Amaury Hernández

Bicycle Safety

Even though a bicycle is relatively simple to operate, a cyclist still must exercise careful planning and defensive driving in order to assure a safe journey. It is advisable to check with your local police department for city and/or state ordinances pertaining to bicyclists. These may vary from city to city and from state to state.

When bicycling, do not wear wide-bottomed pants, flapping skirts, trailing scarves, or any other loose clothing that may catch in the wheel spokes or on the gear chain. Pants bottoms should be tucked into socks or secured with bicycle clips. Shoes should have low heels. During the daytime, bright-colored or fluorescent vests or belts can be worn over normal clothing.

For cycling at night, when it is especially difficult for car drivers to see a cyclist, it is even more important to wear conspicuous clothing. Retro-reflective material should be sewn onto clothing and retro-reflectors should be mounted onto the bicycle. Otherwise, retro-reflective vests or belts can be worn over normal clothing. A lit light at the front of the bicycle is required by law in all states for nighttime bicycling. Some states also require a lit light at the back.

Bicyclists should always wear a helmet to provide head protection in case they fall or are knocked down. It is especially important to provide infants or small children with the same protection when riding with an adult. Head-related injuries account for 75 percent of all bike fatalities. Some states have therefore made the wearing of helmets mandatory.

A cyclist should never carry a passenger on a bicycle built for one driver, except in the case of an adult with a small child in a seat directly behind the adult. Otherwise, one seat, one cyclist.

Choosing a Bicycle

When choosing a bicycle, pick one that you will be able to drive with comfort and confidence. When you are on the seat, the toes of both feet should be able to touché the ground without tilting the bicycle. The thigh, leg, and heel of the foot on a pedal at its lowest should form a straight line as you ride along. The seat should be almost parallel to the ground. The handlebars should almost always be level with the seat.

Keep the bicycle clean and well oiled, and make sure that there are no loose parts. Pay special attention to the brakes, tires, and lights. Regularly check the tightness and alignment of the wheels, handlebars, pedals, and chain.

At all times, cyclists must give clear and positive hand signals when turning. Do not weave in and out of traffic or ride close to moving vehicles. Special care is needed at crosswalks, near parked cars, and on uneven road surfaces.

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