Cycling is an inherently dangerous sport. The accident rate for cyclists is one of the highest. But practicing a few safety tips will make your ride safe and enjoyable for you and your riding partners for years to come.
General Tips
1) Wear a helmet. Make sure it fits correctly. If you aren’t sure about the fit, go to a local bike shop and have them check it for you.
2) Wear brightly colored clothes. Yellow, red, orange are colors that are most easily recognized.
3) Obey all traffic rules. Cyclist have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. This means stopping at stop signs, red lights and yielding.
4) If you come upon a traffic light that is tripped by a sensor and you can’t trip the sensor, treat the light like a stop sign and wait until it is safe to cross or until a car comes that can trip the sensor.
5) Ride on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic. Do not cross the center line.
6) Use the standard hand signals for turning right and left and stopping/slowing.
7) Do not ride at times of heavy traffic such as between 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM in the mornings, 3-4 and 5-6 in the afternoons on weekdays.
8) Plan your ride times and routes so as to minimize traffic, especially if you commute.
9) Avoid riding on Friday evenings.
10) Make sure you or someone in the group has a spare tube and pump or CO2 cartridge.
11) Carry a cell phone.
12) Carry some change or small amount of money just in case you need to call home.
13) Make sure you have some sort of identification on your person or in your bike bag. Make sure it lists your blood type, Dr’s phone number and emergency contact info.
14) If you get harassed by a motorist, pedestrian, or anyone, do your best to ignore it and get out of there as quickly as possible. You don’t know why that person harassed you, what they may be under the influence of, when they got out of jail, whose car they stole, or what kind of gun they are carrying …
15) Keep your equipment in good condition. No one likes to ride with someone who can’t keep their bike going. Overhaul your bike at least once per year or have a local bike shop do it for you. Replace worn tires. Replace handlebars once every 2-3 years.
16) Let someone know where you will be riding and what time you expect to be back.
17) Get certified by the American Red Cross to administer First Aid and CPR. Keep a first aid kit in your car.
18) Be an ambassador of kindness. Acknowledge (smile, speak, nod) people that you see out in their yards etc… especially on routes that you ride often. The people that live along the route will get to know you and identify with you as being an enjoyable part of their community rather than a nuisance.
Etiquette when riding with others
1) Ride predictably, in a straight line. Pay attention, look ahead, even if you are talking to someone.
2) Keep both hands on the handlebars. If you need to drink, eat, or take a hand(s) off the bars, drop back to the back of the group, or ride off the front.
3) If you are leading, point to road obstructions and ride around them. Announce the obstacle by yelling “HOLE”, “ROADKILL”, “ICE”, “SAND”, “ROCKS”, “GRAVEL” etc… to ensure riders are aware of the obstacle. Don’t try to bunny hop an obstacle.
4) Announce oncoming cars by yelling “CAR-UP”; announce cars approaching from the rear by yelling “CAR-BACK”.
5) Don’t make sudden movements to the side, don’t “halfwheel” or overlap wheels with the rider in front of you.
6) Ride two abreast at most and single file on busy roads.
7) If you run off the road, wait until the group passes before trying to get back on the road.
8) If you are following and can’t see around the rider in front of you, keep in mind that the person in front of you doesn’t want to ruin their expensive equipment by running through holes etc… and if you follow their wheel, chances are you won’t run into anything.
9) When the group stops at an intersection or road, look both ways and announce what is coming. Call out “CLEAR” if there is no traffic approaching. Call out: “TRAFFIC RIGHT” or “TRAFFIC LEFT” if a vehicle is approaching. Avoid saying CAR because CAR sounds too much like CLEAR.
10) If there is a new rider or someone unfamiliar with the course, appoint someone to stay with them to ensure they don’t get lost.
11) Take the time to get to know each other and if there are any medical conditions that could change the outcome of the day.
12) If you or someone in the group has to stop to fix a flat etc…, get completely off the road.