How To Stay Visible While Cycling

(Written by www.personalinjury-law.com)

Cycling is an excellent way to stay healthy and it’s a great stress reliever but when you’re cycling it’s very important to make yourself as visible as possible. Drivers can have a hard time seeing cyclists and, in many cities, there aren’t enough designated bike lanes or bike paths to keep cyclists protected from cars. The more visible you are the more likely it is that a distracted driver will be able to see you. When you are cycling in the early morning or in the evening and visibility is low for drivers you should do everything you can to make sure that you will get noticed. These pro tips for increasing your visibility will help you stay safe when you’re cycling:

Wear Bright Clothing

The most basic thing that you can do to increase visibility when you’re cycling is to choose cycling clothes that are bright or neon colored. If you have ever wondered why so many athletic clothes are made in extremely bright colors, it’s because those bright colors are easy for drivers and other people to see so they will notice you. You can also look for clothing that has reflective patches that will shine when a car’s headlights or street lights hit them.

Bike Lights

Make sure that your bike has front and rear lights and that the lights work correctly. Your bike should have white lights like a car’s headlights. The front light should illuminate 300 to 500 feet in front of you and the rear light should have a similar distance of illumination. If your bike doesn’t have bike lights you can buy and install lights fairly easily. In some place’s cyclists are required by law to have lights on their bikes so you should check to see if that is a requirement where you live. If you are going to be doing any road cycling, make sure your bike lights are in good operating condition.

Use Reflectors

In addition to lights you should have reflectors in your front and rear tires that will make your bike much more visible to motorists. You can also wear reflectors around your neck on a cord. If you don’t like the feeling of wearing a reflector like a necklace you can buy reflecting tape and add strips of reflective tape to your cycling jacket, your bike, your gloves, and even your shoes. When the light hits the reflective tape, it will give off a glow similar to the glow of a reflector. Reflective tape can be purchased at any sporting goods store or online.

Ride in The Middle of the Lane

It’s instinct to ride off to the shoulder on the road, especially if there isn’t a wide designated bike lane, but when you’re close to the shoulder you’re at risk for running into bad soil, debris, trash, and obstructions. You are also more likely to end up in a motorist’s blind spot when you’re on the very edge of the lane. Ride in the middle of the lane and be aware of where the cars are around you so that you can be sure you’re not in a car’s blind spot.

This article was provided by www.personalinjury-law.com, an organization dedicated to providing the public with information about personal injury and safety information. Nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice, and it is intended for informational use only. Be sure to review your local cycling ordinances to ensure you ride safe and legally.