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Wear a helmet to protect yourself.  The primary cause of death and disabling injuries from bicycle crashes are traumatic head and brain injuries which can be prevented.  Wearing helmets is 85-88% effective in preventing these. 

 

Because bicyclists are considered vehicles on the road, they must follow all traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles. 

 

Know your traffic laws found in the State drivers licensing handbook.

 

Always ride with traffic and obey traffic lights, signs, speed limits, and lane markings.

 

Slow moving vehicles must keep to the right side. 

 

As you ride, keep your eyes constantly moving over the road surface and the traffic scene at least a block ahead.  Make sure you know what is going on behind you and keep an eye on cars in side streets. 

 

Signal in advance of a turn; use correct hand signals so others can anticipate your actions.

 

Use your left hand to signal turns and intentions.  You signal a left turn by holding your left arm out straight to the side.  To signal a right turn, hold out your left arm with the hand pointed up.  To signal a stop, hold your left arm out with the hand pointed down. 

 

As you make a turn, bring your inside pedal up.  Because you will be leaning in that direction, you want to avoid catching the pedal on the pavement. 

 

Do not use your brakes while turning.  Use them before or after, but not while turning.  This may cause you to lose control and slide. 

 

Reckless cycling is just as illegal as reckless driving.  Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal. 

 

Yield to pedestrians and other vehicles, as appropriate.

 

If you choose to ride on a sidewalk, take extra caution for pedestrians and at intersections. 

 

Check for traffic by looking left-right-left before entering a street.

 

Control your speed by using your brakes.  If your bicycle has hand brakes, apply the rear brakes slightly before the front brakes. 

 

Be predictable and act like the driver of a vehicle.  Always ride with the flow of traffic, on the right side of the road, and as far to the right of the road as is practicable and safe.  However, the closer you are going to the speed of traffic, the closer you should ride to that traffic. 

            If you are going much slower than traffic, ride close to the right side of the road.

            If you are going almost as fast as everyone else, ride near the traffic stream.

If you are going as fast as everyone else, including cars, ride in the middle of the traffic stream.

 

Ride straight and do not swerve in a lane or in and out of traffic.

 

Near intersections, use your road positions to tell others where you are going.  If you are turning right, move toward the right edge of the roadway.  This will tell other drivers what to expect.  If you are going straight, keep away from the curb.  Just how far depends on your speed and the width of the road but you should be no closer than three or four feet from the edge of the road.  If you are turning left, the correct position is either about four feet right of the center line or in the left turn lane, (if there is one) just like for cars.                                     

 

If you are turning left on a two lane road, get to your left turn position by looking back at traffic before getting to the intersection. 

 

When it is clear, look over your shoulder to be safe, then signal, and merge left to the proper left turn position.  Next, pay attention to the traffic ahead of you, and the traffic on the cross street.  Obey any traffic controls, including lights and sighs, and yield to oncoming traffic.  Turn when it is safe. 

 

If traffic is too fast for you, the best way is to go straight across the intersection, stop at the curb and then walk across when safe. 

 

Be visible, make sure you can see and be seen at all times.  Always assume you are not seen by others.

 

To enhance your visibility at night and in low-visibility conditions, such as dawn, dusk, and inclement weather, wear bright colors or, neon and or fluorescent clothing.   

 

Almost 45% of all cycling deaths happen after dark.  It is a very risky time to ride.  Use good lights and reflectors.  Also, it is a good idea to stick to streets you know from riding during the day. 

 

Bike with care and share the road.  When you ride, consider yourself the driver of a vehicle and always keep safety in mind. 

 

Choose to ride in the bike lane if there is one available. 

 

Take extra precautions when riding on a roadway by making eye contact, smiling, or waving to communicate with motorists.  Courtesy and predictability are key to safe cycling. 

 

Be considerate and aware of motorists and pedestrians.  Learn to anticipate their actions.  Remember, pedestrians have the right of way. 

 

Ride far enough away from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (i.e. opening doors or drivers pulling out without checking)

 

Generally, the farther to the right you ride, the more hazards you will face.  You will often find bad drain grates, gravel, glass, or parked cars, and car doors which could open unexpectedly.  The best approach is to ride in a straight line to the left of the hazards.  Ride at least three feet away from parked cars to avoid opening doors.  On a very narrow road (10 foot wide lanes, for example), riding near the edge can encourage motorists to pass unsafely. 

