Are you a bicycler? Perhaps your friends shared their love of biking with you and opened your eyes to the wonders that bicycling can do for your well-being. Did your friends entice you to join them on their bicycle trails so you could fully enjoy what biking has to offer? You are probably an avid bicycler now because of them.
This popular physical activity is easy to become addicted to. Many people love the daily exercise that biking gives them. Do you think bicycling is a great way to spend your weekends? It’s an active hobby, plus you get to hang out with your friends. Maybe you’re excited to hit the pedal each time, but you’re also worried about your safety. If this has been your dilemma, this article might come in handy for you.
Here are some safety tips for bikers to follow regardless of how old or young they are.
- Wear a helmet all the time. This is probably the most basic safety tip all bikers should follow. When you’re using your bicycle, you should always wear your helmet, as this can protect your head and save your life. And don’t just borrow one from your friends. You should have a properly fitted helmet that’s fitted only for you. If you have a helmet but it’s too small or big for you, you’re putting your safety at risk.
- Check your equipment before riding. Before you head out, you should first check to see if your brakes are working properly and if your tires are inflated correctly. These are essential safety checks because if either of these are not up to standard, you might not be able to stop your bike, especially if you saw a crossing vehicle or pedestrian in front of you. This can lead to injuries and accidents.
- See and be seen by others. No matter whether you bicycle at night, daytime, dusk or dawn, you should ensure that you can always be seen by drivers. Wearing something that’s white has not been shown to make you visible. Instead, opt to wear fluorescent, neon or bright-colored clothing when you’re biking. You can also choose to wear reflective tapes and markings. Keep in mind that just because you can see bikers and drivers around you, doesn’t mean that they can see you, too.
- Control your bicycle properly and never multitask. It’s normal to see bicyclers use their mobile devices while riding, but make sure that you’re not one of them. When you’re riding your bicycle, both of your hands should be on the handlebars so you can easily control your bicycle. This allows you to navigate the bicycle easier while maintaining focus on the road. If you have to carry items or supplies during the ride, use a bicycle carrier or a backpack.
- Act like a car. Yes, your bicycle might be small and you can swerve on and off roads more easily than a vehicle, but being unpredictable can actually put your safety on the line. This is just one reason why you should act like a car when you’re using your bicycle. You should check the traffic, be aware of the vehicles around you, and follow road signs.
You can take all of these measures to be safe while riding your bicycle on the road, but there are also uncontrollable factors that can contribute to a bicycle accident. For one, you can never control how other drivers navigate their vehicles. They might be drunk or distracted while driving, which can become the reason why you’ll be hurt in a bicycle accident. When this happens, you should immediately work with a bicycle accident attorney like this one here. They will work on your behalf to ensure that your rights are not compromised in any way.
Safety and Biking Go Hand in Hand
Biking can do wonders for your body. Bicycling can serve as excellent exercise while giving you access to the many wonders of the outdoors. Biking also gives you the chance to socialize with many different people since you can bike almost anywhere. Before you can do all of those things, though, you should think about your safety. Keep in mind the safety tips cited in this article, and for sure, you can continue to take your daily biking sessions with friends without any worries!
