Safety
cont’d
17
Yield right of way to pedestrians and animals. Ride in a way that does not frighten or
endanger them, and give them room so that their unexpected moves don’t endanger
you.
Be prepared. If something goes wrong while you're riding off-road, help may not be
close.
Before you attempt to jump, do stunt riding or race with your bike, read and
understand the Extreme, Stunt or Competition Riding section of this manual.
Off-Road Respect
Obey the local laws regulating where and how you can ride off-road, and respect private
property. You may be sharing the trail with others—hikers, equestrians, other cyclists. Respect
their rights. Stay on the designated trail. Don’t contribute to erosion by riding in mud or with
unnecessary sliding. Don’t disturb the ecosystem by cutting your own trail or shortcut through
vegetation or streams. It is your responsibility to minimize your impact on the environment.
Leave things as you found them; always take out everything you brought in.
D. Wet Weather Riding
Under wet conditions, the stopping power of your brakes (as well as the brakes of other
vehicles sharing the road) is dramatically reduced and your tires don’t grip nearly as well. This
makes it harder to control speed and easier to lose control. To make sure that you can slow down
and stop safely in wet conditions, ride more slowly and apply your brakes earlier and more
gradually than you would under normal, dry conditions.
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 at night. 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 specialized equipment which
helps reduce that risk. Consult an accredited bicycle shop about night riding safety equipment.
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.
WARNING:
Wet weather impairs traction, braking and visibility, both for the bicyclist
and for other vehicles sharing the road. The risk of an accident is dramatically
increased in wet conditions.
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.
WARNING:
Check reflectors and their mounting brackets regularly to make sure
that they are clean, straight, unbroken and securely mounted. Have an accredit-
ed bike mechanic replace damaged reflectors and straighten or tighten any that are
bent or loose.
Summary of Contents for KC720-220
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