Bicycling might be the true essence of freedom in transportation. No dependence on anyone to get around except yourself, no motor to make you drive out of control, and you can park your bike just about anywhere. Still, safety while riding a bicycle is just as important as with any other mode of transportation, especially when contending with motorized vehicles on roadways.
In the United States in 2015, there were over 1,000 bicyclist deaths, and nearly 437,000 injuries in which bicycles were a factor. Staying safe should be on everyone, but you are only responsible for yourself, so learning how to drive defensively is the key to true freedom in transportation.
Most deaths of bicyclists occur in urban areas and at non-intersection locations. It isn’t only the bicyclists in danger, either. Here are a few related facts, concerning those involved in bicycle-related accidents, as well as the bicycle riders themselves:
The most obvious answer here is to drive safely and defensively. Always be on the lookout for other vehicles of any kind, as well as pedestrians. You certainly don’t want to be hit, but you also don’t want to be the person hitting, or pushing someone into traffic.
Safe bicycle riding also involves the proper equipment. Namely, finding a properly-fitted helmet to avoid head injury. Be sure to ensure any children with you also wear them. Follow all helmet-related laws and, even if they aren’t required, wear one anyway, even for short rides.
Do not wear loose-fitting pants while riding, to avoid getting your clothing stuck in the mechanics of the bike, which could cause personal injury or a potential accident. Wear fluorescent clothing and/or retro-reflective clothing, as well as reflective tape.
If your bicycle isn’t already equipped with proper lights, be sure to have some installed. You should have red lights in the rear of the bike, white lights in front and, if possible, turn signals. Learning hand signals is critical, as well, but having lights is especially effective for night-time driving.
Adding reflective tape and other items to increase visibility to the bike itself will also help avoid accidents.
True freedom always comes with a little bit of preparation. You have to know how to handle your transportation freedom. You wouldn’t take your bicycle out onto a busy street before you knew how to ride it, so why not take the few extra steps to make sure you and your bike are prepared to protect yourselves and those around you?
blogs
5 Things to Avoid After a Car Accident in California
After an auto accident in California, you’ll get all sorts of advice on what to do next. Some people will advise you to contact the police, exchange driver information, talk witnesses into giving their statement, call 911, and many other tips. While they’re all looking out for you, rarely does anyone tell you what not […]
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycles may be a reliably safe mode of transportation but, as in so many accidents out in the world, the problem is not often with the mode of transportation you’re in, but how the person who hits you is traveling. Every year, more than 50,000 bicyclists are injured in collisions with automobiles. Too few of […]
Top 4 Personal Injury Myths
Personal injury cases are more rampant than you can ever imagine. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 31 million of the injuries that occur every year often call for medical care. Considering their prevalence, it comes as no surprise that there are so many myths and misconceptions surrounding personal injury. Think you got […]
Getting the Best Price on Your Auto Insurance Policy
Keeping everything with your vehicle in the best shape can seem like a job with a lot of moving parts. Maintenance, safety, registration, insurance, etc.! While keeping your insurance on auto-draft every billing cycle is a great way to keep it out of sight and out of mind, it can also be a great way […]
Five Apps for Bicyclists
Bicycle accidents happen all the time in the United States, and practicing bicycle safety is relatively simple – it just involves a lot of mindful riding and the safest possible equipment. Another part of safe bicycle riding is making sure you have your routes planned out and, in the case of an emergency, it doesn’t […]
How Dangerous are Ride Shares?
Everyone with a smartphone now has access to the next generation of personalized, private transportation. It used to be a matter of calling and reserving a cab or, in some places, hailing one from the side of the road. Since ridesharing is a new phenomenon, however, all of the kinks are still being worked out, […]
Winter Rideshare Safety Tips
Winter driving is no joke in general. Everyone needs to slow down and be sure to take the proper winter driving precautions, but if you drive a rideshare, your point-to-point driving makes you more vulnerable to getting in an accident than if you were simply driving to and from work. Add to this the dangers […]
Ridesharing Services May Help Lower Drunk Driving Accidents
Research has been done in Chicago showing a correlation between ridesharing and drunk driving incidents. The study looks at the relationship between rideshare participants on the road and accidents over about a year’s time. It is no secret that drunk driving leads to catastrophic damages and injury on a regular basis in America. If you […]
Keeping Older Drivers Safe
A lot of us have had to have a talk with our grandparents or parents about how they are on the road. There comes a time when caring for yourself can become difficult, as an older person, especially when driving. What can you do to ensure the older person in your life is being safe […]
Apps for Increased Rideshare Safety
Rideshares can be fun and convenient, but if you’re putting your life in the hands of a stranger by taking a rideshare, you’ll want to feel safe. No one wants to be put in a situation where they feel unsafe or lost, or where they might end up in a ridesharingaccident. Here are some apps […]
contact form
