Increased bicycle traffic on America’s roadways is becoming difficult to ignore making these bike safety tips even more important. The high price of gasoline has many parking their automobiles and riding bicycles to work, for errands around town and for recreation. Boys and girls ride bicycles to visit friends or to head to the tennis courts, swimming pools, movie theaters and malls to have a little fun. Senior citizens are adopting lower cost physical fitness routines by pedaling on two and three wheel vehicles as an alternative to paying for gym memberships. Group rides for charity are popular fundraisers, and companies are employing cyclists as couriers to deliver business documents and packages. Drivers and riders alike need to be alert to sensible safety rules, aware of dangerous maneuvers and more thoughtful as they share the road.

The first precaution for a bike rider is to always wear a helmet. Although some states don’t require it, a properly fitted helmet meeting the standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is your best protection against head injury. Affordable helmets in various styles and colors are available at sporting goods stores and department stores such as Target and Wal-Mart. Don’t be tempted to ride without it. The helmet is more than a fashion accessory. Make sure that it fits well, wear it the right way and fasten the straps. Never ride barefoot, even at the beach. Wear proper footwear: sneakers (not flip-flops or sandals), and tie the laces so they won’t get caught in the bicycle chain. Carry personal identification and a list of emergency contacts.

Whenever possible, use designated riding paths or bike lanes to reach your destination. If you must share the road with cars and trucks, your first priority is to avoid being struck by a moving vehicle. In a direct confrontation between an automobile and a bicycle, who do you think will win? Wear brightly colored clothing to stand out against the traffic. Remember that drivers are not always expecting to see a bike rider. Solar glare may obscure their view temporarily, or they may be driving with one hand as they chat on a cell phone. Your sudden appearance in front or beside a car may startle the driver enough to cause an accident. Don’t dart in and out of a line of traffic, but ride on the right side of the road in the same direction as motor vehicle traffic, and obey all traffic signals.

Riders must always be alert for road hazards: deep puddles of water, patches of gravel and sand that can cause skidding and changes in the surface of the road, such as sewer covers, grates, and potholes. Concentrate on the task of pedaling and steering your bicycle on uneven pavement that may need repairs.  Listening to music or audiotapes is risky while riding. Headphones can block out some significant sounds: oncoming traffic, auto horns, police sirens, a train whistle. At intersections, both bikers and walkers should heed traffic lights and cross at marked crosswalks, where drivers are better prepared to stop to let you cross safely.

Visit your local bicycle shop for suggestions on the type and size of bicycle that’s right for you. Just as automobiles need regular maintenance, bicycles should be checked regularly. Shop personnel can offer advice or provide maintenance that will improve your riding experience. Before you ride, check the following for any mechanical problems:

• brakes
• tires
• well oiled chain and freely moving pedals
• seat, handlebars, wheels—adjusted for comfort and tightened
• no protruding or broken wheel spokes
• adequate reflectors and operational headlight

Bike riding at night requires extra precautions. There is nothing quite as frightening to a driver, or potentially injurious to a rider, as a nighttime bicyclist wearing black clothing and riding without reflectors.  Always wear white or light-colored clothing and use multiple reflectors on your clothing, helmet, and bike.

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