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Bicycle Safety
The most important aspect of bicycle riding is safety. You
must know the limitations of your bike and of your bike
riding ability. You must become completely familiar with
the rules of the road and what you can do and can’t
do. We will try to give you some pointers on bicycle safety
in this section. There are many good books written about
safety and most of the bike clubs have information and courses
you can take in safety. There are also videos available
that visually depict safe riding techniques. We urge you
to study these and become a safe rider. We begin by discussing
some rules of the road and then discuss equipment you can
purchase to increase your safety.
Cyclists
Must Obey the Rules of the Road
A driver of a bicycle has the same rights and responsibilities
as a motorist. Like motorists, a cyclist must follow the rules
of the road as specified in the law. Many experts in bike
safety agree that cyclists fare better when they operate on
the road in a vehicular manner. This is because cyclists are
less likely to get into conflict with motor vehicles when
their intentions are predictable and their movements are substantially
the same as other vehicles. Unfortunately, far too many cyclists
do not operate their bikes as a vehicle but rather behave
as though they have neither rights nor responsibilities on
the road. This phenomenon can be traced to both misinterpretation
and lack of understanding of the law as it affects cyclists.
Improper
Lane Choice
It is required that drivers, including cyclists, move in the
direction designated for the lane they are in. Despite this,
it is common at any multi-lane intersection to observe cyclists
riding straight through from the "right turn only"
lane, usually from the right hand side of the painted line
separating the through and turn lane. A cyclist who practices
this typically does it out of fear of being hit from behind
by a motorized vehicle moving through the intersection. In
reality, there is more to fear from being in the "right
turn only" lane. The cyclist not only impedes right turning
vehicles, but also risks being struck by vehicles crossing
his/her path because vehicle drivers will assume that he/she
is going to turn right from the turn lane. Should a collision
occur, it is likely that the cyclist will be held liable.
Riding
in Crosswalks From Bike Paths
It is forbidden to ride in crosswalks. The law makes no distinction
between crosswalks at bike path/roadway intersections and
crosswalks at regular intersections. Therefore cyclists using
bike paths should be dismounting at intersections and walking
their bikes through the crosswalk. Unfortunately, few do.
When a bike path intersects at the intersection of roadways,
navigation for cyclists becomes more complex. Not only is
there the normal traffic flow on the road, but there is the
two-way bike path traffic heading in any one of three directions
to contend with. Intersections are where the largest number
of car/bike collisions occur. The addition of a bike path
at an intersection explains why more car/bike collisions occur
on bike paths than on the adjacent roadways.
Hand/Arm
Signals
The law requires that cyclists to use hand/arm signals if
the operation of another vehicle is affected by a turning
or stopping cyclist. There are two permitted signals for a
right turn. There is the sensible right arm horizontal signal,
which like the left turn signal, its mirror image, is easy
for children to grasp. Children are taught simply to point
in the direction of the intended turn. The other right turn
signal is the left arm out horizontally, elbow bent and forearm
and hand extended vertically.
Clothing
Avid bike riders such as road bikers will wear clothing made
especially for bikers. The clothing is comfortable and tight
fitting. A tight fit keeps clothing from getting caught in
the bike and also reduce the air resistance and that in turn
reduces the energy needed to pedal. Normal riders do not necessarily
need to purchase clothing made for specifically for biking,
but should wear clothing that is light or bright colored and
nothing that is loose. Light colors attract less heat during
the day and alert drivers, pedestrians and other bikers of
their presence at night.
Locks
Every bike owner should also own a lock. There are three types
of locks; chain, cable and u-locks. U-locks are the most popular
because they are the hardest to break through. Chain and cable
locks although they are quite easy to break, just the fact
that there is a lock will scare some would-be robbers away.
When locking up a bike remember to secure the frame and wheel
to the bike rack, tree, post, etc.
