While getting ready to go out riding on the streets, you may think about how to prepare your bike or helmet properly. Whenever a crash happens, a person on a bicycle has a greater risk of sustaining injuries than someone in a car or truck.
Certain procedures and safety routines, like defensive driving, are important for anyone on the road to know.
Prepare yourself and your bike
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, you need to double-check your gear before you leave for a destination. Making sure your helmet is not too loose or too tight on your head can prevent injuries like concussions and spinal trauma.
Even untied shoelaces or baggy pants can get tangled up in a bike chain and become dangerous. If you are transporting a friend, never have more than one person at a time in a seat. Wearing brightly colored clothing and using reflectors when the sky is dark is a way to signal to other people that you are near.
Keep your focus ahead
While riding, carefully obey the road signs and go along with traffic instead of against it. Do not turn suddenly in front of a larger vehicle or attempt to weave in-between lanes. Although bicycles are smaller than cars, some drivers may still take advantage of the size difference and attempt to crowd you.
Staying in specially marked bicycle lanes and traveling at a slower speed may help prevent some of those issues. Being defensive about how you ride your bicycle can help you stay alert, especially if you drive predictably so as to not confuse any other people around you.