Do you plan on riding your bicycle quite a bit this spring? Are you excited about doing so, but concerned about being part of an accident at some point, since you see them all the time in the news or in the paper?
There is little more enjoyable than riding your bicycle in the warm weather, especially after being cooped up inside all winter long.
If you’re going to spend any amount of time on your bike in the near future, you’ll want to understand the steps you can take to prevent trouble.
Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
- Watch for opening doors. It’s easy to focus so much of your time on moving vehicles that you overlook those that are stationary. After a person parks, he or she, along with any passengers, will begin to open doors. You don’t want one of these to open in your lane of travel, as you could strike it head on.
- Beware of turning vehicles. Imagine this: You’re riding your bicycle in the right lane and a driver to your left cuts in front of your face. You hope this doesn’t happen, but you always need to assume that it will.
- Pass behind pedestrians. Doing so lessens the likelihood of spooking a person, thus causing an accident.
- Use a bicycle lane, if available. Many bicyclists assume that it’s safest to ride on a sidewalk, but this isn’t true. You’ll want to use a bicycle lane, when available, as this gives you a dedicated travel area. If this isn’t an option it’s best to ride amongst the motor vehicles.
These safety tips may sound like common sense, but it’s easy to overlook their importance once you jump on your bicycle and take off.
In the event of a bicycle-vehicle accident, stay where you are with the idea of receiving medical treatment as quickly as possible. There is a chance that you are dealing with a serious injury, and you must be sure to consult with a medical professional right away.
After you understand your injuries and prognosis, focus on what went wrong on the road. If you realize that the driver was at fault, it’s time to learn more about the crash, your legal rights and how to hold the person responsible.
