10 TIPS FOR THE URBAN CYCLIST
Urban cycling does not have to become an extreme sport. As with any other vehicle or even as a pedestrian, we are exposed to an accident at any time. However, if we circulate in a responsible manner we can reduce risks considerably. Here we share 10 tips to pedal more safely and enjoy more pedaling-
1. Check the Bike Before Exit The first thing we have to do before going out to shoot is to check that the bike is in good condition. It is important to review: ● ● ● ● ●
Tire pressure Brakes Chain and changes Lights Seat height
2. Carry a Basic Kit of Tools and Spare Parts You never know when a tire will flat out or you will have to make some minor adjustment or repair to the bicycle. It is highly recommended that we always leave the house with our basic toolkit. It is not nice to have to interrupt our trip for a small detail that would be easy to solve with the right tools-
3. Circulate through Your Lane The bicycle is a vehicle and like automobiles, it has the right to circulate on public roads (streets, avenues, etc). The bicycle must travel in the lane on the far right. If you drive faster than best bike us and other vehicles in the right lane, you can change lanes to pass. Sometimes it is possible to drive slightly loaded to the right of the lane to allow the passing of the cars. However, we have the right to take the entire lane.
4. Respect Signals of Stop and Ceda el Paso It is very important that whenever we see a sign indicating "Stop" or "Give way" we respect it. For safety, we have to stop and make sure that other vehicles or pedestrians do not come before continuing on our way-
5. Respect Benches and Pedestrian Crossings The sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, as the name says, are for the use of pedestrians. If for some reason you have to get on the sidewalk or pedestrian crossing, it is best to get off the bike and walk
6. Stay Always Visible A large number of collisions occur because the cyclist is not seen on time or because he is not seen at all. Many times drivers do not pay attention to the road. ● ● ● ● ●
Wear brightly colored clothing Reflective Vest Lights Circular in the sense of the roads Circular through the center of the lane
7. Set Before Turning, Changing the Lane or Joining the Road Flow Before performing any of these maneuvers we have to see that we have enough space to do it. If possible, it is important to establish eye contact with other drivers to make sure they have seen us
8. Road Communication It is important that we convey our intentions to the other users. If we let them know that we are going to change lanes, turn or stop, we can avoid mishaps. A good system to achieve this is through manual signals. It is not enough to make the signal and that's it. Before carrying out our maneuver we must signal with time, at a safe distance and make sure that we have been seen-
9. Do not pass by the Right Side Like any vehicle, when passing, we will have to do it on the left side. Especially when the traffic light is red, it is easy to want to get ahead on the right side. Besides that the space to pass can be quite small, we can find obstacles such as sewers. Remember that passengers from both private vehicles and public transport are more likely to descend from these and do so from this side-
10. No Reactions Aggressively Before an Uninformed Motorist There is a lack of huge traffic culture so it is not uncommon to meet poorly informed drivers who do not know the rights of cyclists to drive on roads. Sometimes we may receive the typical: "get on the sidewalk" or some other type of aggression. Ideally, do not react abrasively. Greet him, give him a smile or just ignore him. This usually confuses them and may make them reconsider-
Last words‌. Following these 10 tips will minimize the risks, you will be able to travel more peacefully and enjoy your trip. The bicycle can be quite safe if you are responsible and you learn to share the ways with other users. We are all ambassadors of the bike. You have to lead by example! ...Thanks to all