Many times, bicyclists share the road with vehicles, it is important to remember the following safety tips to avoid any danger when riding a bicycle:
Choose your route carefully
The issue of choosing a route on a bike is one of the instances where we see a difference between bikes and cars. In an ideal world, you could ride your bike wherever you wanted. But the truth is that there are many streets that are not safe for cyclists, whether because there are too many cars traveling at high speeds, lots of parked cars on the side of the road, or any one of the other dangers that cyclists face. Think carefully about where you choose to ride and don’t be afraid to take a route that might be a little longer in the name of safety.
Be flexible with your road position
One of the common mistakes of novice riders is that they often pick a spot in the road to ride and stick with it, regardless of the traffic around them. You should ride predictably, and not weave in and out of traffic. However, a cyclist’s road position should be flexible, based upon the surrounding environment. A good rule of thumb is this: the closer you’re going to the speed of traffic, the closer you should ride to the traffic. If you are going much slower than traffic, ride far to the right. If you are going almost as fast as everyone else, ride near the traffic stream. This helps make you visible and discourages drivers from turning in front of you. If you’re going as fast as other traffic, ride in traffic. Never, ever ride fast in the gutter. Drivers will not be looking in the gutter for fast-moving traffic.
You should also be aware that your road position is very important at intersections. If you plan to go straight through an intersection, do not pull to the right. This fools drivers into thinking you are going to turn right. This may seem simple, but this one change can help you avoid 20-40 percent of all car-bike crashes.
Learn to use your brakes effectively
Braking might seem simple, but experienced riders have sophisticated technique for stopping under varied conditions. In general, your front brake can stop the bike significantly faster than the rear brake. But when the road is slippery for any reason, you should use your rear brake. See below for more information on how to do a short stop.
Make yourself visible
Every bike should be equipped with both a rear light and a headlight. Don’t skimp on cheap lighting—you want these lights to be reliable. If you do a lot of riding at night, consider getting a reflective vest and reflective gloves. Reflective gloves allow you to signal at night.
For More Tips on Essential Skills a Bicyclist Should Possess, Click Here!