A Roadworthy Bike

What is Bicycle Safety?

When you're cycling on the road, it's particularly important that your bicycle is roadworthy so that you don't injure yourself or others. A safe bicycle includes certain bicycle parts that ensure everything works well. Have you already learned the names of the bicycle parts of a roadworthy bicycle in elementary school?

Checklist: Bicycle Safety in Elementary School

If you want to make your bicycle roadworthy, keep reading to learn what to look out for!.

First, your bicycle has two wheels with air-filled tires. From time to time, you should check whether the screws on the wheels are tightened so that they do not simply come loose during the ride. Additionally, it rides better when the right amount of air is in the tires. You can easily press on the tires with your fingers to check. They should give a little but maintain their shape and not squeeze easily. If you have been riding your bicycle for a long time, you should also take a closer look at the tread of your tires, or the part of the tire that touches the ground. It is important that the grooves on your tires stay deep enough to provide enough traction, even on gravel roads. If the tread is worn out or too thin, the tire should be replaced.

In order for you to be safe in the dark, a roadworthy bicycle needs lights and reflectors. This is why we often use a headlight with white light at the front of the bicycle and a taillight with red light at the back. These usually operated by a dynamo. If your bicycle doesn't have built-in lights, you can retrofit it with battery-powered lights. Your lights should also be checked regularly for functionality. Also check for spoke reflectors on both wheels. Sometimes these are also called "cat's eyes". No matter what they are called, they provide additional safety by reflecting light when lights shine on them. Such reflectors are also located on your pedals, as well as at the front and back of the bicycle. Similar to the headlights, the rear reflector is red, and the front one is white.

Additionally, you should check whether your bicycle chain is tight enough so that it does not come loose on shaky ground. It should not sag.

In road traffic, you always need to be able to react quickly to new situations, so two well-functioning brakes are very important for your roadworthy bicycle. Every bicycle should have a front-wheel brake as well as a rear-wheel brake, and should not be adjusted to be too hard or too soft. To check if the brakes are working, you can push your bicycle a little and alternately squeeze the brakes.

The right saddle height, or seat height, is also important for a good ride. In order to pedal comfortably, your saddle needs to grow with you and be gradually raised. However, your toes should always be able to touch the ground quickly.

And of course, a bicycle is only roadworthy if you can steer it. You also need a bell on your handlebars so that you can draw attention to yourself when necessary in road traffic.

Here is an overview of all the relevant bicycle parts of a roadworthy bicycle:

Bicycle Safety – Summary

Let’s review what classifies a roadworthy bicycle in this chart below:

To test your knowledge, you can find a worksheet on "bicycle safety" with exercises for assigning on sofatutor. Can you think of anything else besides the correct bicycle parts that is missing for your safety in road traffic? A well-fitting helmet, of course! You should always wear it to protect your head.