12
Burley Flatbed Owner's Instruction and Safety Manual
Avoid Riding at Night
Make every effort to schedule your rides so you are not pulling a trailer at
night. Because your ve hi cle is long er and heavi er you will be less able to
react to unseen hazards. Automobile drivers may not be accustomed to your
longer vehicle and may not react to it appropriately. If you must ride at night,
wear bright, refl ective clothing, use a bright headlight and a red blinking
taillight on your bike. Do not operate without properly attached re fl ec tors;
replace cracked or missing refl ectors.
Wear Helmets
Numerous studies have shown that:
• Head injury is the leading cause of bicycling fatalities; and,
• Helmets prevent or reduce bi cy clists’ head injuries.
For safety, it is essential that cyclists use approved bicycling helmets at all
times. Don’t take chances.
Proper Wheels and Tires are Essential
Use only the fac to ry-sup plied wheels, and keep them prop er ly main tained.
In fl ate tires to 30–35 P.S.I. and check pres sure be fore each use. Do not use
high er-pres sure tires, as the trail er will be bouncy and prone to tip over with
light loads. We only recommend tires with street tread. Do not use knobbies.
For stability, dished wheels must be offset to the out side of the trailer (with
tires close to the outer frame, providing a wider track).
Know Your Trailer Hitch
Clamp the hitch securely to the bicycle frame, and check for a tight
attachment each time you use the trailer. Refer to sections “V. Hitching the
Burley Flatbed to Your Bicycle” and “VII. Trailer Main te nance and Care” of this
man u al for proper in stal la tion, use and main te nance of your hitch.
Follow the Rules of the Road
Bicycles are vehicles, and are required to observe all rules of the road. Always
signal turns and stops; ride with both hands on the handlebars except when
signalling. Scan ahead for dangerous situations, and an tic i pate turning traffi c.
Watch out for parked cars and opening doors. Never run stop signals, and
never ride against oncoming traffi c. On bike paths, give audible warning
when passing pe des tri ans from be hind. If you are not aware of your local and
state bi cy cle reg u la tions, contact your nearby police or motor-vehicles offi ce
for more in for ma tion. Refer to the owner’s manual of your lead bicycle for
safe cy cling information.
