VOCABULARY LIST
Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education Program
Lesson 1
Active Transportation
Mobility
Reflector
Pedestrian
Transportation that is powered by a person such as biking, walking, skate
boarding, or cross country skiing. Active transportation is good for your
health and good for the environment.
How people move around and the ability to reach your destination.
A material that bounces light back. At night, reflectors help people and
vehicles be visible. They may be on helmets, clothing, signs, bags and many
other objects.
We are all pedestrians at some point. When walking to school, walking to the
bus, or even walking to or from our vehicles, we rely on the pedestrian
infrastructure to help us get where we need to go.
Lesson 2
Crosswalk
Sidewalk
Curb Ramp
Sightlines
Pedestrian Signal
Driveway
A crossing of a street where pedestrians have the right of way. Marked
crosswalks have painted stripes and signage to indicate the preferred place
to cross. Unmarked crosswalks occur at corners of intersections.
A good sidewalk is at least 6 feet wide with a planter strip or other buffer to
further separate pedestrians from traffic. Depending on the age of the
infrastructure and zoning variables, sidewalks in your neighborhood may be
more or less accommodating to pedestrians.
A curb ramp provides wheelchair access to the sidewalk and is a requirement
of any new sidewalk construction. Curb ramps are also helpful to parents
pushing strollers and young children on bicycles.
This refers to the ability of a driver to see a pedestrian and vice-versa.
Sightlines can be blocked by many things, including other cars, bends or
inclines in the road, or “street furniture” such as utility poles or mailboxes.
A typical pedestrian signal has a walk/don’t walk message and/or a
countdown display. If a pedestrian is in the middle of a street when the
signal starts flashing, proceed across the street at a regular pace. Pedestrians
should not begin to cross if the sign is already flashing.
Driveways cross walking paths to allow cars into residential areas, businesses
and parking lots. Driveways are a common location of collisions with
pedestrians and bicycles, especially when hedges or fences block sightlines
to the sidewalk. Treat driveways like other intersections: stop, look and listen
for oncoming cars.
Lesson 4
ABC Quick Check
A routine safety check of your bicycle. It stands for Air, Brakes, Chain, Quick
SASS
Scanning
2-2-2 Helmet Rule
Releases, and a brief ride to make sure everything is correct.
Scan, Assess, Signal, and Scan again. What you do before changing lane
positions or changing lanes.
Looking over your shoulder to see if there are vehicles behind you.
A way to remember if your helmet is fitting right. 2 fingers between the
eyebrows and front of the helmet, 2 straps go over the ears to make a Y, and
not more than 2 fingers can fit between the chin and strap.
Bicycle Parts – Frame
Handlebars
Stem
Headset
Fork
Top Tube
Down Tube
Seat Tube
Seat Stay
Chain Stay
Seat Post
Saddle
The tube that you hold onto when riding the bike. The brake levers and
shifters are often attached to the handlebars. They come in many different
shapes and sizes.
The tube that connects the handlebars to the headset.
Where the stem and fork connect with the top tube and down tube. This is a
join that allows the handlebars and fork to rotate.
Two tubes that connect from the headset to the hub of the front wheel.
A more horizontal tube that connects to the seat tube and the headset.
A diagonal tube that connects to the bottom of the seat tube and the
headset.
A more vertical tube in the middle of the bike connecting to where the
chainrings are up to where the seat is. The seat post slides into the top of
this tube.
A diagonal tube extending behind the top of the seat tube to connect with
the chain stay where the rear wheel attaches.
The horizontal tube extending behind the seat tube to connect with the seat
stay where the wheel rear attaches.
A post that is connected to the saddle and fitted inside of the seat tube. The
height of the saddle is adjusted by moving this post up or down.
Another name for a bicycle seat; where you sit on the bike.
Bicycle Parts – Drive Train
Shifter
Derailleur
Chain
Chainring
Cassette (cog)
Crank
Quick Release
The mechanism to change gears on a bike
A part of a bike that pushes the chain from one gear to another
The part that transfers power from the pedals to the wheels. It is connected
to the chainrings in the front and the cassette on the rear wheel.
The gears that are connected to the pedals and cranks. When the pedals
move around, the chainrings move the chain.
The set of gears in attached to the rear wheel. When the chain moves
around, it turns these gears which turn the wheel.
The arms that connect the chainrings to the pedals.
A type of nut and bolt that has a lever on one end. It allows you to securely
tighten the nut by closing the lever instead of having to use a wrench. The
lever must be closed tightly for the quick release to be secure.
Bicycle Parts – Wheel
Hub
Spoke
Inner Tube
Tire
Tread
Rim
The center of the wheel that rotates around the axel with minimal friction
Metal rods that radiate out from the hub to the rim. They provide the
structure for the wheel.
A rubber tube inflated with air inside of the tire. It is important this is
properly inflated so the wheel does not get damaged.
The rubber on the outside of the wheel that touches the road. This is a
protective covering for the inner tube.
The texture of the tire. It may be smooth, have grooves, or have bumps
depending on what type of surface it is designed to be used on.
The metal part of the wheel that connects to the tire and all the spokes.
Lesson 6
Bike Lane
Sharrow
Door Zone
Lane Positioning
Right of Way
A painted lane that can only be used by bikes. Bike riders do not have to ride
in the bike lane, but it often provides a more comfortable place on the road.
A “Share Arrow” is a bike symbol and << painted on the road. This tells other
vehicles that bikes use this route commonly, and shows bike riders roughly
where on the road they should be located.
The area within about 3 feet of parked cars where a bike rider would be hit
by a car door if it were to open. This is a dangerous place to ride. You should
ride at least 3 feet from parked cars.
The location of a bike in a car lane. This location helps communicate to other
vehicles where the bike is going.
What vehicle has the privilege to proceed forward, and who needs to yield.
Lesson 8
Built Environment
Everything around us that was created by people. This includes things like
roads, houses, schools, benches, lights, and sports fields.