Water
Keeping hydrated is essential to biking. Do not wait until
you are thirsty to drink because by that time it is too late.
You have deprived your body and at this point it will not
function at maximum capacity.
Helmets
Some states and local governments have laws that require you
to wear protective headgear when riding a bicycle. Whether
or not it is required by law, a helmet is a good idea for
everyone, and they are especially important for mountain and
road biking. There are many different styles, weights, and
aerodynamics available and you should have no problem finding
one that fits you and your style of riding. You should try
on many types of helmets and keep trying until you find one
that is a firm fit. If you are able to move it back and forth
with the chin strap fastened, it is too big. If a helmet is
too big, it may slip off when you have a crash. You should
also make sure you get a helmet that is well fitted in other
ways. The helmet should sit high enough above your brow to
allow unobstructed views when you are looking forward or to
the side. If it is a good fit, the helmet will move when you
wiggle your ears. Check to see that it sits level and the
strap fits well. You should also make sure you get a helmet
that has adequate ventilation. Check to see if it has sufficient
air channels running from front to back. It may not feel too
hot in the shop but it certainly will after riding for a long
time.
Lights
Most of the bikes that you buy come without lights, however
you can purchase many different lighting systems that can
help make your bike a perfectly safe 24 hour machine. Legally,
your bicycle must be equipped with a white headlamp and a
rear red taillight if you ride in the dark. You should also
consider reflectors, to help motorists see you at night. An
even better attention getter is a flashing light, either red
or white. These lights are generated electronically with a
diode and are much more efficient than a filament bulb. Battery-powered
lights are the cheapest way to comply with the law. The batteries
last longer with standard tungsten bulbs, but the use of batteries
in conjunction with halogen bulbs provide a much brighter
light until the batteries begin to fade, which can come quickly.
Lights are critical for night riding. They are necessary to
light up the road ahead of you so you can see better. Of course,
they will help you be seen by other bike riders, pedestrians
and especially motor vehicles. Many bikers that ride frequently
at night use rechargeable battery systems. Generator lights
use the bicyclist’s own energy to produce electricity
to power the lighting. The most common variety runs off the
side of the tire, but many claim that the roller tends to
slip, thus limiting the continuity and brightness of the light
produced. To prevent this, some rollers are mounted under
the bottom bracket, which makes it possible to use a larger,
slip-resistant roller. However, all generator powered lights
suffer from the fact that when the bike stops moving, the
light goes out. Maybe the best solution is a light with a
rechargeable battery you recharge as needed. The high-watt
lighting systems of course require large amounts of power
and thus require more sophisticated batteries. The batteries
can be lead acid, Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad), and Nickel-Metal-Hydride
(NiMH). The lead acid batteries are the cheapest but they
are the heaviest and require more frequent recharge cycles
and thus wear out faster. The NiCad batteries are lighter
and less susceptible to power loss at high or low temperatures
than the lead-acid batteries. The NiMH batteries are the lightest,
weighing 30% less than the NiCad. They offer similar run-times
and durability. Of course they are also the most expensive
of the three. Proper care of your battery is necessary to
insure you get maximum battery life. Always follow the manufacturer’s
instructions regarding charging and use of any rechargeable
battery.
The ultimate trail setup is to have one light on the handlebars
and one light on your helmet. This way, the helmet light
illuminates your field of vision and is especially good
for following bends in the trail because it moves with you
as you turn to look. The handlebar light allows the monitoring
of conditions directly in front of you. This way you can
see holes, bumps, rocks, roots, and other irregularities.
Reflectors
You should remember that bike lights are tiny and weak compared
to other sources of light on the road, so they can get swallowed
up by car headlights and other sources of light. Luckily,
reflective materials are highly effective and can reflect
a large patch of brightly colored light back at drivers. There
are many different reflectors you can purchase that will make
you more visible to other vehicles and pedestrians on the
road. These include reflective leg and arm bands, which when
riding are always moving, alerting drivers to the fact that
you are on the road. There are also reflective helmet decals,
reflective seat bag decals, reflective helmet bands, etc.
