While bike lanes and better infrastructure are key factors in making sure bicyclists are safe, you can take steps right now to give yourself some extra protection.
• Wear a helmet, and make sure it's properly fitted. You can ask a bike shop to make sure you have the right size and are wearing it properly.
• Front and back lights are a must — plus they're the law. Jamie McDonald of Sunrise Cyclery suggests blinking lights for maximum visibility.
• The Centers for Disease Control recommends wearing fluorescent clothing during the day and retro-reflective clothing at night. You could get reflective stickers to mark up your bike, backpack and helmet, or consider wearing a reflective vest or arm and leg bands.
• Get a bicycle mirror, which can be attached to your bike or helmet or even worn as a wristwatch.
• Bike bells can alert pedestrians or other bicyclists that you are about to pass. Or just remember to call out "On your left!" — especially on busy trails.
• Ride predictably. Go with traffic, not against it, use hand signals, and don't weave in and out of traffic. While it might seem safer to bike on the sidewalk, it's actually more dangerous because cars might not be looking for someone faster than a pedestrian in the crosswalks. Stick to bike lanes and bike boulevards when you can, and stay confident.
Sheila Regan
