As someone who has recently become interested in cycling, you may have much to learn. While learning to ride a bicycle is something most individuals do as a child, you could still benefit from understanding certain safety tips and tricks that could help you as you bike, especially if you plan to ride on or near roadways.
Because bicyclists can be more difficult to see, you could face a greater risk of involvement in a car accident than individuals utilizing other forms of travel. Therefore, you will certainly want to do your best to remain conscious of your actions and the actions of vehicle drivers in hopes of maintaining your safety.
Before starting your ride
One of the most important areas of your body that needs protecting during a bike ride is your head. You may think that you already know the importance of a helmet, but you may also need to remember to ensure that your helmet fits correctly and meets proper safety standards. If your helmet has already been damaged, getting a new one could be a literal life saver.
You may also want to consider the following factors relating to your bicycle that could help you remain safe:
- Your bicycle needs to remain in proper working order, meaning brakes, tires, handlebars and other aspects have been checked and fixed as needed.
- As mentioned in relation to your helmet, other equipment worn to increase your safety also needs to fit properly. You may also want to utilize reflective clothing, safety tape and reflectors on your bicycle to increase your visibility.
- If you are taking any items along with you, make sure that you keep them in a backpack or other bag secured to your bicycle.
- You also need to use a bicycle that fits you. You could have a more difficult time keeping a bike under control if it does not properly suit you.
These steps could help you avoid unnecessary risks while out biking.
You can also do your part to remain safe while out cycling. If on or near roadways, make sure you remain defensive. You may want to consider the following safety precautions:
- You can remain safer by traveling with the flow of traffic.
- You should follow traffic signs, signals and other road markings.
- It may also help you to scan ahead for hazards that may affect you and to also remember that drivers of vehicles may not see you, even if you have the right of way.
Unfortunately, if a driver acts improperly, you could easily become involved in an accident that leads you to suffer catastrophic injuries. If a vehicle driver or other individual causes an accident that results is you getting injured, you might be able to seek compensation through a personal injury legal claim.