Essential Safety Tips For Cyclists

Essential Safety Tips For Cyclists

By:


It never fails to amaze how many people who cycle do not have the correct safety gear and are not bothered for their own safety. Lots of cyclists assume that they have right of way and therefore it is the cars responsibility to avoid causing any difficulty. This is most certainly not the case, it is the individuals responsibility to make themselves seen and safe so as not to endanger themselves or any road user. If you follow some simple safety rules below you make your journeys safer for yourself and for your fellow road users.

No Brains Safety
If you ignore this advice this could be exactly what happens to you, wear a bike helmet it is that simple! No one wants to break arms and legs but if this does happen you have a good chance of being able to fix the problem, if you damage your head you are less likely to be so lucky. The best and most important thing is that you can do something about it, wear a bike helmet and give yourself a real chance, you can get anything from an expensive top of the range model for all those must have kids out there or a good quality, inexpensive helmet that will do the job and protect your head.

You need to make sure the bike helmet that you choose is safe for use on the road, there is no point purchasing a helmet that will break upon impact. You need to make sure that the straps are done up properly and tightly enough so that the helmet is secure and comfortable on your head. You need the cycling helmet to be secure on your head because if you are in a collision and it moves it wont be protecting your head any longer.

Take Time to Reflect
Being a small vehicle on the road it is your job to show others that you are there. Wearing reflective garments is a good place to start, it might not be the most attractive look but neither will being in several plaster casts! Wearing a full reflective jacket would be the ideal item because it will draw significant attention to you, alerting drivers and other road users of your presence. A reflective belt that goes across your body and round your waist will also be good because it will reflect a good amount of light showing other road users your presence. Most cycling jerseys have reflective strips on them which adds to your overall protection whilst out on the roads.

All Lit Up
As well as reflective clothing it is vital that you have the correct lights on your bike and preferably one on yourself too! You can get a complete range of bike lights from ones that flash to ones that are constant. You should have a light on the front and the back of your bike so you can be clearly seen from either direction giving you maximum safety. Battery bike lights are the most common type of light because the power source is easy to look after and replace.

If you are a frequent cyclist and would like to have a dependable continuous power source a dynamo light is a good investment. You dont have to worry about charging a battery because the source is attached to the bicycle it is charged as you ride along. This means that you will always have a safety light so you can be sure that you will be seen and not using batteries means that you will be doing your bit for the environment too.

On your bike you should use the same order of coloured lights as you would find on a motor vehicle with white lights on the front and red lights on the back. A rechargeable bike light is another fantastic option for those who cycle on a regular basis and want to be eco friendly, just recharge the batteries after use and then they will be ready for the following day.

You can also add lights to your helmet to draw even more attention to yourself, there are LED lights that insert into the grooves of a helmet that are unbelievably light weight and are perfect for making you even safer. You can also get a miners style bike light that you attach to your helmet that will help increase your visibility on the road making your journey safer because you can see more of the road in front of you.

Always remember that it is your duty whilst out on the road to make yourself seen for your safety and the safety of all other road users.

About the Author:
Good bike accessories can really improve your cycling safety. Reliable bike lights and quality cycling helmets are two essential items.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Cycling Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.