A great bike tip for beginning cyclist families is to not cycle in the street if you aren’t aware of the top five things to know before cycling in the streets.
It’s important to consider that you’re not protected by the body of a car when dealing with intersections before transitioning from sidewalks to the street.
You still have to signal your turns and follow the cyclist rules of the road to ensure the public’s safety and wellbeing.
How To Signal
Knowing how to signal is going to be the easiest thing to learn before biking in the street. If you’re already an intense cyclist, you probably already utilize blinkers, so there’s no need for extra physical exertion. If not, the easiest way to communicate with cars is by using your hands as blinkers.
The easiest way to communicate with other bikers is the same, but just if they cannot see you, you can announce a biker is coming up on the side you are on. When riding in a bike lane, the same rules of the road apply to how many bikes can be in a single lane.
This means you must signal to pass the other cyclists, and you can only pass them on the left-hand side!
Riding With Traffic
Ridding with traffic is one of the top five things to know before cycling in the streets! Your ride’s direction is critical because you do not want to cycle against oncoming traffic and possibly get hit or cause an accident.
During heavy, slow-moving traffic is the only time it’s okay to ride in the middle, to ensure that you’re seen and that no one cuts you off! When riding with traffic, be confident so you are respected on the road.
How To Navigate Intersections
Navigating your bike through an intersection is crucial because you don’t want to sustain any injuries or have your car and cyclist insurance go up. At crossroads, it’s important to remember how you approach and exit, as well as how to react in a timely fashion.
Your Route
Although there are no laws against using your phone and cycling, we know you wouldn’t risk your life over a text! Knowing your route will prevent the hassle of locating and using your phone while cycling.
Trying to use a GPS while keeping both hands on the wheel and focusing on the road is quite difficult. A great alternative is to install a phone mount on your bicycle if you and your family often take longer biking paths.
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When To Yield
Knowing when you yield to pedestrians and bikers will assist you all with approaching intersections, help avoid preemptively signaling, and prevent your brakes from wearing thin. Of course, it’s critical to remember that you still have to yield at yellow lights and stop signs too!
However, yielding will prevent bikes from flipping over, body aches and pain, and bike collisions. After mastering these five things, you and your family will be professional street cyclists who integrate seamlessly with cars on the road!
Image Credit: before cycline in the streets by envato.com
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