Cycling is a great workout and an effective means of transportation, and is also a very fun way to interact with the world around you.
The safest place for riding your bicycle is on the street, where bicycles are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorists and ride in the same direction.
Some Given safety rules for cyclists are:
Always Keep cycle in working condition. Check brakes, tyre, air pressure, bell light and chain before you ride it.
Obey traffic signals. While taking turns watch out for traffic and give signal by hand.
Do not overload. Cycle is for one and maximum for two.
Move on the left side of the road.
Avoid overtaking.
Use reflective tape on cycle.
Now onto a few pointers that one needs to take care before embarking on roads on their bicycle:
Always Wear a helmet. A helmet isn’t a 100 percent guaranteed to save your life, but it’s always going to give you better odds than going bare headed.
Always Carry a Safety Kit
While riding, bring a safety kit with you in case of emergencies.
This safety kit should include:
- Inner tube patch kit
- Spare inner tube
- Tire irons
- CO2 cartridge inflation device
Ride with a buddy. Two cyclists will be more visible than one. Plus, if something happens to you, your buddy may be able to facilitate the emergency response process.
Ride with traffic, never against it. Riding against traffic makes it virtually impossible to make a right turn. More importantly, bicyclists are 3.6 times as likely to get in an accident when riding on the left side of the road because drivers entering the road from a driveway rarely look right for oncoming traffic.
Stay Alert at All Times. Use your eyes and ears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. You need your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; don’t wear a headset when you ride.
Look Before Turning.
When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.
Observe Cycling Etiquette
Be courteous while riding and observe basic cycling etiquette. Share the road with cars and paths with runners, walkers, horses, and other cyclists. Ride on the right side of the road or path, following the direction of traffic. Use hand signals to make cars and other cyclists aware of your turns. Observe traffic laws, including traffic lights and stop signs and speed limits. Announce yourself and your intent to pass other cyclists saying “On your left” when passing cyclists.
Be vigilant at intersections. When coming to a stop, hang left in the lane so the drivers behind and in front of you can see you. If you’re at the front of the line when the light turns green, watch for red-light-runners before pedaling forward.
For anyone riding on a sidewalk below are a few pointers to be mindful about:
Check the law in your State or jurisdiction to make sure sidewalk riding is allowed.
Watch for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways.
Stop at corners of sidewalks and streets to look for cars and to make sure the drivers see you before crossing.
Enter a street at a corner and not between parked cars.
Gear up with safety!
