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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was activated on May 14, 1973 and directed by
Congress to: |
- 1) protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury
- 2) assist consumers in evaluating the comparative safety of consumer products
- 3) develop uniform safety standards
- 4) promote research and investigations
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It has jurisdiction over more than 10.000 products used in the home. school, and public places.
In its efforts to protect the public from serious product-associated injuries, the Commission needs
the help of every consumer, young and old.
One important product - the bicycle - has been associated
with approximately 450,000 injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms yearly. The dramatic
increase in bicycling as a form of transportation and recreation has intensified the need for
information and education materials for both young and old. This booklet is offered as one approach
to involve you in THINKING BICYCLE SAFETY!
The Commission's regulation on bicycles became effective May 11, 1976. This booklet had been
published prior to that date and, therefore, the bicycles depicted do not in all circumstances
conform in detail to the specifications in the regulation. In addition, the regulation applies to
nearly all bicycles that are toys or other articles intended for use by children (but may also be
used by adults). This booklet is directed only to bicycles that are appropriate for use on streets
by sufficiently mature riders.
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| When bicycles are ridden as vehicles, they are subject to the state vehicle codes ... under those laws, your status as bicyclist (*) is : |
| "Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway has all the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle." |
| So STOP at all stop signs and stop lights AND OBEY THE RULES OF THE ROAD!! |
| * The U.S. Department of Transportation now calls us "Pedal Cyclists". |
