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Beginners Guide to Bicycle Safety and Laws

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

Beginners Guide to Bicycle Safety and Laws

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

AskTheLawyers™

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As fun, healthy, and cost-effective as it can be to ride your bike here and there around town or even cross country, it can also be quite dangerous. Furthermore, there are some legal things you should know.

The Safety

As an avid cyclist, I am well aware of the dangerous conditions that a bike can suddenly encounter. So I can tell you that this information that I am sharing from the National Safety Council is certainly important. It's not just fluff! In fact, the council informs us that almost 500,000 people were treated in the ER in 2015 due to injuries that they got while riding their bicycle. Unfortunately, the main concern isn't who is at fault, the main concern is the severity of the injury. If a cyclist is hit by a car, unfortunately, chances are high that the injuries will be serious. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that 840 people were killed in bicycle accidents in 2016.

Know Your Bike

  • Is it the right size for you and easy to control?
  • This also means you need to know what shape it is in. Good brakes are crucial! There are many resources (if not in your community, there are many online) to learn about basic items to check regularly and how to set up ideal maintenance schedule.
  • Some communities offer on-bike classes. If these are available, they can help new cyclists build their confidence with riding.

Stay Aware!

  • Pay attention to not just traffic, but also stationary things like parked cars and potholes. You need to be able to anticipate potential dangers. It's best to assume that vehicles don't notice you
  • Be careful about riding too close to vehicles: a door could suddenly open before you have a chance to react and stop. Also, look out for side mirrors.
  • Always be wary of cars backing out of driveways.
  • Be careful of small children and animals. Sudden stops can be dangerous sometimes.
  • Prepare for the unexpected
  • Don't drive under the influence of drugs. Even many prescribed drugs can make it difficult to ride safely.
  • Don't ride while distracted by texting or even listening to music. You need all of your senses so you can safely maneuver through traffic.

Use Common Sense

  • Avoid high-traffic streets as much as possible if you can find an alternative route.
  • Avoid riding in poor weather
  • Some people think that it is safe to grab a moving vehicle and hitch a ride. Don't. There are so many things that could go wrong here.
  • Riding more than one person per seat is pushing your luck
  • Keep both hands on the handlebars as much as possible
  • Don't try to carry a bunch of loose items while riding. A backpack or bag well-strapped to the bike is best.
  • Avoid riding your bike at night. The NHTSA reports that most fatal accidents happen between 6 pm and 9 pm Even with proper measures taken, it is still going to be much more dangerous because of more drivers that may not see you due to night blindness, and there are more drivers that may be driving under the influence during this time as well. Furthermore, wear appropriate clothing to help drivers see you in the dark.

Extra Precautions

These aren't required, but they are recommended:

  • Install a bike bell or horn
  • Put a headlight on your bike and/or a red rear light
  • Put a side-view mirror on your bike to help with the blind spots.

The Legal Stuff

State laws can vary slightly, so be sure to learn the specific bike laws where you live. Most states consider bikes vehicles, just like automobiles. The following items may or may not be regulated in your state, but they are things you should find out about.

Traffic Laws

  • You need to know if your state allows riding on sidewalks
  • Pedestrians get the right of way (it's courteous to alert them that you are coming up by ringing your bell, lightly honking your horn, or even just saying "passing on your left"
  • Always drive with the flow of traffic
  • If you are riding with other people, ride in single file
  • HAND SIGNALS. They matter. Especially at intersections.
  • Just like a car, all traffic signs must be followed while riding your bike
  • Some state have additional laws for bikes, such as how to drive when they driving slower than the speed of traffic.

About Those Helmets…

...there are federal standards you must follow.

  • They must fit properly. Don't just wear a helmet that doesn't fit well, take the time to look in the mirror and adjust the straps as necessary. Helmets.org has detailed information about this.

If you MUST drive at night…

...you must wear protective gear and reflective gear.

...your bike needs reflectors too: on the front and back, on the pedals, and on the spokes

Sometimes, despite following all laws and taking precautions, accidents happen. If you end up in an accident, you should know that you can hire a personal injury attorney that specializes in bicycle accidents. They know all of the ins and outs of these types of cases and they can offer you valuable legal guidance. If you need help now or have any questions, contact a bicycle accident lawyer in your area today.

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