Maximizing Bicycle Safety And Preventing Cycling Accidents

Preventive tactics and safe practices

The most important safety measure bicyclists can take is to avoid collisions with cars and trucks. Bicycle safety consultants recommend these tactics to avoid collisions:

• Make yourself and your bicycle highly visible. Your bicycle should always have a headlight, preferably an LED model, and a blinking red tail light. Wear a reflective vest and bright colored clothing to increase your visibility.
• Your helmet should be white or light-colored.
• Have a loud horn, and don't hesitate to use it.
• Get a handlebar or a helmet mirror and check it frequently.
• Ride with the flow of traffic, on the right-hand side.
• Observe all traffic rules. Stop at stop signs and red lights. Remember that bicyclists must follow the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.
• Avoid busy streets. The route you take when you drive may not be the safest route to take on your bike. Look for alternative routes with less traffic.
• At intersections, stop ahead of or behind the vehicle nearest you, to be sure the driver can see you. If you stop right beside the vehicle, you may be in the driver's blind spot.
• Ride far enough away from the curb that you won't get hit if a person in parked car opens a left-side door into the roadway.
• Assume that cars can turn right at any time. Do not assume that they will signal. Often they don't.
• Never move to the left without checking behind you. A car could be coming up on you.
• Never pass a car on the right. The car could turn right unexpectedly, right into you.

Don't ride in dangerous conditions

Night is the most dangerous time for bicyclists. Even with lights and reflective clothing, drivers often won't see you. Don't ride at night if you can avoid it.

Rain and high wind will make it harder to control your bicycle. The most dangerous time to ride is when the rain has just started. The rain lands in all the little pockets and uneven spots in the road surface, and the grease and oil floats on top, making the roadway especially slick. If it starts to rain while you're riding, stop for coffee or duck under an overhang and wait it out.

A strong wind, 20 mph or more can push a bicycle around. Gusts are especially dangerous because they're not predictable. Wait out a wind if you can. If you must ride, keep the bicycle to the side of the lane that the wind is coming from, so that if a heavy gust shoves you, you have some room to maneuver.