Ryan is the Editor of GearForVenture.com and is my first Guest Blogger! I hope to have many more! People everywhere can share ideas of how to live a Well-Fit, Well-Fed, Well-Defined lifestyle! We all have great ways to contribute to our Whole Well-Being! That’s why my blogsite web address is mywholewellbeing.com as well as yourwholewellbeing.com! In addition to my own posts and experiences, my aim while building this site is to also have a place to feature inspiration from many different bloggers, active individuals, recipe makers, writers and beyond! Hoping to put out positive thoughts, theories, plans and actions for you to live your best life, be your best self and build Your Whole Well-Being!
If you would like to be a Guest Blogger, email me at jamieszapka@gmail.com
Staying Safe while Cycling on the Road
We all know that cycling is a good Well-Fit exercise. However, many of us may find it hard to exercise due to work and other commitments. One way around this is to cycle to work! Commuting to work on a bike helps you save money on gas, saves the environment and best of all, helps you get much-needed exercise too.
If you choose to cycle on the road, wearing a helmet is very important. Whether your state requires bicycle riders to wear a helmet or not, wearing a helmet is the most obvious thing you can do to ensure your safety. But what else should you do? Do you know how to safely ride a bike in the street with cars, other cyclists and pedestrians? Below are four bike riding safety tips every cyclist needs to follow.
- Avoid Car Doors that May Be Opening
While most beginning cyclists might think that the cars out on the road are their greatest danger, the truth is that parked cars can be just as much of a threat. You’ve got to watch out for car doors suddenly opening right in front of you as you are barreling down the road in the bike lane. Those drivers who are parallel parked should always check their mirrors before opening their doors, but most of them may not think about it until it’s too late. But at that point, you’re lying flat on your back on the road, with potentially serious injuries.
The best strategy for you is to simply assume that any and all parked cars might suddenly open their doors right in front of you. Keep your speed down when passing parked vehicles! Watch carefully. Look to see if there are people inside those parked cars. Look for brake lights that are lit up or exhaust coming out of the tailpipe. Also notice if someone is exiting or entering on the passenger side — that’s a good clue that there might also be someone in the driver’s seat.
- Watch for Cars Making Right Turns
Many drivers making right hand turns at intersections are clueless about what is going on around them. They’re just looking straight ahead to see if their path is clear, but it never even occurs to them to look for pedestrians stepping into the crosswalk or cyclists coming up from behind them in the bike lane. This is a very dangerous situation that you need to watch out for. Do not assume that those drivers see you coming up behind them or that they will yield to you.
If the lane is clear around you, then you can try coming out and splitting the lane between the right turn lane and the next lane over. That way you will pass by the driver’s side of the turning vehicle and not get clipped as he turns. Then, once you get into the intersection, you can veer back into the bike lane and safely continue on your way.
- Wear Bright Clothing, Reflectors and Protective Gear
Visibility is the key to your safety on the road. If you see all the drivers, cyclists and pedestrians moving around you, it’s tempting to think that all is well. But do they see you? That’s the key. You should always try to make eye contact and use hand gestures to communicate with others on the road, but that isn’t always possible. Many of them just don’t notice you, so that’s why you need to be proactive.
Wear brightly-colored clothing whenever possible. Some cyclists even wear bright orange reflective vests like the OSHA approved ones used by construction workers. That’s actually a great idea, especially when commuting and riding home from work at night. You should also have reflectors on the front and rear, on your pedals on in your spokes. Reflective shoe laces and “cat eyes” patches on your helmet will also make you easier to spot at night.
Your helmet should be properly fitted so that it doesn’t fly off if your head makes contact with the pavement. Well ventilated helmets also improve comfort and prevent excessive sweating that can run down your face, distract you and impair your vision.
- Let Someone Know When You Go for a Ride
If you usually ride solo, it’s not a bad idea to let a family member or friend know where you’re headed and to give an estimate of when you’ll be back home. It’s just a good safety practice, in case something were to happen to you while out on the road. With today’s GPS apps for smartphones, it’s easy to let someone see where you are at all times during your ride. Life360 is a good one with plenty of features available for free. It even lets you check in at different landmarks along the way with a simple tap of your finger. This is perfect for families, but you can just use it like a virtual buddy system too.
Summary
Cycling on the open road and on busy surface streets in the city can actually be very safe, as long as you take precautions and expect the unexpected. When learning to drive a car, you were taught to drive defensively and keep your guard up for other drivers making mistakes. The same is true for cyclists. Follow these four safety tips when riding your bike on the road to minimize the dangers and to get more enjoyment out of your ride!
Image Sources:
123RF.com
Pixabay/ bedrck
Author Bio
Ryan is the editor of GearForVenture.com, a site that aims to bring you the best reviews and guides about Mountain Bike Helmets and safe riding. To learn more, visit gearforventure.com.