How to Ride a Bike Safely.docx

1、How to Ride a Bike SafelyHow to Ride a Bike SafelyEdited by Nathan Wong, Ben Rubenstein, Paul Katz, Sondra C and 52 others3Article Edit Discuss Riding your bike can be a great deal of fun, and its a brilliant way to keep fit. Nevertheless, bike riding has its hazards, especially when youre sharing t

2、he road with motorized traffic. To keep safe, it is important to have a bike in top condition and to pay attention to some basic but very important cycling requirements when sharing your ride with the general traffic.This article is based on right-hand traffic; if you live in a country with left-han

3、d traffic, please bear this in mind when reading the directions.1StepsChecking your bike1. 1All checked and ready to rideCheck your cycling equipment. Before you even set out, it is important to ensure that your bike is roadworthy and safe. This is especially important for aging bikes. Checking your

4、 bike means looking at the following: o Air - are your tires inflated adequately?o Brakes - do they work, are they clean?o Chain - is it clean, free of debris, and able to turn with no problems?2. 2Check the brakes. Wheel your bike around a flat surface, pulling the brake levers on and off. If they

5、do not work, and youre not sure how to fix them, contact your local bike shop and ask them to help.3. 3Check the bikes tires. Put the whole tire into a small bowl of water. See if there are any bubbles coming out. If there are any bubbles, it means your tire is punctured and you can get it fixed by

6、a bike shop or do it yourself. Repeat for the other tire.4. 4See if the bike is the right height for you. This is very easy as all you need to do is sit on your bike and make sure that the tips of your toes touch the ground (and nothing else). Adjust the bike seat as needed, and the handles too.Dres

7、s appropriately1. 1Bright colors are ideal cycle wearWear bright clothing, a reflective vest, or have flashing lights. These all increase your visibility. When buying t-shirts or tops make it a policy to buy bright or at least white colours. You can also add reflector lights or reflective tape to yo

8、ur backpack if youre wearing one.2. 2Wear comfortable shoes. Riding a bike in high heels or flip flops is never a good idea. Wear shoes that fit snugly, are flat soled, and have no dangling pieces that could become caught in the bike structure and spokes. Tuck in laces.3. 3Use trouser elastics or ti

9、es. They will hold back long pants that are threatening to flap into the wheel spokes, or become dirtied by the chain grease.4. 4Dont tie clothing around your waist. It could unexpectedly come loose and wrap around your wheel, throwing you head-first into the ground or road. It could also become ent

10、angled in the chain or obscure your rear light and reflector.5. 5Wearing a helmet is always a good idea when cycling. In some places, you have no choice but to wear a helmet by law. Yet, even where this is not legally required, its a good idea to wear one to augment your safety - head injuries are t

11、he most common fatal injuries sustained in bike accidents.26. 6Wear eye protection. Dirt, pebbles, or even bugs can fly into your eyes, causing temporary vision difficulty. A pair of bicycle-appropriate glasses will help prevent this.Road rules and road senseObey traffic laws and safety best practic

12、es. Although the driver hitting you might be technically at fault, you are the one who will most likely be injured or even killed. Follow these basics for your own safety:1. 1Even bikes come with their own rules!Know the rules and use your senses. Every cyclist has a duty to know the road rules, bot

13、h as they apply to you as a cyclist, and as they relate to other road users as well. This includes teaching children what rules they need to be aware of (see below). It is also important to use common sense when riding in traffic, relying on all of your senses to help guide you through traffic safel

14、y. Anticipate the unexpected to reduce surprises.2. 2Ride in the direction of the traffic. Riding against traffic on the wrong side of the road is illegal and increases a cyclists risk dramatically because it increases closing speeds and turning motorists are likely to not even look for traffic in t

15、he direction from which a wrong-way cyclist would be coming.3. 3Prior to adjusting course left or right, always first look back behind you to make sure its clear, and then signal your intent. Learn to be able to turn your head to look back behind you without veering off course. This can be done by p

16、racticing looking back while following a stripe in an empty parking lot. This skill is essential any time you need to move left or right from your course, like when you need to move over for a truck stopped at the curb or some other obstacle. Just because its not your fault that you need to change c

