| Learning to balance without training wheels is only the | | | | wearing reflective materials or attaching a flashing light |
| first skill that bicyclists must acquire. Obeying traffic | | | | to your bicycle will make you more visible to cars |
| laws, riding in bad weather and avoiding dog bites are | | | | turning onto main streets or exiting driveways. |
| only some of the important skills urban cyclists need to | | | | 3. Be very cautious at red lights. Bicyclists have been |
| stay safe. Perhaps the most vital of all of these skills is | | | | killed while waiting for a light to change while standing |
| learning how to share the road with motor vehicles. | | | | to the right of a car. Sometimes the car will turn right |
| Unfortunately, many motorists are so preoccupied with | | | | without signaling, and you may not be visible to the |
| keeping an eye out for other cars that they fail to | | | | driver. This is especially dangerous when standing to |
| notice cyclists and pedestrians. In 2003, 662 bicyclists | | | | the right of trucks or other large automobiles. It is |
| were killed in collisions with automobiles. In addition to | | | | generally safest to wait for a light to change while |
| wearing a helmet and obeying the law, here are some | | | | standing behind the car ahead of you, not to its side. |
| tips that can help you avoid car accidents while riding | | | | 4. Only use a sidewalk when you are sure it is the |
| your bicycle. | | | | best option. If your city has bicycle lanes, take |
| 1. Get a bicycle horn. Make sure it is loud enough to be | | | | advantage of them. If not, you may still be safer on the |
| audible to people in cars. In some countries, such as | | | | side of the road then on the sidewalk. It seems |
| the UK, bicycles are actually legally required to have | | | | counterintuitive, perhaps, but crossing a street from the |
| bells or horns. If a car pulls out in front of you because | | | | sidewalk is a dangerous scenario because a driver |
| the driver does not see you, a horn could save your | | | | turning onto that street may not see you. However, on |
| life. | | | | very busy roads, a sidewalk may still be your safest |
| 2. Get a headlight. Many different kinds of headlights | | | | option. Weigh the pros and cons carefully. |
| are available that can be attached to the front of your | | | | For more information about bicycle and car collisions, |
| bicycle, your helmet, or even a strap to wear around | | | | contact Chicago bicycle accident attorneys Friedman |
| your forehead. This is obviously useful at night, when it | | | | & Bonebrake. |
| will greatly increase your visibility. Even during the day, | | | | |