Bike Safety

I feel that this topic is very important to address. Cycling is a lot of fun, but there are risks, so it is imperative to be as safe as possible. A few weeks ago, as I was finishing up a long, hard ride on Santiago Canyon Road, I noticed several cars stopped in the bike lane. I thought something must be very wrong, so I slowed down. As I got closer, I saw that there was a cyclist down with several people around him to assist. I stopped and asked if I could help, but they had it as under control as possible and the paramedics were just seconds behind. I kept going and noticed that there was a car nearby with a smashed windshield. I don't know what happened, but it didn't look good. I couldn't help but think about how many cyclists were out there, since that's where most of the locals go for hill training, and that this could have happened to any one of us. Two weeks later, I was back on the hill and passed by a ghost bike- a memorial to a cyclist who was killed by a driver. I was not sure if this was a result of the previous accident or a more recent accident since it was a couple miles away from the first accident that I saw. I was very saddened and also very nervous to be on the road knowing that a cyclist had recently lost his life.

There are not a lot of areas in the area to get hill training in. Accidents happen. Whether it is the fault of the driver or the fault of the cyclist, unfortunately the result can be devastating. We can't eliminate accidents completely, but we can take easy precautions to reduce the number and severity of accidents while training on roads and bike trails.

#1 NEVER get on a bike without wearing a helmet properly. It doesn't matter if you're just going for an "easy" ride, just wear a helmet. You never know when something can happen, so make sure your head is protected. This means having a helmet that fits properly, and the chin strap is buckled. The helmet does not do any good whatsoever if it's strapped to your handlebars. Also, make sure your helmet is in good condition. Replace it any time you fall and the helmet contacts the ground (yes, even if there are no visible defects- a helmet is good for one fall only), or every 3-4 years.

#2 If you are riding on the road, you must adhere to traffic laws. Stay in your lane (preferably a bike lane). Stop at stop signs and red lights. You can't just run a red light and expect that cars are going to see you in time. Signal before  you turn or move to a turning lane. Drivers and other cyclists can't predict your movements. You have to tell them what you are going to do.

#3 Beware of riding in limited light. Yes, I know a lot of people ride as transportation to or from work and this often means riding near sunrise, sunset or in the dark. It is a lot more difficult for drivers to see cyclists during these times. If you are riding with limited or no natural light, make sure you are as visible as possible. You can put a blinking red light on the back of your bike, a spotlight on the front, wear reflective clothing and have reflectors on your bike.

#4 This goes along with the previous one, but is applicable during daylight hours as well. Make yourself visible! You want to ensure that drivers and other cyclists can see you. Wear bright and/or reflective clothing. You want to be seen. Ride in groups. It's easier to see a group of people than one solo rider. I know this isn't always possible, but when you can, it's definitely helpful.

#5 Do not ever wear headphones while riding your bike. I know a lot of people want music to exercise, but this is not the time or the place for that. You need to be able to hear what's going on around you. Listen to traffic. Listen for sirens. If you're on a bike trail, you need to be able to hear someone saying "passing left" so you know to hold your line and not turn suddenly.

#6 This one goes for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, etc.: Always be aware of your surroundings. Look to see who is around you. You may be able to spot the potential for an accident and take precautions to avoid it.

#7 If you're getting ready to pass other cyclists on a road or trail, let them know. It's more safe and polite to simply let people know you're there.

Feel free to comment with any other safety tips that I may have missed!