Ride Smart
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Car Door: Cyclist riding between and next to parked cars on a street and in parking lots runs the risk of impacting car doors opened by drivers. Avoid It: Always look several cars ahead. Ride at least 3 feet from parked cars, taking the lane if necessary. Be prepared to stop suddenly. Keep your weight over your rear wheel and apply strong force to the front brake lever, with moderate force to the back.
Parking Lots: A motorist exits a driveway or parking lot into the path of a bicyclist. Avoid It: No Bike-handling tricks can overcome the danger of riding on the road with numerous parking-lot exits. Just take a less-direct route. If you don’t change routes, follow the law and ride fully in the road. Most of all: Stay off the sidewalk-motorist are not looking for you there.
The Overtaking: When a motorist hits a cyclist from behind. Avoid It: Make yourself as visible as possible and ride predictably. Use reflectors and lights on your bike at night: when moving to the left, signal with your arm: and hold a straight line while checking traffic over your shoulder, because even the most diligent driver could hit a swerving bike.
Left Cross: When a motorist fails to see a cyclist and the motorist makes a left turn in front of you. This type of loss accounts for almost half of all bike-car crashes, according to the Pedestrian and Bicycle information Center (PBIC). Avoid It: If you see a car turning into your path, turn right into the lane with the vehicle. Don’t creep into the intersection at red lights to get a head start..
Right Hook: When a motorist passes a cyclist on the left and turns right into the bike’s path. Avoid It: Passing stopped or slow-moving cars on the right places you in the driver’s blind spot. Take the lane –it’s your right in all 50 states. If you’re in the lane, the driver should slow down and stay behind you and wait to make the turn.
BOTTOM LINE – BE CAREFUL AND BE CAUTIOUS. IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS SUFFERED A LOSS CALL OUR INJURY ATTORNEYS DAY OR NIGHT AT 1-800-862-1260.
