subject: Don't Bicycle on the Road Without Reading these 10 Safety Tips [print this page] A lot of people really enjoy riding their bikes. Its a great way to relax and get fit, but riding on a road with cars can be very risky. Most roads weren't made with bikes in mind--and this makes riding pretty dangerous for avid bikers. You will need to take extra care not to get hurt in a bike accident. Here are some tips for a fun, safe ride!1. Follow driving laws. The laws for driving a car are the same for riding a bike on public roads. Don't run stop lights. Don't swerve in lanes. Make sure to yield the right of way, and so on.2. Always bike in the direction of traffic. Bikes have to follow the same road laws as cars, and in addition, driving against traffic is very dangerous. Riding with traffic lets drivers behind you wait to pass, but riding against the traffic puts ongoing drivers in a situation where they have to avoid hitting you or avoid hitting another car.3. Watch out for blind spots. The right side of a car often times has very poor visibility for the driver. Don't just stop next to a car--you have to know that the car next to you knows that you are there: in front or behind.4. Stay away from the curb. Riding near the curb is a bad idea because you may hurt the ability for drivers to see you. If you stay near the center of the lane you will maintain your visibility and your safety.5. Make eye contact. Its good to slow down and look at drivers in the face--that way you can be sure they know you are there. Sure, you will have to travel a little slower, but it's better than getting hurt in a bicycle accident.6. Make sure you have a headlight and taillight. In a lot of states, it is actually a rule for bicyclists on the road to have proper front and rear lighting or reflectors. You need lights to ride during the night, but an added benefit is that they make you more visible during the day.7. Wear bright colors. Drivers can notice you better if you have bright colors or reflective strips on your clothing.8. Watch your mirrors. You need to buy a mirror if you don't have one already.9. Signal! Cars are required to signal if they turn or change lanes--so do bikes. If a motorist doesn't know you are turning, they might hit you.10. Travel on less congested roads. Instead of going down a major thoroughfare, try planning your route before hand to take less traveled roads. The smaller, less traveled roads are most often the prettiest.Hopefully these tips will keep you safe and out of a bicycle accident. Unfortunately, accidents can happen despite doing everything right to be safe. If you are hurt in a bicycle accident, you should talk to a bicycle accident attorney to make sure you can avoid making one of the most common mistakes that leaves bicycle accident victims without any help to pay medical bills and without a leg to stand on in the fight with the insurance company. If you are hurt in a bicycle accident, you may have a lot of expensive surgery. A bicycle accident attorney will be able to worry about getting you help to pay medical bills, so you can worry about getting back on your bike.
Don't Bicycle on the Road Without Reading these 10 Safety Tips
