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--==--==-- SAFETY FIRST --==--==--

Connecticut requires young cyclists to wear a bike helmet until age 16.
All CT state laws that apply to adult cyclists apply to kids as well.
Young riders only know what they learn from parents, teachers, and friends.
Teach children the proper way to ride. Its a skill they keep for life!

Here are a few suggestions to keep kids safe:

1) Ride in parks, unused parking areas, fields, trails, yards, and playgrounds.
2) Don't ride on busy streets or across intersections. Always walk your bike at crossings.
3) Only ride on the right side of the street, with traffic.
4) Learn the proper hand signals and always use them on the road.
5) Never ride at night without lights. Avoid cycling after dark if possible.
6) Always wear reflective, bright colored clothing. Be visible!
7) Wear protective knee, wrist, and elbow pads to prevent injuries while learning to ride.

--==--==-- BEFORE RIDING --==--==--

Check out your bike. Learn to fix simple problems and report serious ones to a parent
or guardian. Anything loose or not working on a bike can be big trouble when its needed.
Don't ride a bike with a major problem like a flat tire or brakes that don't work. Other
problems like a loose seat, handlebars, a chain that falls off or a shifter that won't stay
in gear are serious trouble too. These things can fail when you need them most. Many of
these things only require a quick adjustment with common tools. Even items like cables or
a new tube cost just a few dollars. Be smart and fix your bike so you can count on it.

--==--==-- STUNTS, TRICKS, JUMPS, WHEELIES AND HOPS --==--==--

Well, this is why everyone rides a bike, right? The stunts some people can pull off on the
X-Games are pretty amazing. But did you know that those guys train for many years to be able
to do that? Some guys ride and practice every day of their lives to be able to do stunts.
They also have helmets, lots of protective gear, and they keep their bikes in top shape.
They also know their limits. They have worked hard to build up to each jump or stunt they do.
All kids enjoy riding fast and doing jumps, wheelies and other tricks on their bikes. Most
adults did the same things when they were kids! Lets talk about a few steps everyone can take
so that they don't get hurt.

1) Don't do stunts in the street. Besides the possibility of road rash from a fall, any place
with traffic is no place for kids to ride. Being hit by a car is not a good stunt!
2) Use a grassy area, a park, a field, or a yard to practice anything where you might fall.
A soft landing area can prevent many injuries.
3) Don't do tricks where you might hit other people. Crashing into people on the sidewalk is
not a good stunt! Always make sure you have room to stop.
4) Make sure your bike is in top shape. A bike is a strong machine, but performing a trick,
jump, or hop means putting a lot of stress on its parts. Don't ride a bike you can't trust to
go, stop, and turn like it's supposed to.
5) Respect others property. That means public places, schools, and parks as well as homes,
shops, and sidewalks. Grinding on the library steps might sound cool, but it ruins them.
Careless riding or damage results in ALL cyclists being banned from a location.
6) Try simple tricks and master them before attempting harder ones. No one is born being
able to perform a backflip or a 50 foot jump. Start small, learn the basics, improve your
balance and strength before moving on. Professionals practice all the time. If you want to
learn to race or do tricks, you'll have to practice too.

--==--==-- INFO FOR PARENTS --==--==--

Kids learn to ride from you. Teach your kids the right way to ride. Set an excellent
example of safety for your kids. Ride with your kids often, starting with a bike trailer
and moving up to their own two wheeler when they're old enough.

1) Wear your helmet whenever you ride.
2) Ride as a group, one adult in front, and one behind. Don't let kids take off ahead or get
left behind, especially when riding on city streets.
3) Ride in parks, on biking paths, and other areas away from traffic.
4) Stop as a group, let everyone catch up, and walk your bikes at all busy crossings.
5) Ride in your lane, with traffic, signal your turns, and don't ride on sidewalks unless marked.
6) Inspect and maintain your kids bikes. Chances are they put a lot more miles on their bikes
than the typical adult rider, on average. Kids also may not recognize that something on
their bicycle has become unsafe. Check each bike at least once a week for problems.

--==--==-- WHERE CAN I RIDE IN NEW LONDON? --==--==--

New London is a very bikeable city. Our small size helps a lot. Nothing in town is
too far away. However, it is also a busy city, with lots of automobile as well as commercial
traffic. Some areas of the city can be difficult or unsafe to ride in, at least at some
times of the day.
Fort Trumbull is a great place to ride, and this use of the park is encouraged by the state
DEP, which operates the park and museum. A bicycle rack is provided at the parking area near
the museum, and behind the fort, at the fishing pier. When the fishing pier is in use, it is
not recommended to ride on it. Bicycles are not allowed in the fort itself (which is part of
the paid tour for visitors.) All other areas of the fort grounds are open and perfect for cycling.
In addition, the roads outside the park see very light traffic and have excellent visibility.
This area is host to the Whaling City Cyclone bicycle race in June. A little-known treasure in
the Fort Trumbull area is the waterfront path that extends from the north side of the US
Coast Guard station, past the fishing boat docks, and around the riverfront all the way to the
train tracks. This gravel path is excellent for walking or cycling. Racing type road bikes
with very narrow tires could have trouble on this surface, but all others will have no trouble.

The Waterfront Park

New London's waterfront is a beautiful place to ride for most of the year. Any time the weather
is good, people visit the Waterfront Park. Some days it is foggy and peaceful, other times it's
sunny and busy, both on land and on the river. You can see old wooden boats, the Coast Guard's
training ship Eagle, ferry boats, tug boats, and even nuclear submarines! When on the piers,
remember that you must yield to pedestrians. Since the pier can only be reached by crossing
the train tracks, DO NOT cross the tracks until the gates go up and the lights go off. It's not
just a good idea, it's the law!

Ocean Beach is a good cycling destination. However, riding inside the park is limited.
Bicycles are not permitted on the boardwalk, so they must be secured at one of the bike racks
in the park. The big parking area is a good place for a beginning rider to learn. The road
inside the park from the water slide to the pavilion is a good safe place for small children,
and can end up with a visit to the playground, pool, nature walk, beach, or ice cream stand.
To reach Ocean Beach by bicycle, use the pedestrian entrance at the very end of Ocean Avenue.
Visitors may be charged admission here ($5) some times of the year. Note that on Monday evenings,
there is a weekly car show at the beach; while it is free, the organizers have requested that
no bicycles be allowed into the car show area. If you enter the pedestrian gate by bicycle,
follow the path toward the parking area. A bicycle rack is provided near the Arcade to secure
your bike.

Bates Woods Park is a good location for off road experience and mountain bike riding.
Good trails exist throughout the wooded section of the park. See our MAPS AND TRAILS page
for more information.

Safe Routes to School:
Connecticut is part of the national Safe Routes to School program.

Kids cycling events:

Bike Rodeo and safety instruction by NLPD
BIKE NEW LONDON Bike Fest 2010
GT/Pacific Air Show by Terra Cyclery

Competitions and advanced riding:

The Whaling City Cyclone bicycle race features classes for all ages and abilities of road racers.
Mystic Junior Velo Club welcomes up-and-coming road racers

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