Emergency Moves Can Prevent Serious Bike Accidents In Santa Cruz

Most people see Santa Cruz, California, as a surfing city--but it is also one of the premier cycling cities in the United States according to the League of American Bicyclists, who rated Santa Cruz a silver level bicycle friendly community for excellent community involvement and infrastructure.

However, from 2000 to 2006, the most recently released statistics from the California Highway Patrol reveal that Santa Cruz had over 67 bike accidents each year, including two fatal collisions altogether. This is quite a dangerous number of bike accidents for a city with less than 60,000 in total population.

When you're riding in Santa Cruz, you don't always have a lot of time to react to possible obstacles. In these scenarios, slamming on your brakes isn't always the safest move. By understanding how to deal with a variety of hazards, you can prevent bike accidents while riding in Santa Cruz. Here are a few common risks and safety tips for escaping each situation:

-Pedestrians: Downtown Santa Cruz can be an extremely busy place that is filled with pedestrians. In order to abide by California's laws, you must always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. However, a pedestrian will often be looking for a care--not a bike--while stepping out into the road, and fail to see you cycling towards them. If you aren't prepared to stop safely, you need to warn them by shouting or using a bell, whistle, or horn in order to avoid a bike accident.

-Dogs: If you're biking near the beach, you might come across a few dogs that are't leashed. Most dogs just want to chase you for fun and will give up if you stop moving. If the dog gets too close for comfort, you should stop until their owner has control of the situation. However, if the dog looks like it wants to attack you, you should get off your bike as quickly as possible so you can use it as a shield between you and the dog.

-Sand or Loose Gravel: One of the most important rules of cycling is to never panic in a dangerous situation. Oftentimes, when a bike starts sliding on loose gravel or sand, a cyclist's first reaction is to brake hard. This, however, will only cause you to slide further out of control. By using your body to shift your weight safely, you can regain your balance and continue peddling without experiencing a bike accident.

While these tips will decrease the probability of getting in a bike accident in Santa Cruz, there is nothing that can guarantee your safety at all times. If you are ever involved in a bike accident in Santa Cruz and believe you are not at fault, you should contact a personal injury lawyer for a free consultation. By choosing an attorney that specializes in bike accidents you can recover the full compensation the law and circumstances allow.