We all know that bicycle safety is a huge problem in urban areas. Most of us have suffered an accident or at least have a friend who has.
There’s a continuous debate about bicycle safety. And while this is a good thing, it’s best not to wait for those long-promised bike lanes to be built, but to try to protect yourself as much as you can.
Even if you don’t live in a city with a traffic like this, you’re probably worried about your safety while riding. Here are some tips to help play it safe:
1. Be predictable
I think this is the biggest mistakes cyclists make: they are very chaotic. They switch lanes without signalling, brake in the most inappropriate moments or ignore traffic signs. While riding a bike does give you a sense of freedom, it’s best to exercise it with caution. You may not like this, but acting like a car in terms of behaviour in traffic is the best thing you can do.
2. Be visible
I can’t stress this enough. Even a small seatpost light can make a huge difference. And with today’s modern gadgets, like Lumos or RevoLights, even the most tech-savvy cyclists should be satisfied.
3. Watch out
If you live in a beautiful city (or with beautiful people), you can get easily distracted while riding. And if this happens when you skip a red light (like most cyclists in Paris will probably do in the future), it can get pretty dangerous.
4. Wear a helmet
I know, there is an ongoing debate about whether a helmet is useful or not. And unless you live in the Netherlands, the worst thing a helmet can do to you is make you look goofy. Oh, and it can also save your life.
5. Play nice
This will not have an immediate effect on your safety, but it might in the long run. I see a lot of cyclists “barking” on forums and groups about drivers’ attitude and behaviour, but rarely do they look themselves in the mirror. Don’t be like them. Try to be as reasonable and calm as possible, even when some drivers are not.