| ng Safe: What you need to know before hitting | | | | SUVs common to our nation, sometimes there |
| the road | | | | isn’t three feet of road to spare. |
| With so many scenic canyons, riverside trails and | | | | 2. When riding at a speed less than the normal |
| charming neighborhoods to enjoy, cycling is an | | | | speed of traffic and there is no bicycle lane, |
| immensely popular activity among America's | | | | cyclists should try to stay as close to the |
| residents and visitors. Sadly, each year thousands | | | | right-hand curb as possible. |
| of people are injured in bicycle collisions. So, | | | | 3. If you need to stray from the bicycle lane or |
| whether you tread the town on a commuter | | | | curb, use these standard hand signals: |
| bike, hit off-road trails on the weekend, or just | | | | Left turn: hand and arm extended horizontally |
| pedal through your neighborhood every now and | | | | beyond the side of the bicycle |
| then, it’s vital to implement safety | | | | Right turn: left hand and arm extended upward |
| precautions. | | | | beyond the side of the bicycle, or right hand and |
| For many people, “bicycle | | | | arm extended horizontally to the right side of the |
| accident” has a less menacing sound than | | | | bicycle. |
| “auto accident.” But cycling injuries | | | | Stop or sudden decrease of speed signal: left |
| are serious business. Bicycle collisions should be | | | | hand and arm extended downward beyond the |
| avoided with the same care – and | | | | side of the bicycle. |
| occurrences treated with the same gravity | | | | 4. Steer clear of injury. Head injury is the leading |
| – as automobile accidents. | | | | cause of death in bicycle crashes. The single most |
| Curb appeal – should you really ride in the | | | | effective way to reduce head injury and death |
| street? | | | | from bicycle crashes is to wear a helmet. No |
| While it’s not exactly an extreme sport, | | | | amount of precaution or good fortune will make |
| street cycling comes with countless dangers. For | | | | you 100% safe from a bicycle accident, so |
| those who commute on bike to work or school, it | | | | accept it as a possibility. Prevent fatal injury with |
| may be hard to take account of all the rules and | | | | a well-fitting helmet worn on the center of the |
| safety tips when you’re on-the-go (and | | | | head. Currently, all but 13 states have state or |
| you’ve been cycling on-the-go so long | | | | local helmet laws for bicyclists. |
| that you don’t give it much reflection | | | | 5. It’s critical to assess the safety of your |
| anymore). | | | | bicycle equipment. The law of all American states |
| The bike lanes that parallel a growing number of | | | | requires that all bikes are equipped with working |
| America's roads give cyclists a bit of false | | | | brakes, but you should also ensure that your bike |
| comfort. Certainly it’s better to stick to | | | | is in good working order, and that it’s the |
| areas with bike lanes, but these designated | | | | safest bike for you. Consider whether the frame |
| shoulders don’t provide automatic safety. | | | | suits you comfortably, and whether the handle |
| Some automobile drivers are oblivious to the | | | | bars and seat are at the right height. |
| white lines and diamonds that designate the | | | | 6. Avoid riding a bike during non-daylight hours, |
| cycling zone; aggressive drivers may deliberately | | | | and if you must, then take necessary precautions. |
| violate them. In the bike lane one must also juggle | | | | Cyclists riding a half-hour after sunset or before |
| with other cyclists who may pass recklessly or | | | | sunrise should be equipped with a white lamp on |
| silently, as well as debris pushed from the road | | | | the bike’s front, red reflectors at the |
| toward the curb. And we don’t need to | | | | rear, and reflective materials on both sides of the |
| tell you that intersections pose a particular | | | | body. |
| challenge to bikers, especially where bike lanes | | | | 7. American bicycle laws state that every person |
| temporarily disappear into right-hand turning lanes. | | | | riding a bicycle upon a street or highway shall |
| 1. For streets without bicycle lanes, the law of | | | | abide by the same laws as motorists. The cyclist |
| many U.S. states mandates that motor vehicles | | | | has all the rights and is subject to all the duties |
| may not come within three feet of a moving | | | | applicable to the driver of a vehicle. This means |
| bicycle. Indeed, many motorists will leave a | | | | stopping at stop signs, signaling when turning or |
| generous amount of room between their vehicle | | | | changing lanes, riding with the flow of traffic, |
| and a bicyclist. Yet some don’t, or | | | | minding pedestrians and yielding when appropriate. |
| can’t. With the large trucks, trailers and | | | | And, yes, you can get a DUI on a bicycle. |