HELOISE: Use caution when bicycling

Dear Readers: Bicycling is a fun way to get out and enjoy some fresh air and exercise, but there are some safety issues to consider.

When going out on congested streets, you must be careful. Many towns have bike lanes, but they may be in limited areas.

Always wear a safety helmet and ride single file if you are with a group, not side by side, to allow cars to pass. Wear reflective, bright clothing, especially at night, so you are easily visible!

Do not distract yourself with music, or chat on a cell phone.

Inspect your bike to make sure it has clean, unobstructed reflectors and the brakes are in good condition. The tires also must be properly inflated and show no wear (bald patches, etc.).

Protect your investment! Take a picture of your bike and record its serial number. Store the picture with the bike’s sales receipt. The police may need this information if your bike is lost or stolen.

Don’t park your bike in your front yard or on the porch for long periods of time or overnight. Stow it in the garage, out of sight.

Be smart, safe and secure when taking a ride.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Thanks for running my suggestion about putting stickers on primary and secondary insurance cards. After I wrote that suggestion, I saw a lot of doctors and got positive responses from most of their receptionists.

Here is another suggestion having to do with stickers: I used to have trouble making my parking sticker cling to the inside of the car’s window. I was afraid the sticker would fall off, the police wouldn’t see it, and I would get a ticket.

I realized that the problem was that the sticker could not cling if the window was too cold. Now I put one hand on the outside of the window to warm it, and with the other hand I push the sticker onto the inside of the window. It sticks beautifully!

Katharine H., New Providence, N.J.

Dear Heloise: I just read the hint on recording credit purchases in my checkbook recorder — I think it is a great idea! But I think we can take it one step further — use a separate checkbook recorder for credit purchases. I found out you can get extra checkbook recorders from the bank — just ask. That way, it still will be easy to balance your checkbook as well as your credit-card bill.

Janice, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: From time to time, I drop pencils, pens, straws, paper, coins and money in between the two front seats of my car. It is very annoying, because you can’t reach what has dropped, but you can see it. I take my long dryer brush — it fits between the seats near the floor — and I can push whatever fell to where I can grab it.

Anita in California

King Features Syndicate