Bicycle Safety Tips

Want to help lower your risk of being in a bicycle accident? While you can’t control what other drivers or bikers do, there are several tips you can follow to help reduce your chance of being seriously injured or killed while biking:

• Make sure your bike is functioning properly before you begin riding it. It’s important to check that all parts are in working order, that the tire pressure is normal, and that the chain, brakes, and lights all work properly.
• Know all the traffic laws and safety hand signals. To make a left turn, extend your left arm straight out to your side. For a right turn, bend your elbow and hold your arm up in an "L" shape, or extend your arm straight out to your side. To make a sudden stop, hold your arm in an upside-down "L" shape.
• Try to take less-traveled routes so that you won’t have to compete with dangerous traffic.
• Ride in a straight line on the right side of the road.
• Ride near the curb, but stay a car door’s width away from parked cars, as someone may suddenly exit the car in front of you.
• Always ride in the same direction as traffic flow. This puts you where motorists are sure to see you.
• Ride defensively with the assumption that drivers can’t see you.
• Obey the two-second rule. When the car in front of you passes a fixed object, begin counting. If you get to that object before you count to two, you’re following too closely.
• Always keep both hands on the brake and keep an eye out for potholes, rocks, and other obstacles.
• Wear fluorescent or reflective gear, especially when riding at night. Equip your bike with a white headlight and a red taillight, as well as with front and rear reflectors.
• Be careful when riding in wet weather, as snow or rain can impair your brakes.
• Don’t wear loose clothing, as it can get caught in the bike’s chain, gears, or brakes. Clip your pants to avoid getting them caught in the bike’s parts.
• Always wear a helmet. Studies have found that wearing a helmet can help reduce bicycle injuries by 85 percent. Get one that fits properly and meets one of the following safety standards:
  • Canadian Standards Association standard CAN/CSA D113.2 M89
  • American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z90.40 1984
  • Snell Memorial Foundation standard B 90,B 90S, N 94, or B 95
  • American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard F 1447 93 or F 1447 94