Safety Tips
Before using your bicycle, make sure it is ready to ride. You should always inspect your bike to make sure all parts are secure and in good working order.
Remember to:
Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet. Protect your brain and save your life.
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Adjust your bicycle to fit. Stand over your bicycle. If you have a road bike, there should be about 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube and 3 to 4 inches if a mountain bike. Make sure that the seat is level front to back and the seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when your leg is fully extended. The handle bars should be at the same level with the seat. If you have more questions about fitting a bicycle to you, see the folks at Richardson BikeMart.
Check your equipment.
Learn More about Changing a Flat
Learn More about Vehicle Inspection
See and be seen. Wearing white has not been shown to make you more visible. Always wear neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding day or night. If riding at night be sure to have several blinky lights that flash in different patterns. Remember just because you can see a driver does not mean that they can see you!
Control your bicycle. Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars.
Watch for and avoid road hazards. Be on the lookout for hazards such as potholes, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves and dogs. All of these things can cause a crash. If you are riding with friends and you are in the lead, point to the hazards to alert the riders behind you.
Avoid riding at night. If you have to ride at night make sure that you wear something that makes you more visible to others. Make sure you have white lights for the front of your bike and red lights for the rear. Several different lights that flash in different patterns are recommended.
Many bicycle-related crashes resulting in injury or death are associated with the bicyclist’s behavior, including such things as not wearing a bicycle helmet, riding into a street without stopping, turning left or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind, running a stop sign, and riding the wrong way in traffic. To maximize your safety, always wear a helmet AND follow the rules of the road.
