Riding a bike can be an excellent form of exercise. It is great for people who have joint problems since it is a low-impact activity. It is also a lot of fun and a fantastic and healthy way to commute to work or go sightseeing.
Unfortunately, it can also be a bit dangerous. There are aggressive drivers on the road and lots of people not paying attention to their surroundings.
Accidents are frequent among bicycle riders so you have to be extra attentive to make sure that you stay safe. Firms like Lamber Goodnow injury lawyers are busy representing bicycle riders that were injured in accidents due to how risky it is.
In this article, we will go over several tips that will help keep you safe while riding a bicycle.
3 Best Ways To Stay Safe On A Bicycle
1 – Follow the road rules
Although you aren’t in a vehicle, you are part of the traffic and have to behave as if you were driving a car at times. This means that you have to follow the rules of the road. People driving and even pedestrians will need to know what to expect so if you aren’t following the road rules you are increasing the risk of an accident.
For example, if there is a red light, you have to stop and wait for it to turn green just like everybody else does. Even if you think you can drive through in the time that you are going to get run over, you have to resist the temptation. If you do run through the stop sign or red light you risk hitting a pedestrian that is crossing or a car turning in front of you.
You will need to remember that you can’t weave through traffic or ride up on the sidewalk if it isn’t a dedicated bike lane. You may feel like the rules don’t apply but they certainly do.
2 – Make yourself visible
When people are looking at the road they expect to see cars and motorcycles. This makes most bicyclists seem to be invisible since people are not looking out for them. It is up to you to make your presence known. Make yourself as visible as possible so that you can’t be missed.
This means that you should wear bright clothing on the bike. A yellow vest with reflective tape on it will help with that. Reflectors on your helmet as well as flashing lights also draw attention.
3 – Don’t ride distracted
People often think that they’re better at multitasking than they actually are. This means that many cyclists will try to read text messages on their phones while riding, for example. Taking your eyes off the road even for a few seconds can cause a major accident with devastating consequences.
Distracted riding, while you are on the bike, will reduce your ability to react to a situation. Even listening to music is not a great idea since you may not hear a car horn or siren.
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