Riding your bike should be fun, it should be safe and it should be healthy. You may be doing it as a way to get in better shape, you may view it as a recreational exercise or you may even use your bike as the way that you commute to work.
Unfortunately, no matter how you use it, riding is often very dangerous. Much of this danger comes from the cars around you. Here are five tips that can help you stay a bit safer the next time you’re out on the road.
Wear lights at night
If you’re riding at night, you want to have lights on your bike and you also want to wear lights on your person. An easy way to do this is to put on a headlamp or an LED vest.
Don’t ride on the sidewalk
Riding on the sidewalk often seems safer, but it’s more dangerous. Drivers who are turning are going to cross the sidewalk and they will not expect a bicycle to be there.
Ride with traffic
Similarly, always remember that you’re supposed to ride with traffic when using the travel lanes. Ideally, you’ll have cycling lanes that you can utilize, but not all locations have them. If you have to ride on the street, you want to move with traffic, not against it.
Leave the music at home
Listening to music on your headphones while you ride can be very fun. Unfortunately, it’s also very risky because it makes it harder for you to hear and react to the traffic around you.
Obey all traffic signals
Finally, remember that cyclists are supposed to obey traffic signals and signs, just like cars. Some cyclists may be tempted to run stop signs or red lights, but it is safest for everyone involved if they follow the laws the same way they would if they were driving.
What if you still get hit?
You can do all of these five things every time you ride, and you can still be hit by a negligent or reckless driver. If this happens, you need to know how to seek financial compensation for your injuries.