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How not to get hit while riding a bike is the most important safety precaution you can know. Wearing a helmet will protect you, but, not all bike injuries are head related. Knowing the main causes of bike related accidents and how to prevent them will keep you safe while riding.
Cars that pull out from a side street or from parking lot spaces can cause bike riders to slam on their breaks to avoid slamming into a car’s side. To prevent hitting the car, the cyclist should ride further to the center of the lane so the car can see them. The added distance will also give the cyclist time to speed up and pull away to the left. Plus, the driver is more likely to stop if they see the cyclist before they reach the street. If necessary, the cyclist can also roll onto the top of the car.
Car doors that open suddenly as a cyclist rides past can cause bike and car related accidents. This is the second most common accident involving cars and bikes. To avoid this, the cyclist should ride as close to the center of the road and away from parked cars. This way the cyclist has more space to avoid an opening door because they are not directly next to the parked cars. Riding in the center of the road will also make it easier for the driver to see the cyclist before they open a car door.
Riding the wrong way on a one way street, or, riding facing oncoming traffic can cause accidents especially if the driver turns right into the street. When the driver begins to pull into the traffic, they are looking in the direction you are cycling, not the direction you are coming from. So, the driver does not see you coming. Riding against the flow of traffic is three times more dangerous. And, one third of car and bike accidents involve cyclist riding the wrong way on a street. To avoid this, the cyclist should ride with the flow of traffic.
Cars stopped at intersections often turn without checking for cyclist. They cause accidents when they cut off an oncoming cyclist. Cars stopped at lights rarely look behind them or to the right before making a right turn. If a bike is in between them and the curve, they are in their blind spot and not seen. To avoid being hit by right turning cars, the biker should wait behind the stopped car and not to their side.
Being rear ended by an oncoming car is not something a cyclist can easily control. But, to lessen your chances of being hit, you should use wider streets so you can safely ride closer to the curb. use back streets that have less traffic. And, ride on streets with slower moving traffic.
Cyclist can purchase bike equipment, such as horns, headlights, and mirrors to help them decrease their chances of having an accident. honking a horn at cars to your right or in front of you will alert the driver of your presence. Using a headlight during the night and day will increase your visibility. A light with a flashing mode attracts attention to your presence. And, a mirror will help you see oncoming traffic behind you before you make a right turn. if these items are not included on your bike when you purchase it, they can be purchased from a bike shop and mounted on your bike.
A tip to help cyclist manage the decline of a steep hill involves slowing the bike down with intermittent braking. Or, shift to the large front gear and small back gear.
There are annual events held nationally to help teach safety and test riding skills. These events are open to children and adults. Other events are for adult competition or site seeing.
The Optimist Club Annual Bike Safety Fair
Seattle,WA
The fair is usually held in June of each year. They have events for children’s safety, helmet fitting, bike tune-ups, and road safety rules.
www.optimistis.org
Oregon Annual Bike Rodeo and Safety Fair
A free event for children. They offer safety training, obstacle courses to improve riding skills, helmet fitting, and bike safety training.
www.neighborhoodnotes.com
RAGBRAI
Has an annual 7 day bike ride across Iowa. I is billed as the longest bicycle touring event in America. They charge a $150 rider fee and $35 non-rider fee for the week, or, participants can enter each day and purchase $35 wristband.
weww.RAGBRAI.com