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Consumer Product Safety Commission

Bicycle Fact Sheet

CPSC Document #346

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that over 600,000 persons suffered bicycle-related

injuries serious enough to require hospital emergency room treatment in 1994. Here are some typical cases:

"Karen applied her hand brakes and lost control of her bicycle. She went down an embankment into a creek, and

fractured her shoulder."

"As Jimmy was riding his bicycle downhill, the front wheel of his bicycle suddenly became loose and twisted.

Jimmy lost control, fracturing his knee."

"Bob was riding a bike without a chain guard when his foot caught between the pedal and chain. He fell, suffering

a concussion and skull fracture."

"Michele was riding her bike alongside a friend's. As her friend moved his bike to the right, the two front wheels

collided, causing Michele to fall. She suffered a concussion and fractured a wrist."

These case histories illustrate some major accident patterns associated with bicycles. They are:

 Collision with a car or another bicycle.

 Loss of Control -- This occurs because of a number of factors, including: difficulty in braking; riding too

large a bike; riding too fast; riding double; stunting; striking a rut, bump, or obstacle; and riding on slippery

surfaces.

 Mechanical and Structural Problems -- These include brake failure; wobbling or disengagement of the

wheel or steering mechanism; difficulty in shifting gears; chain slippage; pedals falling off, or spoke

breakage.

 Entanglement of a person's feet, hands, or clothing in the bicycle.

 Foot slippage from pedal.

To make bicycles safer, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission developed a mandatory safety standard

for bicycles to help eliminate injuries due to mechanical and structural failures.

The CPSC regulations establish strict performance and construction standards for the brakes, wheels, steering

system and frame. They require reflectors on the front, back, sides and pedals to make bicycles visible at night;

require elimination of uncovered sharp edges and jutting parts; and require brakes on bicycles with seat height of

22 inches or more. New bicycles are required to meet the standards.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following safety tips when shopping for a new bike or

taking care of an old one:

Selecting the Bicycle

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 If you're buying a bicycle for a child, choose one to fit the child's size today, not one he or she will "grow

into" later.

 A bicycle should suit the rider's ability and kind of riding.

 Check hand and foot brakes for fast, easy stops without instability or jamming.

 Avoid slippery plastic pedals. Look instead for rubber-treated pedals, or metal pedals with serrated rattrap

edges or with firmly attached toeclips.

Using the Bicycle

 Always wear a helmet to help prevent head injuries. CPSC is setting a new mandatory standard for bike

helmets.

 Observe all traffic laws and signals, just as automobiles must do.

 Don't ride double or attempt stunts.

 Ride near the curb in the same direction as traffic.

 Find alternate routes, rather than ride through busy

intersections and heavy or high-speed traffic.

 Walk -- don't ride -- your bicycle across busy intersections

and left turn corners.

 Avoid riding in wet weather. When wet, handbrakes may

require a long distance to stop.

 Avoid riding in the dark. If you do, be sure the bike is

equipped with a headlight, a taillight and reflectors. Apply

retro-reflective trim to clothing, or wear reflective vests and

jackets.

 Avoid loose clothing or long coats that can catch in pedals or

wheels. Leg clips or bands keep pants legs from tangling in

the chain.

 Avoid crossing raised sewer grates.

Maintaining the Bicycle

 Regular maintenance is essential for safe riding. Refer to the owner's manual for the manufacturer's

maintenance recommendations. An experienced repair technician should do complicated work.

 Align (or "true") wobbly wheels for better control. Spokes also may need adjustment.

 Replace all missing, damaged, or worn parts; for example, brake pads, chainguards, chain links, spokes,

screws and bolts, handlebar grips.

 Tighten and/or adjust loose parts.

 Periodically inspect frame, fork, spindles and other components for cracking.

 Parts should be adjusted to manufacturer's torque specifications.

 Inflate tires to recommended pressure, and replace worn tires.

 Lightly oil and clean moving parts. Keep oil off rubber.

 Keep bicycle indoors when not in use -- moisture may cause rust and weaken metal parts.

009603

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Consumers can obtain this publication and additional publication information from the Publications section of

CPSC's web site or by sending your publication request to info@cpsc.gov.

This document is in the public domain. It may be reproduced without change in part or whole by an individual or

organization without permission. If it is reproduced, however, the Commission would appreciate knowing how it is

used. Write the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of Information and Public Affairs, 4330 East

West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 or send an e-mail via CPSC's On-Line Form.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of

serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC

is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or

mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power

tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths

and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's

teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email

subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall

information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

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