Five Ways to Stay Safe While Bicycling

Biking to work can be a great way to boost your energy, promote better health, and help the environment. Plus, you get to experience the great outdoors and sightsee along the way! While enjoying your commute by bike, your safety depends in part on remaining aware of the other people sharing the road! Be proactive in the steps you take to get from point A to point B, and check out these five ways to stay safe while bicycling:

Obey traffic laws

Following the rules of the road is one of the best ways to ensure safety for yourself and those around you.  Traffic laws are here for a reason! Put into place by the local government, these written rules include obeying all traffic signs, signals, and law enforcement officials, and are designed to keep everyone safe while traveling. 

Make yourself visible

Bright and reflective clothing will help you stand out and be easily seen. Examples include neon shirts and pants, safety vests, and colorful helmets to contrast from the environment. Consider adding a light or reflector strip to your bike. Lights and reflectors provide a clear marker for drivers that alert them of your location at night, and mimic the presence of another vehicle on the road.

Use bike lanes

Using bike lanes separates you from faster vehicle traffic. These designated paths provide an extra level of awareness for drivers that they may be sharing the road with bicycle riders. If there is not a bike lane, ride big and stay alert to the movement around you.

Pay attention

From keeping note of parked cars to anticipating the behavior of other drivers, it is crucial for you to stay alert while biking on the roadways. Limit your distractions, such as talking on the phone or loud music. Do not assume other drivers know you are there. Make eye contact with car drivers when you can; if they don’t look your way, yield the road!

Communicate

Although drivers may not be able to hear you, you can still  communicate your position or next move to them. Use hand motions to demonstrate which direction you intend to go next, and again, make eye contact to verify they have seen you. 

While there are a lot of potential dangers that could come with bike riding, the pros far outweigh the cons! Discover more about the perks of riding your bike to work, and how to better promote transportation safety by reading our other blogs here.

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