Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

By: Dan Sweet, 4-H After School Program-Tribal Mentoring/Nutrition Program Educator

Now that Spring has sprung, and the snow is finally starting to melt away, the sidewalks are clearing up. As the weather continues to warm up and the sun stays out for longer, we are beginning to see more and more people choosing to walk, bike, and run through town over driving a car. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,735 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes, while over 150,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries. In a battle between the vehicle and pedestrian, the vehicle will always win, so follow these steps in order to ensure your safety while walking, biking, or running near the road.

Did you know that people walking have different guidelines for traveling than people on bicycles? If you find yourself walking to your destination, try to stick to the sidewalks, no matter which way you are heading, walking on a sidewalk will be safer than the side of the road. If there are no sidewalks on either side of the road, then it is important that you walk against the flow of traffic. At dawn, dusk, or night, increasing your visibility is essential in staying safe. High visibility jackets, reflectors, and even flashlights will make you much more noticeable to oncoming traffic. While you wait to cross the street at a crosswalk, making eye contact and acknowledging that eye contact with a wave, or nod of the head will help ensure your safety at intersections.

The guideline for people on bicycles is to ride along the side of the road on the shoulder, with the flow of traffic. Since most bikes do not have access to blinkers, learning the different hand signals for turning on a bike is very important. While on a bicycle, there are four main turning signals: left hand turn, right hand turn, alternate right hand turn, and slow/stop. In order to perform a left hand turn, the rider must extend their left arm straight out, using the index finger to point left. As for a right hand turn, you can extend your left arm out bent at a 90 degree angle, with your fingers facing towards the sky. The alternate right hand turn, which may be more common is to stick your right arm straight out, pointing with your index finger in the direction of your turn. The final hand movement everyone should know is the slow/stop signal; in order to perform this you may stick either your left or right arm out, and have it bent at a 90 degree angle with your hand facing downwards and your palm facing the vehicles behind you. Learning and recognizing these signals will help you become a safer cyclist, as well as an aware driver on the road.

Whether you walk, bike, run, or drive, understanding the rules of the road for each desired option is important to avoid accidents. Both drivers and pedestrians can minimize their risk of accident and injury by staying aware of their surroundings. Keep your head up and your music down in order to travel safely, no matter what mode of transportation you choose.

Head to our website http://franklin.cce.cornell.edu/family-health-well-being to find out more about staying healthy and happy year round.