Sharing the Road: Bicycle Safety Tips

If you enjoy riding your bike on roads there are two things to remember: First, motorists probably are not paying very close attention to you. Second, because of this lack of attention, you're at a greater risk for a bicycle accident when you share the road with cars, trucks and busses. Biking is a fun, healthy hobby, but is it worth getting into an accident over? If you follow the proper safety rules, you won't have to worry about getting into a bicycle accident.

One of the best ways to increase your chances at staying safe on the road is to increase your visibility. Bright vests, jackets, or even biking jerseys will be very helpful. If you cycle early in the morning or in the evening, a flashing red taillight and a bright headlight are essential. You will also want to wear a brightly colored, highly reflective helmet, maybe even one with a light on it. Always be sure to wear your helmet when riding your bicycle, whether or not you are on the road, head injuries can lead to a lifetime of problems. Wearing a helmet is the very first thing you learn about bicycle safety for a reason. On the other hand, visibility may seem like an obvious piece of advice, but it's often ignored, and is a common reason for bicycle accidents.

Another thing to remember about bicycle safety is to be aware of your surroundings. Even when riding with a group it's important to know where you are, where cars are around you, and how you can get off the road if possible. A motorist who turns left in front of a cyclist and motorists who pull in front of cyclists from the right are the two biggest threats. Always be aware of nearby cars in position to cause such a threat.

If you believe you are experienced enough to take your bike out on the road and share it with cars then you should probably know some emergency maneuvers to avoid collisions. Things like simultaneously applying the front and rear brake for sudden stops (such as when a car pulls in front of you) or evasive maneuvers such as swerving are best practiced alone in a parking lot or empty street. They are however applicable on the road, and therefore very important to know, so practice them! It's also important to practice avoiding objects on the road like blown out tires and tree branches. You'll want to be able to do this in such a way that you aren't putting yourself at risk by maneuvering to wildly.

A bicycle accident can often lead to serious injury due to the lack of protection afforded cyclists. Precautionary measures are the best safety devices a cyclist has on their side. Often times after an accident you don't even need a lawyer, just some good information.


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James Brown is a Missouri injury lawyer in St. Louis. If you are hurt in a car accident you need to know the common mistakes car accident victims make when talking to insurance adjusters that ruin their accident claims. Request a free copy of his Missouri accident guide, "I Survived! The Crash Victims Guide to Surviving the Aftermath" at his website http://www.themissouriinjurylawyer.com