May is National Bicycle Safety Month; a time set aside to focus on putting safety first and to encourage more people to bike, ride safely, and wear helmets. Below are some tips to be safe when riding:
- Always wear a properly fitted helmet: instructions on how to properly fit a helmet are available here. If you need a helmet, the TPO can provide one to you free of charge, just contact Pam @ PBlankenship@r2ctpo.org
- Ride on the right side of the road with traffic, never against it and obey all traffic laws and signals; have children and inexperienced riders ride on the sidewalk and make sure they look for cars backing out of driveways
- Be Seen: wear bright clothing and reflective gear, and use a white front light, red rear light, and reflector on your bike (at night, or when visibility is poor)
- Be Predictable: by riding predictably, you are telling motorists what you intend to do or not do, so they can adjust their own moves and prevent a crash
- Use Proper Hand Signals: The image below from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows the hand signals a cyclist needs to know to be able to communicate their intentions to drivers
- Choose the right bicycle for you: will you be riding every day or just occasionally? trail riding or street cycling? Here is a handy guide to help you: How to choose a bike
For more bike safety information, check out the TPO’s safety page.
