As a bicyclist, you may find yourself on city streets from time to time. For example, this often comes into play for people who commute to and from the office.
If you know you’ll be in this position in the future, here are three tips that can help keep you safe:
— Watch for opening doors. This is one of the biggest risks of urban cycling. As you make your way down the street, a driver or passenger could open his or her door into your pathway. If you don’t see this happening, you could hit the door head on.
— Use hand signals. It only takes a few minutes to learn the hand signal associated with cycling. With this knowledge, you’ll find it much easier to alert drivers of your intentions.
— Beware of pedestrians. Drivers aren’t the only ones who can cause an accident when cycling in the city. You also need to keep a close watch on pedestrians, as these people could get in your way when you least expect it.
These are just a few of the many things you can do to avoid trouble when cycling in the city. Along with these tips, don’t forget to wear protective gear at all times.
If you’re involved in any type of bicycle accident, don’t wait to seek medical attention. Once you’ve been treated and know what types of injuries you’ve suffered, you can then learn more about the accident. This will give you a clear idea if you can file a claim with the idea of receiving compensation.
Source: Bicycling, “5 Safety Pointers for the Urban Cyclist,” accessed March 10, 2017