Riding Safety; Off Road Safety - Diamondback Bicycle Owner's Manual

B. riding safety
1. Obey all Rules of the Road and all local traffic laws.
2. You are sharing the road or the path with others — motorists, pedestrians and other cyclists.
Respect their rights.
3. Ride defensively. Always assume that others do not see you.
4. Look ahead, and be ready to avoid:
• Vehicles slowing or turning, entering the road or your lane ahead of you, or coming up behind you.
• Parked car doors opening.
• Pedestrians stepping out.
• Children or pets playing near the road.
• Pot holes, sewer grating, railroad tracks, expansion joints, road or sidewalk construction,
debris and other obstructions that could cause you to swerve into traffic, catch your wheel or
cause you to have an accident.
• The many other hazards and distractions which can occur on a bicycle ride.
5. Ride in designated bike lanes, on designated bike paths or as close to the edge of the road as
possible, in the direction of traffic flow or as directed by local governing laws.
6. Stop at stop signs and traffic lights; slow down and look both ways at street intersections.
Remember that a bicycle always loses in a collision with a motor vehicle, so be prepared to yield
even if you have the right of way.
7. Use approved hand signals for turning and stopping.
8. Never ride with headphones. They mask traffic sounds and emergency vehicle sirens, distract you
from concentrating on what's going on around you, and their wires can tangle in the moving parts
of the bicycle, causing you to lose control.
9. Never carry a passenger, unless it is a small child wearing an approved helmet and secured in a
correctly mounted child carrier or a child-carrying trailer.
10. Never carry anything which obstructs your vision or your complete control of the bicycle, or which
could become entangled in the moving parts of the bicycle.
11. Never hitch a ride by holding on to another vehicle.
12. Don't do stunts, wheelies or jumps. If you intend to do stunts, wheelies, jumps or go racing with your
bike despite our advice not to, read Section 2.F, Downhill, Stunt or Competition Biking, now. Think
carefully about your skills before deciding to take the large risks that go with this kind of riding.
13. Don't weave through traffic or make any moves that may surprise people with whom you are
sharing the road.
14. Observe and yield the right of way.
15. Never ride your bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
16. If possible, avoid riding in bad weather, when visibility is obscured, at dawn, dusk or in the dark,
or when extremely tired. Each of these conditions increases the risk of accident.
C. off road safety
We do not recommend that children ride on rough or broken terrain even when accompanied
by an adult.
1. The variable conditions and hazards of off-road riding require close attention and specific skills.
Start slowly on easier terrain and build up your skills. If your bike has suspension, the increased
speed you may develop also increases your risk of losing control and falling. Get to know how to
handle your bike safely before trying increased speed or more difficult terrain.
2. Wear safety gear appropriate to the kind of riding you plan to do.
3. Don't ride alone in remote areas. Even when riding with others, make sure that someone knows
where you're going and when you expect to be back.
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