 

Keep control of your bicycle; look behind you while maintaining your bicycle in a straight path; be able to ride with one hand on the handlebars and signal a turn. 

 

Always look over your shoulder, and if possible, signal before changing lanes.

 

Make sure that books, clothes, and other items are securely attached to the bicycle or carried in a backpack.

 

Use bells, horns, or your voice to alert pedestrians and bicyclists that you are approaching or passing. 

 

Never wear headphones; they hinder your ability to hear traffic. 

 

Always look for obstacles in your path.  Before going around any object, scan ahead and behind you for a gap in traffic, signal your intentions to move, then follow through with your intentions. 

 

Be aware of the traffic around you.  Ride defensively. 

 

Use extra care when riding in wet weather, ice, frost, or snow.  Slow your speed and allow extra time and space to stop. 

 

Use extra care when crossing bridges which are extra slippery under wet conditions. 

 

Use caution when crossing a railroad track; cross tracks at a 90 degree angle and proceed slowly. 

 

Keep in mind that the front brake has greater braking power than the rear brake. 

 

Use your brakes smoothly and evenly.  Good cycling technique means using both brakes with just the right amount of pressure.  Do not make the mistake of hitting the brakes hard after you have gained too much speed.  Instead, use the brakes lightly and often as you descend a hill. 

 

Brake before you enter a curve, and let off as you go around. 

 

Remember, as you ride, keep your hands on the brake levers.  In case of an emergency, you will be ready to use them. 

 

When riding during the rain or in inclement weather, your brakes may not work as well as on dry pavement.  For this reason, allow more distance for stopping and slowing.  Also, watch for slippery surfaces like painted crosswalks.  If you have to cross them, make sure you are not leaning at the same time or you could lose control of the bicycle. 

 

When braking quickly, move your body weight back to prevent your momentum from carrying you over the handlebars.  In this position, you can apply the front handbrake two to three times as hard without the risk of losing control. 

 

Don't try to squeeze by buses (i.e. between the bus and the curb, etc.).  Do not ever pass a bus by on the right side- the bus driver has very limited visibility of the right side.

 

If you pass by a bus on the left side, be aware if the bus is pulling out of stop or trying to make a left turn.  

 

Don't abruptly jump from the curb to the street, if they are going to go 10 or more under the speed limit to let vehicles pass, use bike lanes when available and be aware when bike lanes are ending.

 

A bus might pass a biker if the bike is slow.  However, if there is a bus stop shortly after that, they will have to come to a stop and go up against the curb, cutting the biker off.  If a bus passes a biker and the biker knows there's a bus stop ahead, the biker should be aware and slow down.

 

When a biker passes a stopped bus at a bus stop, be aware that passengers will be crossing the street in front of the bus.  If the biker is not aware of this, there is a chance he/she will run into a pedestrian crossing the road in front of the bus.

 

 

Equipment use and fit

 

Sizing your bike is properly is very important.  Whatever bike you choose, getting one that fits right is very important for your safety and comfort.  The basic test is whether you can straddle the bike flat-footed with an inch or two of clearance at the frame's top tube.  Clearance for a hybrid bike should be approximately 2 inches. 

 

There are many variables involved in fitting your bike precisely to your way of riding and your body.

 

Saddle Height: Se the saddle so that when you put your hell on the pedal in its lowest position, your leg is straight.  Then, when you pedal with the ball of your feet, you will have a slight bend at your knee. 

 

Handlebar Height:  Generally, the top of your handlebars should be about level with the top of your saddle.  Make sure however that you have at least two inches of handlebar stem and seat post inside the frame.  Look for a mark on the side that says something like MAX EXT or HIDE THIS LINE.

 

In the event of an accident

 

If you have an accident, you may be in pain and groggy.  Try to keep some of these key points in mind. 

 

Identify the car and write down the license number as soon as you can.  Also, get a good description of the car and the driver if you can. 

 

Report the accident immediately.

 

Do not get angry at the scene.  This can keep you from taking care of important business.  Also, if you are injured, do not get up unless you need to get out of the road. 

 

Get copies of any reports and ask for photocopies of the police report as well as the statements. 

 

If you are harassed by other drivers, make note of the license number, a description of the car and, if possible, a good look at the people involved.  Do not provoke the motorists.  Call the police as soon as possible. 

 

 

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