Riding a bicycle comes with its risks. If you’re an avid cyclist – or you plan to take up cycling – here are a few important safety tips that could prevent you from getting into an accident.
Respect the rules of the road
The rules of the road still apply to cyclists. This means that you should always stop at red lights and give way to vehicles where there are give way signs. Many accidents involving cyclists are the result of rules going ignored. If you don’t drive a car, make sure to swot up on the rules of the road, or take a road cycling course.
Treat all drivers with caution
Some drivers are not wary of cyclists and will drive too close when passing or pull out in front even if it’s your right of way. Always be careful when pulling out of junctions – if a car isn’t slowing down, chances are it won’t stop, so you need to be prepared to slam on the brakes (which means not approaching junctions too fast). Meanwhile, if a car is following behind you on a narrow road, be prepared to pull over if they try to overtake. If you are injured by a driver and it wasn’t your fault, remember that you can always hire a personal injury lawyer from Bader Scott to claim compensation. You may even be able to get a driver’s licence revoked if their driving was particularly reckless.
Keep your hands on the handlebars
Steering a bike one-handed (or indeed no-handed) gives you less control. You may not be able to swerve out of the way of an unexpected hazard, which could lead to an unnecessary accident. Avoid eating or checking your phone while cycling – always stop and pull over. The only time you should really take your hands off the handlebars is when signalling before a turn.
Wear reflectives/use lights at night
Many accidents involving cyclists occur at night as a result of cyclists not being visible enough. While it’s likely you’ll want to use a bike light so that you can see the road in front, you should also consider wearing reflective clothing or adding extra lights to the back or side of your bike to make you more visible to other road users. Check out this guide to bicycle lights at Average Joe Cyclist for more information.
Avoid cycling when icy
If the ground is icy, you should take caution when cycling. While bicycles are able to more easily avoid ice than cars, there’s always a risk you could get caught out by black ice and have an accident. Slowing down can help you avoid accidents in the snow and ice, however the safest thing to do is to avoid cycling altogether in these conditions.
Maintain your bike
Good bike maintenance will also prevent you from getting into accidents. It’s important to regularly check the health of your tires and your brakes. You should also make sure that there are no issues with pedals or chain. Some repairs you may be able to handle yourself, but if not you should always see a professional.
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