Riding defensively. Bicycling is a wonderful activity. Bicycles provide transportation, exercise and enjoyment for the individual and for a family outing. Bicycling can also be dangerous. Please take a few minutes to review these common sense rules and local laws.

Your responsibility before you or your children ride on the public roads includes ensuring each person knows proper safety procedures and the rules of the road.

Equipment must be in good working order. Check your brakes and your child's brakes frequently. Adjust bike bells so they are loud enough to be heard by someone walking up ahead. By law, every bicycle on the streets after dusk must have a headlight on the front as well as a reflector in the rear. If your child's bike does not have these, please get them. If they don't work, instruct the child out after dusk to walk the bike home, not ride it. Unlit bicycles are "accidents waiting to happen" and against the law.

Sensible clothing for riding on asphalt includes the kind of knee and elbow pads which are worn for skateboarding. For night riding, light colored clothing is recommended. Our local police station recommends putting across your back two or three strips of reflective tape available at any auto parts store or sporting goods store, since the greatest danger is cars coming up from behind. For even the shortest ride, code-approved helmets are required by law for everyone under 15 and are recommended for all bike riders.

Rules of the road. Bicyclists are required by law to obey the same traffic regulations as drivers of automobiles, including giving hand signals before turning. Additionally, they are required to ride to the extreme right side of the road. Children should ride on sidewalks when it's the safe thing to do, but pedestrians always have the right of way. Riding on private property is only permissible with the owner's consent.

Trails. The county has extensive bike trails and is building more. To obtain a map of them, call 324-2974. Riding safely on bike trails requires a degree of caution to avoid colliding with others using the trail. Pedestrians always have the right of way. The rules of the road on bike trails are to ride on the right, pass on the left and give an audible signal before overtaking a pedestrian. Come to a full stop before crossing public roads.

Rentals. Washington Sailing Marina, Daingerfield Island, George Washington Memorial Parkway south of National Airport, 548-9027. The Bicycle Exchange, 1506 Belle View Boulevard, Alexandria, 768-3444.

Lost or stolen. Most bicycles have serial numbers stamped on the frame. Record the number in a safe place. Report a bike theft to 691-2131 as soon as possible. To find a lost or stolen bike, call the local police station at 360-8400. After a few weeks, bikes are taken to the County Police Department's Property Section in Fairfax. Call 246-2786 for directions.