Howard,

I have a 15 year old daughter who I wont allow to ride to school. We live in Pittsburgh and it is about a 5 mile commute durrig busy rush hour. I have ridden at least 30,000 miles without a serious accident. I started when I was 6 years old and was riding on the street around 15 years old. Some people get on a bike and have accidents right away. Some of that might be due to lack of coordination but mostly its due to lack of information. Main rule is wear a helmet. When another of my 3 daughters was 4 she was flying down a hill in a rural camp, hit a rock, then flew 5 feet, head first into a rock. She was fine because of the helmet. The other thing is knowing the rules of the road that the cars are supposed to follow, then there is knowing what drivers of cars and trucks will do that can harm you. Like opening up car doors, or turning left in front of you without slowing down or signalling. If you live near to where you can take a class that would be great. You really have to be able to say to yourself, oh look that car will likely open its door or if that car turns infront of me I am going to turn with it so I only broadside the thing and not hit head on. Until that all becomes nonthinking reaction you will be prone to accidents. I started with BMX and rode / raced for years before I rode on streets with any real regularity. I think that was good, because you need a degree of strength to be a safe rider. Dont use common sense! Good sense is not common. Your Dad may have a bike story or two to tell.