Michigan boasts some of the Midwest’s top biking trails. Whether you’re planning a bike trip through the beautiful Tunnel of Trees, taking a leisurely ride with the family, or biking to work, the personal injury attorneys at Whiting Law want you and your family to stay safe on the roads. Here are some top bicycle safety tips:
- Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet: Bike safety begins with wearing a bike helmet. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, wearing a properly fitting, CPSC-approved bicycle helmet reduces your risk of injury by as much as 85 percent. Properly fitted helmets should sit low, snug, and level, covering most of your forehead. For the most accurate fit measure your head by wrapping a tape measure around your head just above your ears, and about an inch or so above your eyebrows.
- Wear your helmet: Even if you’re just riding around the block, wear it every time you hop on your bike.
- Check your bicycle: Before setting out on a bike ride, make sure your tires are properly inflated and your brakes are in good working order.
- Choose the right size: When standing over your bike, there should be approximately 1 to 2 inches between your body and the bike’s topmost bar if you’re riding a road bike or 3 to 4 inches of clearance for a mountain bike. Don’t ride a bike that’s too tall or too short for your frame.
- Adjust your seat: Your seat should be positioned just high enough to allow a slight bend at the knee when your leg is fully extended.
- Adjust your handlebars: They should be at the same height as your bike seat.
- Be visible: Wear bright colors (neon colors provide the best visibility) whenever you ride, day or night. Affix lights (LED’s work great) to the front and back of your bike. If possible, ride during the day. It’s much harder for motorists to see bicyclists at night, even when they wear bright, reflective clothing.
- Stay in control: Always keep at least one hand on your handlebars.
- Stay alert: Watch for other vehicles, pedestrians, and obstructions, and drive in a safe and predictable manner. Make sure to keep your eyes on parked cars as they open their doors or pull into traffic quite frequently.
- Ride sober: Just as you wouldn’t get behind the wheel of a car after drinking or doing drugs, don’t ride your bike while impaired.
- Follow the laws and rules of the road: Ride with the flow of traffic, in the same direction as other vehicles on the road. Obey traffic laws, signs, signals, and lane markings, just as if you were driving your car. Yield to both traffic and pedestrians. Never dart out unpredictably, don’t weave in between vehicles when traffic is heavy, and signal before turning.
Stay safe and enjoy the health benefits of biking by reviewing these bike safety tips with your entire family. Enjoy your ride!
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, call 844-944-8464 for a free, no obligation consultation with one of our caring, experienced personal injury attorneys. We’ll help you understand your rights and make sure you are properly compensated for injuries sustained through no fault of your own.