Bike Riding Safety Tips for New and Experienced Riders
How to stay safe and protect your health while cycling
During the depths of the coronavirus pandemic and associated lockdowns people turned to cycling in record numbers. According to People for Bikes, a bicycling advocacy organization, 34 percent of Americans rode bikes in 2022 (PDF), which is more than in 2018 and 2016 (both 32 percent). Many of these people took up cycling when road traffic was incredibly low, due to people either working at home or having had their work hours severely curtailed.
Now, with those days in the proverbial rearview mirror, both automotive and pedestrian traffic have returned to pre-pandemic levels. In addition, bicycle retailers have been reporting that a majority of those who first started riding during the lockdowns are still cycling. This means it’s important—especially for newer riders who were used to nearly deserted streets—to keep safety in mind when heading out on two wheels.
There’s a reason “it’s as easy as falling off a bike” is an adage. Getting injured while cycling is always a possibility, even if you aren’t traveling at Tour de France speeds. Now there is more motivation than ever to take precautions.
Preride Safety Check
Of course, you need to make sure that the bicycles you and your family are riding have been maintained and are in safe working condition. But you also need some specific safety equipment.
Helmet
In the majority of bicyclist deaths, the most serious injuries are to the head, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This highlights the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. Helmet use has been estimated to reduce the odds of head injury by 50 percent and the odds of head, face, or neck injury by 33 percent.
But helmets don’t last forever. Consumer Reports recommends replacing a helmet every five years—or immediately if you’ve taken a spill and hit your head while wearing it, or if the helmet shows damage like cracking or delamination of the shell or inner foam layer. If you’re unsure of the age of your helmet, or if it has been a while since you’ve bought a helmet for your kids, check out CR’s bicycle helmet buying guide and ratings.
You can find helmets at your local bike shop or order one online. If you already have one, check out how to make sure it fits properly. Before using the helmet, check to make sure that it meets standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Photo: Consumer Reports Photo: Consumer Reports
Lights
It’s best to always use front and rear lights, even during the day. This isn’t to light your way; rather, it’s to make you more visible during daylight hours and especially at dusk and dawn. A forward-facing blinking white light will make you more noticeable to oncoming traffic, while a rear-facing blinking red light will make you visible to traffic behind you. But even with these lights blinking and strobing, assume motorists won’t see you—even if you have the right of way. If you have a need to ride before the sun rises or after it sets, you’ll need high-powered lights to illuminate the road.
Clothes
Wear easily visible cycling clothing, such as a bright yellow, red, orange, or blue jacket or vest, to improve your ability to be seen. Think brighter colors rather than blacks or grays that could be easily overlooked or lost in shadows. Some cycling clothes also come with reflective strips. The key is to be visible by contrasting with your environment. It isn’t a rolling fashion show.
Gloves
A good pair of cycling gloves serves a number of purposes. First, it helps you keep your grip on the handlebars even if you are sweating or riding in the rain. Second, in the event of a fall, gloves will protect your palms; it’s natural to put your hands out when falling, and the impact can scrape them up. Finally, gloves help relieve pressure from the palms and prevent blisters from forming. But it’s okay to ride without them if you’re more comfortable that way.
Eyewear
To protect your eyes from dirt, debris, and sun glare, you can wear safety glasses or sunglasses marketed and sold as cycling-specific ones. Clear (untinted) lenses are good when it’s raining because they’ll protect your eyes but won’t be too dark. Some glasses let you swap in different lenses, so you can choose the appropriate ones, depending on your conditions. You can also get prescription lenses made for these.
Out on the Road
Keep in mind that safety doesn’t just mean protective equipment; it’s also about how cyclists interact with motorists, pedestrians, and other cyclists.
Obey the law. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds cyclists that “a bicycle is a vehicle, and you’re the driver.” This means that cyclists have to follow all traffic laws and obey street signs, signals, and road markings. Ride in the same direction as traffic when cycling on roadways. Running stop signs and other traffic control devices puts you and other cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists in danger.
Stay alert. Remember that potholes, bottles, glass, curbs, and sewer grates pose a bigger risk to cyclists than they do to cars. Keep your eyes up and look far enough ahead of you to make an evasive maneuver or stop in time to avoid a crash. Anticipate that someone may open their parked car door when you’re riding past.
Use hand signals. The only way you are able to interact with traffic is by using hand signals. Both NHTSA and the League of American Bicyclists say that it’s the law to use proper hand signals and that doing so communicates your intentions to turn or stop, making it safer for everyone.
Be predictable. While it’s necessary to avoid obstacles, don’t weave in your travel lane. Inattentive riding and random movements can confuse or unnerve drivers. They may slow and avoid passing you because they don’t know what you are doing. Or they may aggressively pass, putting them, you, and other traffic at risk.
If you do have to avoid an obstacle like a pothole or debris, use a hand signal—if possible—to alert following vehicles that you may have to enter their travel lane
Ride single file. Stay single file no matter where you are riding. This allows traffic to give you 3 feet of space when passing without having to veer into the oncoming lane and lets other cyclists pass you safely on the road. If it’s legal to ride on the sidewalk in your town or city, keep in mind that riding two or three abreast on the sidewalk crowds out pedestrians.
Skip the tech. Whether you’re commuting or interval training, keep off your phone. NHTSA says cyclists should never wear headphones because they hinder their ability to hear traffic. Plus, it can become a distraction if you need to take a hand off the handlebars to change the volume, choose another song, or accept/reject a call on your mobile phone. And just like driving, texting is a major distraction. One slight wobble and even the most experienced cyclist will go down in a heap. You can attach a small saddlebag under the seat or to the frame to stash a phone. This not only keeps it from being a distraction but also prevents you from accidentally dropping the phone.
Be aware of your speed. It’s important for riders who have moved to an electric bicycle (e-bike), to be aware of their speed. Some models can easily travel at 20 mph or more, speeds that would be hard for a new cyclist to achieve when pedaling a conventional bicycle. This adds another level of risk to the equation. Higher speeds mean the rider has less time to slow down or stop. The results of even low-speed crashes—especially when cars and trucks are involved—can be painful and even fatal. A 2019 study in the journal Injury Prevention found—based on an examination of emergency room records—that electric bike riders were more likely to suffer internal injuries than those riding conventional bicycles.
