reflective stripes on your helmet, flashing lights attached to your body
and/or your bicycle ... any reflective device or light source that moves will help you get the
attention of approaching motorists, pedestrians and other traffic.
Summary of Contents for SCALERA 1
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