A SURVIVOR’S BIKING TIPS Wear a helmet, no matter how short of a distance you are driving -- even if only in the neighborhood. A whole lot of people keep telling me I should have had a helmet on, and I keep saying, "Yeah, I know." Focus on one thing -- especially what's in front of you. I should have adjusted my speedometer beforehand or afterward, but not during my ride (unless I pulled over). Getting distracted is how you end up running into something as big as a parked minivan. If you are in an accident, stay calm. You can't always rely on others around you to take action and may have to participate in your own rescue. In my case, the people around me panicked when they saw all the blood and chunks of my head and hair still hanging from the minivan; so I had to apply pressure to my wounds to try to stop the bleeding. Carry a cell phone with you. Even though I was dazed and injured, I was the one who ended up calling 911. -- Brad Sturch