Are you or your kids into biking? Riding a bike can be both good for you and good for the environment, but it does come with some risk. 
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017 alone, 783 bicyclists were killed in traffic accidents in the U.S., and 125 of those were in Florida, which is the state with the most fatalities in the country. The average age of a bicyclist who was killed was 47. With these stats to consider, it’s a good idea to review bicycle safety tips regularly and put them into practice, regardless of your age.
Bicycle Safety Before You Ride
The number one thing to remember when you decide to ride a bike is your helmet. This may seem simple enough, but it could save your life. Head injuries can be the most fatal, so it’s vital that you protect your head.
When wearing a helmet, it’s also important to make sure that it fits correctly. If it’s too loose, it may not be enough to protect you fully. If you need some help with helmet use, check out the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute website https://helmets.org/.
Before getting on the bike, it’s also essential to make sure that your bike is in working order. This means checking the tire pressure to make sure you have the right amount, ensuring that the chain is not broken or dragging, and make sure your brakes work. It would be hard to have a completely safe ride if any of these features are broken or faulty. If your brakes are not working correctly, do not ride the bike until you get them fixed.
Bicycle Safety While on the Road
According to the NHTSA, most bicycle deaths occur sometime between six and nine at night in urban areas. This may be true because there are more cars on the road at a time when the sun is setting, and visibility is becoming more difficult for drivers. Therefore, an important safety reminder for bicyclists, especially if riding during times when it’s dark outside is to wear light colored and reflective clothing. Additionally, make sure that you have reflectors on your bike and the wheels so that it’s easier for drivers to see where you are on the road.
Bicyclists must obey the rules of the road in the same way that motor vehicle drivers do. This means that if you are riding a bike, you are required to stop at all stop signs and red lights, and yield to pedestrian crossings. Though you don’t have blinkers on a bike, it’s important to make your intentions known by signaling to other vehicles and pedestrians when you are turning right or left. Never ride on a sidewalk, and always give pedestrians the right-of-way. You can use voice commands such as “on your left” when passing a pedestrian on a pathway.
When riding, make sure both hands are always on the handlebars unless you are signaling a turn. This means that you should not be texting or carrying objects in your hand as you ride. If you have a bag, it should be tied securely to the back of your bike, or you should put your belongings in a backpack on your back.
Always ride in the same direction as traffic and ride defensively, but predictably. This means that you are paying attention and alert to your surroundings, but you are also not making sudden moves that would be unpredictable for others on the road, such as a turn without a signal.
If you are new to cycling, it’s a good idea to practice riding in a safe environment such as an empty parking lot or somewhere else away from cars and pedestrians. Bicycle accidents are not just with cars, it’s possible to fall off the bike and severely injure yourself, so it’s best to be confident on the bike, especially if you plan on riding it on the road.
At Panter, Panter, and Sampedro, we are dedicated to safety in our communities. If you choose to ride a bike, please consider these safety reminders before you take your bike out on the road. If you are the injured victim of an accident where a driver’s negligence caused the accident, contact us for a complimentary one-time consultation on your case at 305-662-6178.
References:
Amy.lee.ctr@dot.gov. (2018, December 18). Bicycle Safety. Retrieved from https://nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety
