A bike is a vehicle. When you ride a bicycle, you are no longer a pedestrian. A pedestrian uses pedes (feet) for getting around. This means feet in direct contact with the ground, not on pedals. When you place something between your feet and ground (besides shoes) and use it for locomotion, you are no long a pedestrian. I will make a few exceptions: pogo sticks, roller skates and roller blades. That’s it.
Print out this little table and paste it across your bathroom mirror so you don’t forget.
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No! Do NOT Do This
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Yes! Do This!
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| Drive on the sidewalk. | Drive in the street. |
| Drive in the street against traffic. | Drive in the street with traffic. |
| Ignore traffic signals. | Obey traffic signals. |
| Turn without warning. | Use hand signals before turning. |
| Come up suddenly behind pedestrians without warning. Run over dogs. Act like you own the pavement. | Warn pedestrians by shouting, ringing a bell or saying something like, “Rider up!” |
| Weave in and out of traffic. | Follow all traffic rules. Give auto drivers time to react. Drive defensively. |
| Drive without helmet or other protective gear. | Wear a helmet at all times. Make your children wear helmets. |
There are no exceptions to the traffic rules. Just because your daughter is six years old doesn’t mean she can drive on the sidewalk because it’s safer. It isn’t. She can still end up in the street under a car or running over a pedestrian or small dog. Is this what you want? Teach your children how to drive a bicycle from the first time you let them on one.
These rules apply to wheelchairs, too. Notice when your drive a wheelchair there is something between your feet and the ground. It's a couple of wheels and that's enough to be considered a vehicle. If you are in the road in your wheelchair use hand signals and drive with traffic, just like a bike. Those of you in
It's not just me. Some people who know a lot about bike safety agree with me. Just read these: