Cycling In Safety

Riding a bike can be enjoyable, but like many things in life, there are some dangers that go along with cycling. The two major issues that affect cyclists in terms of safety are falling off their bike or getting hit by a car while out on the road.

The most obvious way to cycle in safety is to wear protective gear, most noticeably, a helmet. For many years' children, and adults alike, didn't wear helmets when cycling. This caused numerous serious head injuries. In the past few years it has become mandatory in many jurisdictions to wear a helmet, especially for children. Wearing a proper fitting, good quality helmet will reduce the risk of head injury if you do happen to have a spill. Other types of protective gear should also be considered including protective eyewear, elbow and kneepads and gloves as well.

When riding on the road there's always the risk of getting hit by a car, but there are many things that can be done to avoid this. First and foremost, make sure to always obey road signs. Bikes have to stop at stop signs and light as well. Follow all road signs and clearly indicate with hand signal, which direction you are going.

Also, wear clothing with reflective tape on the sides and make sure that you have adequate reflectors on the bike as well. The goal is to make you as visible as possible on the road. If the area in which you live has bike lanes, make sure to use them. While it may be tempting to ride so that you are facing the traffic, this is also a safety issue as cars pulling out of driveways and streets may not see you.