Bicycle Traffic Safety
Many
people think that riding a bike is more fatally dangerous than being in
a car or walking or running. But if you compare mile versus mile, the facts
prove otherwise.
However, just because cycling is fairly safe on the average, individuals can take important steps to help ensure their continued safety.
Bicycle accidents
can often be avoided through understanding how they occur and taking simple
steps.
OBEY TRAFFIC SIGNS & SIGNALS - Bicycles
must drive like other vehicles if they are to be taken seriously by motorists.
NEVER RIDE AGAINST TRAFFIC - Motorists aren't looking for bicyclists riding on the wrong side of the road. State law and common sense require that bicyclists drive like other vehicles.
KEEP BIKE IN GOOD REPAIR - Adjust your bike to fit you and keep it working properly. Check brakes and tires regularly. Routine maintenance is simple and you can learn to do it yourself.
DRESS APPROPRIATELY - Dress in layers so you can adjust to temperature changes. Wear a sturdy helmet to protect your head. Wear bright colored clothing.
AVOID ROAD HAZARDS - Watch out for parallel-slat sewer grates, gravel, or debris. Cross railroad tracks at right angles.
Safe bicycling comes from knowledge of the traffic laws and careful attention to the behavior of others. Personally, I was fortunate as a child when learning to ride a bicycle that I was instructed to obey traffic laws on my bike, even on the sidewalk. This instruction came both from my father and from my grade school. Hopefully you will share the same tips with your family members to ensure everyone can enjoy the ride.
© 2008 Good News Tucson™
