subject: How to Share the Road: Bicycle Safety Tips [print this page] How to Share the Road: Bicycle Safety Tips
If you ride your bicycle on the road there are two things to consider: First, motorists probably aren't paying as close of attention to you as they should. Second, you're at greater risk for a bicycle accident when you share the road with cars, trucks, and busses because of this lack of attention. Yes biking is a fun, healthy hobby that many people (myself included) enjoy. But is it worth getting into a bicycle accident over? If you follow the proper bicycle safety measures, you won't have to worry about getting into a bicycle accident in the first place.One of the best ways to increase your chances at staying safe on the road is to increase your visibility. Brightly colored vests, jackets, or even biking jerseys are always helpful. If you cycle in times of low light such as the early morning and evening, a flashing red taillight and a bright headlight are essential. You also want a brightly colored, highly reflective helmet, perhaps even one with a light on it. Always be sure to wear your helmet when riding your bicycle, whether or not you are on the road, head injuries can lead to a lifetime of problems. The first thing you learn about bicycle safety is wearing a helmet, and there's a reason for that. On the other hand, visibility may seem like an obvious piece of advice, but it's often ignored, and is a common reason for bicycle accidents.Another thing to remember about biking safety is to always be aware of your surroundings. Even when riding with a group you will still want to know where you are, where the cars are, and how you can get off the road if possible. A motorist who turns left in front of a cyclist and motorists who pull in front of cyclists from the right are the two biggest threats. Always be on the lookout for nearby cars that are in a position to cause such a threat.If you think you are a good enough rider to share the road with cars then you should probably know some emergency maneuvers to avoid collisions. Things like applying the front and rear brake for sudden stops or evasive maneuvers such as swerving are best practiced alone in a parking lot or on an empty street. They are however applicable on the road, and therefore very important to know, so practice them! It's also important to practice avoiding objects on the road like blown out tires and tree branches. You'll want to be able to do this in such a way that you aren't putting yourself at risk by maneuvering to wildly.A bicycle accident often leads to serious injury because of how exposed cyclists are. Precautionary measures are the best safety devices a cyclist has on their side. Often times after an accident you don't even need a lawyer, just some good information.
