Riding Your Bike Safely: Eight Ways To Avoid an Accident

August 10, 2021

Riding your bike is not only a great, inexpensive, way to get from a to b it’s also an ideal way to stay in shape.

Riding Your Bike Safely: Eight Ways To Avoid an Accident

The number of us electing to travel by bicycle is increasing every single year and the best bikes, for recreational or daily use, are now available for a far more reasonable sum than previously.

Perhaps the only potential drawback comes in the area of safe riding. In 2020 the number of fatal accidents did drop but nowhere near as far as you’d think given that the number of cars on the road fell by over 40% due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It probably goes without saying but clearly, the risks to cyclists are much higher than other vehicles on the road. You are afforded little to no protection due to the fact your body isn’t guarded against the elements or obstacles when obviously cars, trucks, and other drivers are.

In order to help you stay safe when cycling we’ve put together this easy-to-consume list of tips to avoid an accident.

Don’t Get Complacent

A lot of accidents happen when cyclists are simply too complacent and not constantly on the lookout for potential issues. Those who are new to cycling tend to be far more cautious than more experienced riders and this is a dynamic that isn’t ideal for your well-being.

Always pay close attention to everything that is around you and keep any impairments to a minimum.

Wear a Fitted Helmet

This should be a given but isn’t something enough of us to pay attention to. Yes, you should wear a helmet but perhaps, more importantly, it has to be the right fit for it to provide the protection you need from it.

Your helmet should fit snugly on your head and shouldn’t move excessively when you move your head from side to side. It should sit low on your forehead and the side straps should form a ‘Y’ just below your ear and you should then buckle the chin strap to provide the additional security you need from your helmet.

Having a helmet on, when it’s fitted to suit your needs, will give you a great deal of protection and will reduce the likely effects of any serious collision or impact of any sort.

Get a Good Pair of Sports Glasses

If you are a regular cyclist or perhaps someone who cycles for sporty activities then get yourself a good pair of sports glasses. You can find a great selection at GlassesUSA.com and their range of prescription options is both varied and stylish.

Having a good pair of sports glasses will give you less to worry about when you are in cycling action. In other words, if you have a well-fitted pair of glasses on you won’t have to worry about issues related to them.

Glasses that fit well and don’t move awkwardly when you are riding and also, if needed, offer glare protection, will give you the peace of mind to just go out there and enjoy the ride.

Obey All Traffic Guidelines

Far too many accidents involving cyclists happen because riders are not paying attention to the traffic laws and guidelines.

This is just as much the case when it comes to car drivers who don’t pay enough attention and care to cyclists as it does to bike riders who think that the rules don’t necessarily apply to them.

Even if you are on a very familiar route you should act as if you’ve never been on the road before.

Ride like a novice in relation to your attention to every single action you should perform in order to meet guidelines. Doing so could save you from serious injury or even your life.

Wear Reflective Clothing

As the most serious of accidents that occur to bike riders relate to being hit by other users of the road it’s therefore crucial that you can be seen.

This is as important during the daytime as it is at night.

Wear reflective clothing at whatever time of day or night you are riding.

Make Sure Your Bike Fits You

Sometimes we can be vain. Many of us make decisions based on style or comfort as opposed to decisions made to avoid accidents and incidents. Make sure your bike fits you.

When you are shopping around for a bike, check the manufacturer’s sizing chart.

Your feet should be able to reach the ground and flat to the floor and leave around two inches of space between your groin area and the bike seat.

Don’t pick a bike that looks big and imposing if you don’t fit it.

Similarly, if you’ve grown and your bike hasn’t, then get a new bike.

Check Your Brakes and Wheels BEFORE You Set-Off

Every time you are about to board your bike, do a quick safety check. Test your brakes and check the overall condition of your tires and other aspects of your bike.

Conclusion

Make sure your headlights are working and make sure when you ride you have both hands on the handlebars and avoid riding with headphones. You need to be fully alert in order to avoid any potential accident.

These are just basic tips and all are more than manageable to follow. Your state of mind and insistence on being prepared could be what stands between you and a serious accident. Always be one step ahead and enjoy the ride.

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