17、ourse, does not mean that you have right of way to move over. If other traffic is using the adjacent line of travel, you need to yield to them, or negotiate for right of way to move there (see below). Its important to practice the looking back skill because many cyclists, even experienced ones, dont

18、 realize how much they veer when they look back. Looking back to make sure its safe to move over is of no help if you veer left right in front of overtaking traffic as you look back.4. 4Signal your intentions to other road users. That is to say when turning or adjusting laterally on the roadway. Hol

19、ding your arm straight and parallel to the ground with open palm faced forward is much more clear and attention-grabbing than an arm halfheartedly lifted and held in position with a bent elbow. Before taking your hand off the handlebar, be sure to scan the road ahead for obstructions like stones, po

20、tholes, or anything that can jerk your wheel. Not only does signaling let them predict your next move, but it gives cyclists a reputation of courtesy.5. 5Stop for stop signs and watch for traffic.6. 6Obey traffic signals.7. 7Do not listen to music whilst cycling. Not only do your ears act like a rad

21、ar for detecting approaching cars, certain types of music can encourage you to take excessive risks!8. 8Choose a conspicuous lane position. Realize that many motorists may overlook cyclists, especially those riding inconspicuously near the road edge. Some motorists are irritated by the presence of c

22、yclists and seek to make it harder for you to drive near them. Dont get angry; if they honk that means theyve noticed you! Convey gratitude by smiling, nodding or waving. Stay calm, keep your wits about you, and remain focused. A mirror can help you know when a motorist is approaching from behind. A

23、 well-timed look back, nod or even slow/stop arm signal can be very helpful in communicating to the motorist that you are not oblivious to their presence and your effect on them, which alone can often nip-in-the-bud a potential road rage situation.9. 9Track your tires at least five feet from the sid

24、e of cars parked at the curb to eliminate the risk of being struck, or being caused to swerve in front of overtaking traffic, by a suddenly opened door. Remember that even at 10 mph youre traveling the distance of an entire car length every second. If a door opens suddenly in front of you, you may n

25、ot even have enough time to react, much less stop. And if you instinctively swerve or are knocked left by the opening door, you could be hit by overtaking traffic. Sure, theyre legally obligated to look first before they open the door, but are you going to trust your safety - perhaps even betting yo

26、ur life - that they always will without exception? If you regularly ride in door zones, its only a matter of time before you get doored. Since car and truck doors extend out as much as three-and-a-half feet when open, tracking five feet away allows your two foot wide body to be clear of an open door

27、 plus a minimum of six inches of error margin. Any closer than five feet puts you in the door zone and in serious risk. Dont be lured into riding in a door zone by a bike lane. That paint on the ground offers no protection!10. 10Dont try to share lanes with other traffic that are too narrow for safe

28、 side-by-side sharing. Riding far right in lanes less than 14 feet in width is a great cause of conflict and consternation in traffic. It makes the cyclist less conspicuous and invites motorists to try to squeeze into the lane side-by-side with the cyclist, causing them to either pass with insuffici

29、ent safety margin, or realize too late that they have to at least encroach in the adjacent lane to pass safely. Alert them early of the condition that lane sharing is not an option by clearly controlling the lane by riding near the center of the lane, or even left of center, so they have the time an

30、d space to plan a safe lane change and pass.11. 11Share the road wisely. Between intersections when faster traffic is present, if the traffic lane is wide enough for traffic to pass you safely within the lane, keep to the side and make it easier for the drivers to leave you room. But during signific

31、antly long gaps in traffic, a more conspicuous position well out in the traffic lane helps grab the attention of the next driver who approaches, discouraging them from choosing to attend to a distraction until after youve been safely passed. A rear view mirror can help you notice when faster traffic

32、 is approaching, and to let you known when to move aside, usually after theyve slowed indicating theyve noticed you, but before they get irritated. Never use a rear view mirror glance in place of a head-turn look back prior to moving laterally on the roadway.12. 12Know that most of the risk is in front of you, especially from traffic turning and crossing across your path. As you approach any intersection, junction or place where turns may be made, regardless of your intended direction, choose a conspicuous and predictable lane p