Bicycling Safely

By Dean Schott

Bicycle safety is a matter of faith, the same faith we rely on when we drive a car. We know the risks. We know the rules of the road, and we know how not to put ourselves in danger behind the wheel. We routinely use our cars to go to work, go shopping and take long trips without much forethought because driving is second nature to us.

Through experience and understanding the risks of the road, millions of people can and do bicycle just as safely as we drive a car. Since 1993, the annual number of bicycle mishaps and deaths has fallen, according to the Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center. This has occurred even as more people have discovered the fun and health benefits of bicycling. Federal statistics indicate that upwards of 40 million Americans ride a bicycle at least once a month.

To help ensure safety, cyclists, like motorists, should obey the rules of the road, such as traveling in the same direction as the flow of traffic, obeying traffic lights and stops signs and using hand signals when turning or slowing down. Under Illinois law, cyclists should ride as close to the right hand curb or roadway edge as practical, except when passing another cyclist, making a left turn or when it becomes necessary to avoid hazards or other objects in the road.

Beyond following the rules of the road, the keys to bicycle safety are seeing and being seen. While riding, a cyclist should always be alert to the road ahead and behind for any potential dangers that can be avoided before it's too late, just like any experienced motorist would. Small potholes, uneven pavement, holes in storm grates, car doors opening and debris, such as loose gravel and small bits of broken glass, can endanger a rider.

Because the average person on a bicycle takes up only about three feet of space from side to side and about six feet from top to bottom, being seen by motorists is paramount to riding safely. Riding closer to traffic may not seem the safest thing to do, but it does make a cyclist more visible to drivers who can adjust and proceed safely by you.

During the day, a cyclist should wear bright colors or a red and yellow triangle used by slow-moving vehicles on the road. At night, use lights front and back and wear reflective clothing. By doing these things, the cyclist can in many cases prevent a motorist from saying "I didn't see him" -- a common refrain after traffic mishaps of all kinds.

On busy city streets or highways, ride single file when riding with others. It's a bad idea and unlawful to ride two and three abreast on a busy road while causing traffic to back up behind you or forcing a motorist to pull into the opposite lane to pass. Riding two or more abreast can trigger an ugly road rage incident between motorists and cyclists. Both motorists and cyclists should share the road and be respectful of the other.

That said, riding in a group can be fun and done safely. Group riders routinely call out "car back" or "car up" to alert other cyclists of approaching traffic. Also, cyclists call out or point to hazards as they occur, such as potholes, loose gravel, pedestrians or dogs.

Many cyclists worry about being hit by a vehicle from the rear, but statistics show this one of the least likely mishaps to occur. According to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, the most frequent crashes involving bicyclists in descending order are:

• A motorist who fails to yield the right of way at an intersection, driveway or alley or runs a stop sign or flashing red light.
• A cyclist who fails to yield at a stop sign or flashing red light. About one third of these incidents involve the cyclist stopping, then proceeding through the intersection and being struck by a motorist
• A motorist turning or merging into the path of a cyclist. Almost half of the crashes involve a motorist making a left turn in front of a cyclist approaching in the opposite direction.
• A cyclist failing to yield when leaving a residential or commercial driveway or entering a street in the middle of the block. Most of these incidents occur when a cyclist rides into the roadway from a residential driveway.
• A motorist not seeing a cyclist or misjudging the distance between the car and a cyclist. Many of these crashes happen because a motorist misjudges the space to safely pass a bicycle.
• A cyclist turning into the path of a car. About 60 percent of these incidents involve a cyclist making a left turn in front of a motorist traveling in the same direction.

Based on this information, there's much a cyclist can do to become safety conscious and avoid danger. Just as motorists are advised to drive defensively, so should cyclists ride. To help insure safety on a bicycle, follow these other suggestions:

• Even with the right of way, a cyclist should be sure that an intersection is clear before proceeding through it. If a cyclist ahead of you goes through an intersection safely, don't automatically assume it will be safe for you. Check both ways and listen before crossing any intersection, alley or driveway or leaving a driveway to enter the street.
• Cyclists should ride in a straight line and not weave around parked cars. Riding in a straight line is predictable and doesn't leave motorists guessing what your next move might be.
• Ride about three feet away from a parked car to avoid being hit by an opening door.
• Don't take unnecessary chances, such as racing to get through a changing traffic light.
• Learn how to look back to check on traffic without veering your bicycle or have a rear view mirror installed on your bicycle or on your helmet.
• Be courteous to motorists and make positive impressions so that motorists learn to accept all cyclists sharing the road.
• Always wear a bicycle helmet and wear it correctly for the best protection.

For information on riding safely and bicycling in Illinois , go to the website of the League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB): www.bikelib.org. The LIB is a statewide advocacy voice for all Illinois bicyclists and promotes bicycle access, education and safety.

(Dean Schott lives in Glenview, Illinois, rides regularly on and off road and is a LIB member. If readers have comments or question about bicycling, they can send an e-mail to: schottcycle@aol.com.)

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A Microsoft^® Word version of this press release is available.