There always seems to be an ongoing battle between drivers and bikers when on the road, especially in a beautiful, bike-friendly place like Colorado.
Drivers get upset because cyclists are sometimes lax about following the rules of the road, and cyclists get angry because drivers often take their safety for granted.
Cyclists can do their part to keep the roads safe. According to small-sample studies, roughly 47% of car-bike accidents occur because of bikers not obeying road rules, like not stopping at red lights or flying through stop signs. Since bikes are considered vehicles, they do have to follow those laws. Here are a few other things to consider:
Brush up on cycling rules
Laws are constantly updated and changed. Ignorance of the law is not a defense, so it is your responsibility to know what’s what.
Does your state now recognize lane splitting, for instance? Are you allowed to overtake on the right-hand side? Hop online and make sure you know your hand signals before you take a ride outside!
Always bike defensively
The thing about bike accidents is that you might be riding 100% correctly, but it’s the other person who makes a mistake. You can only control your own actions on the road, so bike as defensively as possible. Don’t swerve in front of cars, don’t dart into traffic and don’t bike in someone’s blind spot.
You don’t need to rush and ride fast – ride slower and get there in one piece. Save the fast speeds for when you’re on a safer bike trail!
Keep your biking gear on
Helmets ruin your hair, yes.
They also prevent concussions and traumatic brain injuries.
Falling off your bike – even at a slower speed – can cause road rash and serious wounds. Just keep a hairbrush in your bag with some dry shampoo and work with that. Don’t worry, you still look lovely!
Cycle with a group
There is safety in numbers. Having a group of people around you will signal to cars that you are there, you are riding a bike and you are sharing the road.
As long as you are respectful of the road rules, you should have nothing to worry about. Have a safe journey!
See also: Resources in Colorado to help you after an accident
Have you or someone you know ever been in a bicycling accident? Share your story below!