Bike Safety

Safe Riding Tips

Tip # 1: Always wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet!

Protect your brain and save your life! A helmet can make a big difference, even if you’re just involved in a small crash. Make sure your helmet fits properly – click here for info about how to properly fit a bike helmet.

Tip #2: See and Be Seen!

Remember, just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean the driver can see you! Whether daytime, dawn, dusk, bad weather or at night, you need to be seen by others. Wearing white has not been shown to make you more visible. Rather, always wear neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding day or night.

Tip #3: Watch for and avoid road hazards!

Be on the lookout for hazards such as potholes, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves and dogs. All these hazards can cause you to crash. If you are riding with friends and you are in the lead, yell out and point to the hazard to alert the riders behind you.

Tip #4: Avoid Riding at Night.

It is far more dangerous to ride at night than during the day because you are harder for others to see. If you have to ride at night, wear something that makes you more easily seen by others. Make sure you have reflectors on the front and rear of your bicycle, in addition to reflectors on your tires, so others can see you.

Tip #5: Control Your Bicycle

Always ride with at least one hand on your handlebars. Carry books or other items in a bicycle carrier or backpack.