Bicycling is one of the favorite vehicles for millions of people around the world and lately, it has become one of the most efficient ways to move through jam-packed roads. Once you decide to use a bicycle as a means of transportation, it means that you will actively participate in the traffic. Unfortunately, bicycle accidents are not rare and some even have fatal endings. With the aim to ensure your safety, we have prepared a shortlist of tips and tricks on how to avoid legal pitfalls while traveling on your bicycle.
Good Road Positioning
Unfortunately, not all cities and towns have enough bicycle infrastructure, such as separated bike lanes, which means cyclists will be forced to ride on a busy road. This is why you must maintain proper road positioning in order to remain safe. You must ride your bicycle as close to the gutter as possible since this will maximise your visibility to automobiles and protect you from charges such as the failure of drivers to notice you on the road. Driving off the gutter also allows you to avoid slick drain covers, debris on the side of the road, potholes, and other hazards.
Keep Hands on the Brakes
Riding with your hands off brakes can be quite tricky. Unless you are a very skilful cyclist and know how to move your hands quickly to the brake levers, you should always have your hands covering the brake levers. Make sure that you are ready to use your brakes at every moment and you know how to use them properly. The best thing you can do is to apply even pressure on both of your brakes. Beware of the weather conditions and be extra cautious if the road is wet, icy, or there are some leaves on the road that can be incredibly slippery.
Road Awareness
Road awareness is one of the top skills you need to develop while riding a bike. Most of the cyclists, 7 out of 10 to be precise, got accused of traffic accidents and if you ever encounter these problems, you should visit bestbicycleaccidentlawyer.com and see why you need cyclist attorneys that are specialised in this branch of law. Especially, in today’s era where the trend of e-bikes is popular, riders often get into accidents where they bear severe injuries due to someone else’s fault. In such cases, you must seek compensation with the help of an e-bike accident lawyer. Wondering how these lawyers build personal injury cases? You can learn more here. One of the most common causes of bicycle accidents is poor road orientation. This means that you should beware of all surfaces that can cause you problems like rough surfaces, potholes and puddles, drain covers, parked vehicles, and road humps. By mastering these, then you will be better prepared for the junctures, roundabouts, and will spot traffic lights easily. You will be able to spot possible problems and avoid them in advance.
Beware of Lorries
Never undertake lorries. It is more than tempting to use the bicycle as the transportation means for getting to your work, but you must be extra cautious of left-turning lorries that are always the source of risk for cyclists. This is because of the blind spots that are characteristic of lorries. Most lorries have blind spots on the passenger side which means that if you are cycling on the left side there are high chances that the lorry driver cannot see you and that they can undertake manoeuvres that can put you in seriously risky situations. This means that you need to be extra cautious when approaching the rear of the lorry and not to undertake them. This appears to be impossible at times since the lane designated for taxis, best hybrid bikes under 500, and buses move quicker than the lanes designated for vehicles and lorries. So, if the traffic in these lanes is stopped, you’ll end up overtaking the vehicles anyhow. However, you should avoid attempting to forecast whether or not the lorry will turn because they may turn without warning.
Stay Visible in Dark
You should be acquainted with the law of lighting up. According to the law, cyclists must install lights on the front side of the bicycle and one on the rear of their cycles; switched between sunrise and sunlight; the front light must be white and the rare one should be red. It is smart to use lights whenever the weather conditions are not favorable, like fog. If you are planning to ride your bike during the night, it is recommended to have a spare set of lights if the one you are already using fails.
Besides the fact that bicycles are incredibly beneficial to your health and that they are the fastest way to get through the traffic nowadays, you must make sure that you know the law and how to ride the bike safely.
