Bicycle Safety Is a Team Sport

A Sense Of Humor Defensive Driving

7920 Glenview DriveRichland Hills TX 76180

(817) 577-8854

If you are like me, you like to get some exercise by

riding your bicycle.

And if you are like me, your number one concern when riding your bicycle is the danger that cars and

trucks pose to your personal safety.

Bicycle vs. Vehicle

Traffic laws dictate that drivers must

pass bicyclists at a safe distance.

Unfortunately for some drivers, their idea of a safe

distance is very little distance at all.

I know some people that have given up riding bikes because they are simply too frightenedto contend with this danger.

To be honest, some cyclists

break the rules and this frustrates

drivers.

In order to safely coexist, it requires both cyclists and

drivers to work together with mutual respect for each

other.

So if you want to do your part

asa cyclist, what should you do?

Bicycle Safety

Respectful cyclists yield to drivers when it is required.

They occupy the correct lane at intersections, they wear

reflective gear, use lights when riding at night,

and they obey the traffic laws.

As for drivers, I think it is

important that they keep in

mind just how vulnerable

those riding a bicycle are to potential injury.

My bike does not have air bags, reinforced bumpers, or video cameras with sensors to

warn me of potential danger.

A collision or fall at virtually

any speed could cause

severe injuries to anyone riding a bicycle.

I want to get home safely, just like drivers do.

Drivers need to keep a watchful

eye out for bikers when theysee them on the road.

It is important to understand that bikers have a different

set of concerns than drivers, because sometimes the biker is looking somewhere else

than down the road.

When I am riding, I often look down at the road in

search of potholes, broken glass or other debris.

I also keep a watchful eye on parked cars and potential

occupants opening doors that could be a hazard to my safety.

At these moments, my eyes are not on moving traffic that

is around me, and I am counting on drivers to keep an eye on

me.

With this in mind, drivers should never make a turn in front of a someone riding a bicycle unless

they are absolutely sure that the cyclist has seen them, and the cyclist is aware of the action that the driver is about to take.

Furthermore, some drivers wonder why bicyclists don't

signal when they make a turn.

The simple answer is that taking a hand off of the handlebars can cause instability for the cyclist.

What drivers should look for is the rider on the bicycle leaning

into the direction that they intend to turn.

This action should be enough of an indicator for the driverto anticipate the bicyclists

intended change in direction.

With patience, mutual respect and curtsey, I can enjoy riding my bicycle and drivers can get where they are going without

any fuss.

Together we, those that ride a bicycle and those driving in vehicles, can share the road

safely and happily.

Thank you for listening to Defensive Driving Dallas. For more information on this and other subjects, please visit us

at:DefensiveDrivingDallas1.com/

BlogA Sense Of Humor Defensive Driving

7920 Glenview DriveRichland Hills TX 76180

(817) 577-8854