Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. Articles Safety Tips for Chicago Bicyclists

Safety Tips for Chicago Bicyclists

By Matthew Willens  May. 12, 2015 4:24p

Bicycle riding is a healthy and fun way to travel around the city of Chicago.

However, it is important to remember to ride carefully and safely. Our Mathew Willens bicycle accident attorney from Willens Law Offices will share some important safety tips for bicyclists.

Safety Tips

• Before you take your bicycle for a ride, make sure it is working properly and all parts are secure.

• Always remember to wear a properly fitted helmet. It will protect your brain and save your life in case of a crash.

• Make sure your bicycle is adjusted to fit. The handle bar should be at the same level as the seat, and the seat height should be properly adjusted to allow a bend at the knee when you extend the leg fully. Ensure that there are 1-2 inches between you and the top bar.

• Before you ride the bicycle check if the tires are inflated properly and that the brakes work.

• It is extremely important that you make yourself visible. No matter the time of the day and weather conditions, you should wear clothes that make you visible to other drivers. Wear bright colors and neons when riding. Reflective tapes and flashing lights can make you more visible.

• Do not carry anything in your hand while riding and make sure you have at least one hand on the handle bar at all times.

• Look out for and avoid road hazards such as puddles, potholes, broken glass, dogs, and leaves. These hazards are a common cause of bicycle accidents.

• Unless it is urgent, you should never ride your bicycle at night as it is difficult for others to see you in the dark. If you need to ride during the night time, make sure you have reflectors and markings that tell other drivers about your presence.

Follow this link for additional bicycle safety tips.

Rules of the Road for Bicyclists

• Ride with the traffic flow and do not go against it.

Obey all traffic signals, signs, and lane markings.

Yield to traffic when required. If you are coming from a smaller roadway, as a rule you should slow down and check for any oncoming traffic before proceeding. You must also yield to pedestrians who have entered the crosswalk.

• Always be careful and alert. Watch out for road hazards and traffic you are sharing the roadway with. Do not wear headphones while you are riding the bicycle.

• Always look for any oncoming traffic before turning left or right.

• Even parked cars can pose a hazard, so make sure you keep distance from them to avoid getting hit by the cars pulling out or opening doors.

Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

No matter how safely you ride, there is always a chance that you could become involved in an accident caused by a negligent or aggressive driver. If you are injured in an accident caused by another person’s fault, contact a Willens personal injury law firm Chicago from Willens Law Offices to understand your legal rights.

Free Consultations - (312) 957-4166

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