Emergency
Maneuvers
When you ride a bike you will encounter road hazards such
as potholes, cracks, rocks, and other debris. You may encounter
other vehicles that cut in front of you and also railroad
tracks, gravel, slick places on the road, etc. In each of
these cases you must be prepared and know the correct actions
to take.
1. Obstacles : Looking ahead while
riding, gives you plenty of time to safely avoid the road
hazards. Be sure to check around for traffic and correct your
course to ride around the hazard. However, if you do not see
the hazard until it is right on you, try this approach: the
moment you reach the hazard, turn the wheel sharply away from
it and quickly turn the wheel back as it passes the hazard.
Try not to be too jerky as you may lose control and fall.
2. Emergency Turns: You may need
to make a fast turn to avoid hitting a motor vehicle if it
unexpectedly turns in front of you. To make an emergency turn
to the right, sharply steer the handlebars to the left and
then quickly back to the right. Steering left first forces
you into a deep right lean of the bicycle much faster than
if you simply leaned right and turned. As a result, you can
move into the fast, tight turn that an emergency demands.
For an emergency left turn use the same principle but opposite
directions.
3. Sudden Stops: When the need arises
to stop very quickly, you should apply more pressure to the
front brake. This will help you slow down if you can remember
to push yourself backward on the seat because otherwise you
will be ejected over the handlebars.
4. Slick spots: The road is full
of unexpected occurances on the road caused by oil from cars
and trucks. You will also find that pavement markings can
be slick. You need to approach these slick spots with care.
Go around them if possible. If you have to go through them,
then be very careful. Try not to turn at all and coast through
them. Don’t brake, pedal or turn unless absolutely necessary.
5. Terrain:
·
Railroad Tracks: Railroad tracks can flip you over
if your wheel gets caught in the groove beside the track.
To avoid this, approach the track slowly and straight on,
never at an angle. Another even safer approach is to get off
and walk your bike across the tracks.
·
Loose Gravel: Gravel on the road can cause the bike
to skid and slide and you can easily loose control. When riding
through gravel go very slowly and turn slowly.
6. Dogs: Loose dogs seem to be everywhere
and it is their nature to chase moving objects. There are
several things one can do to get rid of them. One of course
is to try and outride them. Another is to coast, as dogs are
sometimes attracted by the motion of the pedals. At times
a loud “no” will send the dog home. A last resort
may be to dismount from the bike, keep the bike between you
and the dog and walk very slowly away. Do not run.
Riding
in Difficult Conditions
When you ride in the rain, cold, wind, or darkness you can
run into some very difficult conditions. These situations
require some forethought and good equipment to keep you safe.
These types of conditions can make it really hard to see and
be seen. They can also hide all kinds of road hazards. In
addition, they can also make you wet and very uncomfortable.
However, you can still be safe and even enjoy your ride if
you use caution and follow some of the following suggestions.
1. Ride Slowly: Wet wheels require
a much longer distance to stop than dry ones, so you need
to allow extra time to stop. In wet weather, try braking gently
every few blocks to clear water off of the wheels.
2. Be Visible: This is extremely
important when you are riding in darkness and inclement weather.
Try wearing bright clothing so you can be easily seen. For
example, try yellow rain gear, which can help keep you visible
on a dark, rainy day. Don’t use a poncho, as it might
get caught in the chain and cause you to crash. It can also
act as a sail in the wind and cause a crash. Use a red taillight
and extra reflectors
3. Windy Conditions: High winds
can make bicycle riding an adventure, and can be very challenging.
Try using a lower gear when riding into the wind to reduce
the amount of effort required. Also, try to present a low
profile so your body doesn’t catch the wind. If you
are riding with a strong cross wind, try leaning slightly
into it, and you won’t get blown around as much.
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