Riding bikes becomes a more frequently enjoyed activity as the weather gets warmer. Keep your rides fun by observing these safety tips and rules of the road:
Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet - The helmet should sit level on your head with the front edge two fingers or less above your eyebrows. Adjust the slider on the side straps to form a “V” shape under and slightly in front of the ears. The snap should be snug; no more than one or two fingers should fit underneath it.
Adjust your bicycle to fit - Is your seat at the correct height? There should be 1-2 inches between you and the top bar on a road bike, and 3-4 inches on a mountain bike.
Check your equipment - Are your tires properly inflated? Do your brakes work?
See and be seen - Wear clothing that reflects light at night, like neon colors or reflective vests.
Control your bicycle - Always keep at least one hand on the handlebars.
Watch for and avoid road hazards – Potholes, stalled cars, broken glass, other debris and dogs can cause mishaps.
Avoid riding at night – But have reflectors on your bicycle in the front, back and on the tires, in case riding at night is unavoidable.
When riding on the road:
Go with the traffic flow. Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. Go with the flow – not against it.
Obey all traffic laws. A bicycle is a vehicle and you’re a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.
Yield to traffic when appropriate. Almost always, drivers on a smaller road must yield (wait) for traffic on a major or larger road. If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and you are coming from a smaller roadway (out of a driveway, from a sidewalk, a bike path, etc.), you must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before proceeding. This also means yielding to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk.
Be predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others.
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.
Watch for parked cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).
