Cycling is one of the best ways to get around in the 21st century. Roads are becoming more crowded which is slowing down commuting times. Also, the number of cars on the streets is contributing a large number of greenhouse gases that are speeding up the warming of the planet. Lastly, cycling is just a great way to get in some exercise while you are headed to and from work or going about your day. It’s a great low-impact cardiovascular exercise that improves your physical fitness as well as helps you slim down, if that’s something you’re trying to do. Even with all of those benefits, cyclists only account for about one percent of the vehicular miles every year. That could be because of the various safety concerns.
Safety Concerns
While cyclists only account for one percent of all the vehicular miles in each year, they account for about six percent of all fatalities. The reasons for this are obvious. When you are sharing the road with much heavier and more powerful vehicles, a small crash for a car can be a fatal crash for a cyclist. Helmets and protective gear definitely help. They drastically reduce the severity of many crashes that would otherwise be fatal. However, meticulously following safety practices is also important. You need to make sure that you are doing the best you can to stay safe. You cannot trust that drivers will see you when you are on your bicycle. They’re not used to looking for bicycles, and bicycles are much quieter and smaller than a car. One of the most important things you can do is stay aware of your surroundings. You can avoid an accident on the road by staying alert.
Turning Right
Turning right is one of the most common reasons that someone ends up in a crash in a vehicle or a bicycle. As you turn right, you have to cross over oncoming traffic. In a car, this takes only a few seconds. However, it can be that when turning right in your bicycle, you’re in the path of oncoming traffic for longer. So, if you’re turning right, you should always be very vigilant about oncoming traffic. Furthermore, if you are turning right from a bicycle lane, you have to cross over the cars traveling in the same direction. If you don’t remember to look over your shoulder for cars in the road, you could turn directly into a path of a car. So, always look behind yourself before turning.
Dooring
Dooring or “getting doored’ is the process of someone opening a door and colliding with a cyclist in the bicycle lane. You should always be aware of people getting into or out of their cars. As you’re riding past parked cars, keep your eyes on the upcoming windows. If you see someone in their car, you can give him or her a wide berth and also try to get his or her attention. Getting his or her attention can be done by ringing a bell or flashing a light.
Situational awareness is incredibly important to staying safe while riding to and from your destination.
