When commuting with a bicycle from and to a place such as an office or a school, safety should be the number one concern. But what does it mean to be safe on a bicycle, what equipment is needed to be safe on the road and what else is important to know?
Many countries and states have regulations regarding the safety of bicycles as well as the safety of bicyclists on the road. In general, there are certain things that you can add on to youâ??re your bicycle to be safe on the road. Some manufacturers already have a lot of additions for safety on their bike if the bicycle is geared towards the general public.
A safe bike should have lights in the back and the front that can be seen for a good distance in the dark. Most common are a white bright light in the front and a red one in the back very similar to the ones on a car. To be seen clearly in any kind of light, bicycles should display several reflectors on the sides as well as the front and back in case the lights are not working properly or are not turned on. Some lights are powered through a dynamo that uses the strength of the rider, but most new lights are just battery driven.
A sturdy bicycle that you are comfortable riding is also an important factor to be safe on the street. If your bicycle is breaking apart or missing essential safety parts such as the lights, you are not safe, in light or in dark situations. To keep you safe, a helmet is one of the most important accessories to wear when riding a bicycle. Many countries and states actually require helmets to be worn by children and also by adults. A helmet greatly reduces the risk of head injuries and death. It is also recommended to wear bright, reflecting cloths to be seen in any situation.
But the equipment is not the only way to stay safe on the streets. Just as with driving a car, rules and regulations for riding on the street have to be kept. For children, cities and police departments have what is called safety town to learn the important rules for foot and cycling traffic.
It is important to know how to act and ride you bicycle in any kind of traffic, but especially in rush hour, when every body is in hurry and a car driver can easily oversee you. To be safe on the road you need to know how to properly cross intersections, make left and right turns, what signals are important when you turn.
Besides this knowledge, you need to know the street signs just as the motorized vehicles drivers need to know the signs. A bicyclist participates in the street traffic and needs to know what lies ahead or how fast he is allowed to drive. Yes, a bicyclist has to follow the speed limits. Though you might not be able to get up to 70 easily and the bicycle is prohibited to be operated on a highway, school zone and other speed zones count as much for a bicyclist as for any other traffic participant. A bicyclist can be just as guilty of causing an accident as the car driver could be, but a person on a bike is less protected than a person in a car.
In general, you will learn all the rules of bicycling early on in your life, but refreshing along the way or when you move to another city or state is always a good idea to stay safe in road traffic.
Tags: Bicycles, cycle tours, cycles, Cycling, Mountain Bike