When I was a kid, my parents would only let me ride my bike in the backyard or on the side street. I wasn’t allowed to ride on the busier streets where cars might not see me. There’s no side street for me to stay on anymore. I have places to go and need to use my bike as transportation.
Being on the road as a cyclist can be scary and dangerous. Cars fly by at much higher speeds than a bicycle and this could mean disaster if one of you isn’t following the rules. Bike safety is a two-way street, meaning there are guidelines for both cyclists and drivers.
Let’s first start with the responsibilities of the cyclist:
- Ride on the right with the flow of traffic. If you ride against traffic, drivers may not see you.
- Obey traffic signals, signs and laws.
- Ride in the bike lane if there is one available. Sidewalks are also acceptable most of the time, but avoid pedestrians and make sure that cars can still see you.
- Use hand signals to communicate your next move. Continue reading
Two Wheelin' Tempe 