Five Important Safety Guidelines For Bicyclists to Follow


 

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Over the past few years, more and more people have taken to riding their bicycles to and from work and other destinations instead of their cars. This is a great way to save money on gas, help out the environment and get a little extra exercise in every day. While bike riding certainly has its benefits, it comes with its fair share of risks, as well. Many motorists on the road are still getting used to the idea of sharing the road with bicyclists, and unfortunately many car and bicycle accidents have occurred in the process. While it often time isn’t a bicyclists fault, they still need to take extra precautions to prevent severe bicycling injuries and stressful personal injury lawsuits. Some of the most important safety tips for bicyclists to follow are:

  1. Wear a Helmet – This may seem like an obvious one, but many people would be surprised to learn how many bicycle head injuries and even deaths occur because the biker neglected to wear a helmet. According to bicycle injury statistics, 95% of bikers who were killed in a biking accident in 2006 were not wearing helmets. The best way to avoid bicycle head injuries is to simply wear a helmet.
  2. Ride With Traffic – Bicycles are treated like any other vehicle on the road, and therefore, bikers must follow all of the rules of the road. This includes riding with traffic, despite the many people who neglect to do so. Riding with traffic makes the road safer for both bicyclists and motorists.
  3. Be Aware of Other Vehicles – As was said before, many motorists are still getting used to sharing the road with bicyclists, making it all the more important for bicyclists to be on the defensive out on the road. They should always be aware of their surrounding and other vehicles to allow them to move out of the way when necessary.
  4. Use Proper Signals – Since they are treated just like any other driver on the road, bicyclists need to use signals to indicate when they are turning or stopping. This helps other motorists to know a bikers intentions so they can react properly to avoid a collision. Bicyclists who don’t know the proper signals should look them up before hitting the road.
  5. Be Visible When Riding at Night – Many bicyclists continue to ride their bikes even at night, which is alright if they have the proper attire to make themselves visible. Bicyclists should wear bright clothing at night, and they should also consider getting a reflector or light for their bike. The more visible they are in the dark, the safer bicyclists are from being hit by a car.

Bicycling can be a great alternative mode of transportation, but bikers need to be aware of the risks involved with sharing the road with drivers in larger vehicles. Bicycle head injuries and even death can be the result of poor safety precautions, making following the advice list above all the more important. Good refereneces.

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