BIKE SAFETY

Bike Safety

Communicate!

Bikes are nice and quiet. Pedestrians or cyclists cannot hear you coming from behind. Let them know you are approaching or passing so they don’t suddenly move into your path. Many accidents on group rides, bike paths, and commutes are due to failure to communicate intentions. Sound off loudly before passing, or use a bell. Call out, "on your left" and pass on the left.

Signal your turns and stops with hand signals

Communicate with motorists by making eye contact, using brief hand signals when safe to do so, or head nods, and by maintaining your direction of travel and lane position even when stopping at lights, so others can tell which way you will be going when the light turns green. Be predictable.

Be Visible! Be Bright!

Camouflage is for mountain biking. For road riding, be bright! Don’t blend in with the pavement. For daytime riding, solid bright yellow, dayglow orange, screaming yellow-green, and white are most visible. After dark, all colors turn to shades of gray. Try out these colors in a dark room and look in a mirror.

Use a light at night!

To be seen in darkness by motorists you need to be reflective and you need to light up. WA law requires a white headlight and a red rear reflector. That is not enough. Use a bright red flashing rear light too, and wear reflective clothing, preferably on sides, front and rear like the safety vests worn by ferry and road crew workers. At dawn or dusk or on cloudy days, when car lights are looking bright, it’s time to turn on your lights.

Use a light in the daytime

Using a light in the daytime helps you be more visible or noticeable to drivers, even in daytime.

Be aware!

Keep your head up, and stay aware of the road surface and other vehicles. Watch and listen for other vehicles. Don’t wear earphones while riding (and don’t use a cellphone!)

Watch drivers and cars!

When passing parked cars, watch though rear windows and in rear view mirrors for drivers who may be about to open a door or start moving. Watch turn signals. Watch drivers’ eyes to see if they see you. Be aware of traffic at driveways. Slow down and be ready to brake if you are not sure that a motorist is aware of you.

No Peek-a-Boo!

When riding on streets with parked cars, stay about 4 feet from the cars whenever possible, to avoid getting "doored". When there are short stretches with no parked cars, and at intersections, maintain the same lane position instead of moving in toward the curb, so drivers behind you can still see you. This also gives drivers ahead who are coming out of driveways behind parked cars, or moving out of a parking space, a much longer angle of vision in which they can see you.

Watch for road debris!

Beware of loose gravel especially on downhill curves, and watch for glass and other debris on the pavement. Watch for branches, sunken or wide grates, potholes, rocks, soft spots, and ruts. Watch for wide paving joints or cracks parallel to your path that could catch and grab a narrow bike tire.

Cross rails carefully!

Look out for railroad tracks and cross them at right angles. Tracks can be slippery, bumpy, and grabby. Slow down, raise yourself off your seat and stand on your pedals to absorb the shock and lower the center of gravity. Watch out for other riders and let those behind know of your intentions. Angled tracks and low shoulders are major causes of accidents.

Ride As Far Right As is Safe

Leave space between yourself and the curb or road edge. Leave enough space between yourself and others and/or parked cars to be able to dodge obstacles or potholes safely. Don’t hug the right edge of the road, the most likely spot for debris.

Ride Straight, Ride Right

When riding on the road, ride in a straight line, as far to the right as is safe, leaving space to avoid car doors, and don’t weave in and out between parked cars.

ABC Quick Check

Conduct an "ABC quick check" before every ride: Air in tires, brakes working, chains cranks, and cassette functioning properly, quick release levers tight. Then check the bike for loose or broken parts.

[TOP]

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BIKE SAFETY Bicycle Ambassador Program Ride SMART Give 3 Feet Single File Is Safer	Bike Safety Communicate! Bikes are nice and quiet. Pedestrians or cyclists cannot hear you coming from behind. Let them know you are approaching or passing so they don’t suddenly move into your path. Many accidents on group rides, bike paths, and commutes are due to failure to communicate intentions. Sound off loudly before passing, or use a bell. Call out, "on your left" and pass on the left. Signal your turns and stops with hand signals Communicate with motorists by making eye contact, using brief hand signals when safe to do so, or head nods, and by maintaining your direction of travel and lane position even when stopping at lights, so others can tell which way you will be going when the light turns green. Be predictable. Be Visible! Be Bright! Camouflage is for mountain biking. For road riding, be bright! Don’t blend in with the pavement. For daytime riding, solid bright yellow, dayglow orange, screaming yellow-green, and white are most visible. After dark, all colors turn to shades of gray. Try out these colors in a dark room and look in a mirror. Use a light at night! To be seen in darkness by motorists you need to be reflective and you need to light up. WA law requires a white headlight and a red rear reflector. That is not enough. Use a bright red flashing rear light too, and wear reflective clothing, preferably on sides, front and rear like the safety vests worn by ferry and road crew workers. At dawn or dusk or on cloudy days, when car lights are looking bright, it’s time to turn on your lights. Use a light in the daytime Using a light in the daytime helps you be more visible or noticeable to drivers, even in daytime. Be aware! Keep your head up, and stay aware of the road surface and other vehicles. Watch and listen for other vehicles. Don’t wear earphones while riding (and don’t use a cellphone!) Watch drivers and cars! When passing parked cars, watch though rear windows and in rear view mirrors for drivers who may be about to open a door or start moving. Watch turn signals. Watch drivers’ eyes to see if they see you. Be aware of traffic at driveways. Slow down and be ready to brake if you are not sure that a motorist is aware of you. No Peek-a-Boo! When riding on streets with parked cars, stay about 4 feet from the cars whenever possible, to avoid getting "doored". When there are short stretches with no parked cars, and at intersections, maintain the same lane position instead of moving in toward the curb, so drivers behind you can still see you. This also gives drivers ahead who are coming out of driveways behind parked cars, or moving out of a parking space, a much longer angle of vision in which they can see you. Watch for road debris! Beware of loose gravel especially on downhill curves, and watch for glass and other debris on the pavement. Watch for branches, sunken or wide grates, potholes, rocks, soft spots, and ruts. Watch for wide paving joints or cracks parallel to your path that could catch and grab a narrow bike tire. Cross rails carefully! Look out for railroad tracks and cross them at right angles. Tracks can be slippery, bumpy, and grabby. Slow down, raise yourself off your seat and stand on your pedals to absorb the shock and lower the center of gravity. Watch out for other riders and let those behind know of your intentions. Angled tracks and low shoulders are major causes of accidents. Ride As Far Right As is Safe Leave space between yourself and the curb or road edge. Leave enough space between yourself and others and/or parked cars to be able to dodge obstacles or potholes safely. Don’t hug the right edge of the road, the most likely spot for debris. Ride Straight, Ride Right When riding on the road, ride in a straight line, as far to the right as is safe, leaving space to avoid car doors, and don’t weave in and out between parked cars. ABC Quick Check Conduct an "ABC quick check" before every ride: Air in tires, brakes working, chains cranks, and cassette functioning properly, quick release levers tight. Then check the bike for loose or broken parts. [TOP]

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