- posted: May 14, 2024
- Personal Injury
With the summer on the horizon, many of us are taking the opportunity to dust off our bicycles and hit the road.
That is why, with National Bicycle Safety Month upon us, I wanted to take an opportunity to offer some bike safety tips for both cyclists and drivers.
Safety Tips for Bicyclists:
- Wear a Helmet: Protect your head by wearing a properly fitting helmet, significantly reducing the risk of head and brain injuries.
- Be Visible: Ensure you're seen by using lights and reflectors when biking in low-light conditions and wearing bright clothing during the day.
- Follow Traffic Laws: Adhere to all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings, remembering that bicycles are considered vehicles on the road. Drive with the flow, in the same direction as traffic.
- Use Bike Lanes: Opt for designated bike lanes or paths whenever possible, as they are the safest routes for cyclists.
- Maintain Your Bike: Keep your bicycle in top condition with regular checks on brakes, tires, and lights.
- Educate Young Riders: Teach children bicycle safety rules and supervise their riding, fostering safe cycling habits from an early age.
Safety Considerations for Drivers:
- Yield to Bicyclists: Give way to bicyclists as you would other vehicles to prevent accidents, particularly at intersections and driveways, recognizing their equal road rights and responsibilities.
- Check Surroundings: Always be aware of bicyclists around you, not just motor vehicles, in parking lots, at stop signs, and during parking activities.
- Right Turn Caution: When turning right on red, look to your right and behind to avoid colliding with a bicyclist from your rear right. Make a complete stop and check all directions before moving forward.
- Maintain Safe Distance: Ensure a safe passing distance when overtaking bicyclists, shifting into an adjacent lane when it is safe to do so, similar to how you would pass any other vehicle.
I hope that you find these tips useful. Feel free to pass these along to anyone you know who is out on the roads frequently.
And, as always, give us a call if we can be of help. We’re here when you need us.