Definition: Bike safety requires consistent and correct use of helmets and compliance with legal riding practices to prevent collisions with motor vehicles, pedestrians, and other bicyclists.

Magnitude of the Problem:

• According to Safe Kids, every day almost 630 children are injured due to cycle-related crashes.
• Approximately 229,811 children went to the ER for bicycle-related injuries in 2009.
• In 2008, 11% of bicycle-motor vehicle crash fatalities were children ages 0-14. Children accounted for 21% of nonfatal injuries in this category, according to NHTSA.

Prevention: Strategies to improve bicycle safety include:

• properly wearing a helmet approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission
• educating individuals on the correct use of helmets
• helmet subsidies and give-away programs
• implementing helmet use legislation