Cars are the greatest threat to your safety on the road. Understanding how to ride around cars could protect your life, and help you enjoy your ride. This article gives some advice about living with cars on the road:
Follow the rules of the road.
Bicycles are considered vehicles in the State of Utah. Therefore, all cyclists are required to obey traffic signs and lane markers. Follow all traffic laws and stay in bicycle lanes when available.
Use Hand Signals
Utah law requires you to use hand signals. They help you communicate with traffic around you. Giving timely hand signals will help a motorist know your intensions.
Don’t use headphones while cycling.
As nice as it is to listen to music while cycling, you need to be able to hear what is going on around you. Listing to your Ipod or other media player can compromise your safety, especially in urban areas with heavy traffic. Part of being safe around cars is always knowing where they are around you. Listening will help you understand your surroundings better.
Keep yourself visible.
Being visible is imperative to your safety. You can keep yourself visible by:
- wearing colorful and bright clothing. Avoid wearing darker clothes that could help you blend in with the road.
- equip your bicycle with reflectors. Reflectors will increase your chances of being seen at night.
- avoid riding in blind spots. Never assume that the driver sees you. If you are riding in a motorist’s blind spot, chances are they don’t see you. When riding next to a car, slow down so you are certain that you are visible in their mirrors.
Always ride with traffic.
Utah law prohibits cyclists to ride against the flow of traffic. Cars don’t expect to see you coming towards them. Cycling on the right side of the road will help you to maneuver properly and safely.
As Utah’s best bicycle attorneys, we strive to help cyclists stay safe on the road. We provide you with a free book with tips on how to stay safe and what to do when you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident.