Bicycle Safety Tips

Posted by admin

December 9, 2008

Bicycle safety starts with common sense for adults and education for children.

If you consider riding your bicycle on the streets or highway, there is one rule: follow the rules of the road. The responsibility is yours to know the local laws considering the operation of a motor vehicle. Most of these rules will apply to you as a bicyclist. Some of the basic rules you must obey is to respect the traffic lights and signs. You must drive on the right side of a two way street.

Learn and practice your signals for turning right, left and for stopping. It is better to show your intent, especially when turning or stopping. Remember, you are likely to be the smaller vehicle sharing the roadway. An accident may be avoided by being courteous. Your best bet for a safe ride is to use a bike path whenever available.

Wearing and having the right safety equipment will lessen the chance of serious injury in a bicycle accident. Always wear a helmet that meets the government safety standards. The bicycle helmet should also fit and be worn properly to offer the best protection. Wearing the right clothes may improve your visibility, especially at night. You may add reflector straps around your jacket, pant legs or shoes. Wearing light colored clothing will also make you more visible. Equip your bicycle with a tail light and a head lamp if you intend to ride at night.

Verify that your bicycle is in good working order before you hit the road. Inspect and adjust your brakes, check wear on your brake pads and replace them if worn. Make sure that your cables are not kinked or bent. Keep your chain lubricated, and check the condition or your tires. Verify that they are properly inflated to manufacturer’s recommendation. Go over all nuts and bolts to confirm that your handlebars and wheels are torqued to specification.

Use common sense, remain alert to your surroundings and follow the rules of the road. Bicycling is great exercise. When you use your bicycle instead of your vehicle, you are also making your contribution in slowing down global warming. It is not only good for the environment, is can also save you money.

Some communities are more bike friendly than others. Joining a bike club has the benefits of socializing and getting involved in making your community more bike oriented. Working as a group may reap benefits when approaching governments to help with improvements in your community to make cycling a safer place.