Bike riding is a great cardiovascular activity that has grown in popularity nationwide for many reasons. In addition to reducing your carbon footprint, you’re also getting a great cardiovascular workout while enjoying nature. However, just because you are not driving a car or a truck doesn’t mean you’re protected from the harm that can happen on the road. When you decide to use a bicycle as a regular mode of transportation, there are some things you should do to protect yourself from harm.
Wear Protective Gear
Even if you’re an expert bike rider, that shouldn’t prevent you from wearing protective gear if you fall or are thrown off your bike. Start by wearing a helmet that can protect you from a head injury. With the helmet, you can avoid concussions if you collide with a car or another bicycle. You may also want to wear bike riding gloves so your hands don’t become too slippery or tired while keeping them on the pedals. Make sure that your shoes are suitable for riding a bicycle. You don’t want shoe strings getting tied up and caught up in the pedals, so make sure you can tie them properly.
Check the Tires
What good is a bike if your tires are deflated? Before you set out on the road, check your bike tires to see if they’re inflated. If it seems like they’re running out of air or something is stuck in them, fix the problem before you start pedaling. The last thing you want is your bike tire to wear out in the middle of a busy intersection or when you’re halfway to work or school.
Check Reflectors and Lights
Do you like to ride your bike regardless of the time of day or weather? If you enjoy early morning bike rides or evening ones, you need to ensure that drivers can see you for your safety. So check that your bike reflectors are working, as they help you stay easily visible on the road. Check your bike lights as well. The last thing you want is to be pedaling blindly at night.
Stay on Bike Paths
These days, the average city has plenty of bike paths for Americans to utilize. A bike path provides a clear way to travel around the city and avoid dealing with cars. So instead of swerving around in the middle of traffic, do your best to stay in the bike lane for your safety and that of other drivers.
Follow Road Rules
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because you’re not a four-wheeled vehicle, you don’t have to follow the rules that car, truck, and RV drivers have to follow. If you keep speeding on your bike and don’t make stops and turn signals at other vehicles, you could easily cause an accident. If you’re on your bicycle and you end up colliding with a car, you’re more than likely to get hurt much worse than the driver will. So while you can enjoy the freedom and fresh air of being on the bike, don’t abuse your position by avoiding red lights.
Even if you drive a car, taking advantage of owning a bike is a great way to stay in shape, save on gas, and enjoy nature. While you may be the most careful bike rider in the world, accidents can still happen. Do your best to follow the advice stated above for your protection. However, if you end up being in an accident, legal help is available to support you when you hire a bicycle accident lawyer.