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7 Tips That Can Help You Stay Safer on Your Bike This Summer

Bicycling is a popular form of transportation and recreation in California. Many people ride their bicycles year-round in many areas of the state. However, bicycling seems to increase during the summer months when school is out for the summer break. Therefore, it is a good time for our California bicycle accident attorney to review some of the basic bicycle safety tips.

  1. Only Cross the Road at a Crosswalk or Intersection
  2. When you need to cross the road, make sure you are doing so at a crosswalk or intersection. Drivers are looking out for other drivers, bike riders, and pedestrians at these places.

  3. Make Sure Others on the Road Can See You
  4. It is essential that others on the road can see you, even if it is nighttime and even if visibility is poor. It is a good idea to have a headlight and taillight on your bike. It is also wise to have a reflector both on the front and back of your bike to further improve visibility.

  5. Wear Appropriate Safety Gear
  6. Ensuring your bike is outfitted with the right gear is important but it is also important to outfit yourself. Make sure you are wearing a helmet, shoulder pads, and knee pads every time you ride. You should also be wearing a bike helmet and other protective gear so that if you do get into a bike accident, the likelihood of catastrophic injury is reduced.

  7. Ride in Groups
  8. If possible, get a group of friends together to ride. The more of you there are, the more likely drivers and pedestrians are to see you. The more likely they are to see you, the less likely you are to become the victim of an accident.

  9. Always Stay Alert
  10. It is not a good idea to wear earphones when riding a bike. It is not wise to talk on a cellphone while riding a bike. The goal is to be completely aware of what is going on around you. This requires the use of all senses – including hearing.

  11. Learn Hand Signals and Use Them
  12. Using the correct hand signals is not only the law, it is a safety must. Just as a driver must let others know if they are going to turn – and which way they are turning – you should be indicating the same to others on the road.

  13. Check Your Bike Before You Get on the Road
  14. Do not start a bike ride without first checking your bike. Make sure the tires are inflated. Make sure your breaks work. A simple walk around can help prevent a serious accident.

If you are involved in a bike accident in which someone else was at fault, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for your free legal consultation.