5 Bicycle Tips For Florida Riders

Cycling is a popular activity for residents and visitors of Florida. The weather is perfect for the activity, not to mention the many biking trails up and down the state. Besides, cycling is a great physical exercise for fitness enthusiasts and is also friendly to the environment. Cyclists use their bicycles to beat traffic and arrive at their workplaces on time. Others use bicycles to run errands in the cities and towns, while others ride bicycles for just fun of it. Like other road users, bicycle riders also face challenges key among them road accidents. In this article, read about 5 Bicycle Safety Tips for Florida Riders, the common causes of bicycle accidents, and read how you can get compensation following a bicycle accident.

5 Bicycle Safety Tips for Florida Riders

If you are a rider, you want to ensure you get back home safely after a riding expedition. Riding is a fun activity, but can things can turn upside down pretty quickly if drivers get negligent or riders fail to protect themselves on the road. Here are a few tips you can use to stay safe on the road.

Get the Right Riding Gear

Use the right gear to ride. These include always wearing a helmet, a reflective material, riding gloves, and appropriate shoes. A helmet protects your head in case of involvement in an accident while a reflective bib allows drivers and other road users to notice you and make necessary judgments. A riding glove is essential to protect your palm after a fall. The right shoes protect your feet when you hit the ground with unusual force.

Avoid Distractions

Keep distractions to a minimum whenever you are on your bicycle. Distractions may come in form of using a mobile phone or staring at sideshows hence affecting how you make effective decisions on the road. Also, avoid headphones, as they may lead to an inability to coordinate your body-hand movements.

Be Predictable

As much as you can, try to ride in a straight line in order to be predictable by other road users. Weaving and waving on the road multiplies the danger to you and other road users. Also, remember to use signs as much as possible. Gesture to drivers and other road users to help them know your next move and respond accordingly.

Know and Plan Your Route

Riding in unfamiliar routes may be challenging, unlike riding in paths you are familiar with. Know the details of the route you are planning to use, such as the distance, terrain, and traffic. You can also find out if the route will be used for other events around the time you plan to ride. Busy roads increase riders’ vulnerability to accidents. Determine the best route depending on your riding experience.

Shoulder Check

Use shoulder checks to evaluate the traffic situation and reposition yourself. Use the first shoulder check to evaluate the traffic situation and to communicate to other of your intention to change your position. A second shoulder check allows you to make your move safely, such as entering a junction, changing lanes and making sharp turns.

Cause of Bicycle Accidents

Different factors cause bicycle accidents. Much as they may deny it, reckless driving is the major cause of bicycle accidents. Knowing the specific cause of a bicycle accident is important in order to enable you to hold those responsible for the accident to account. Here are the principal causes of bicycle accidents.

Distracted Driving

When drivers are distracted in their driving, they are likely to cause an accident. Distracted driving is a major cause of bicycle accidents as drivers fail to spot cyclists or notice them when it’s too late to do something. Common causes of distraction are text driving, dialing phone numbers, speaking over the phone without the use of aids, and the urge to catch up with social media.

Speeding

Speeding among drivers is another major cause of bicycle accidents. When drivers are speeding beyond stipulated limits, it limits the time they need to make quick decisions on the road. Speeding prevents drivers from stopping when they need to, and this may cause hitting and injuring a bicycle rider. Speeding can be doubly dangerous when driving in residential neighborhoods where cyclists love to pedal.

Weaving Through Traffic

When drivers are weaving their way through traffic, they are more likely to fail to spot a cyclist and end up hitting them. Weaving drivers may also drift into the cycling lanes or road shoulders, hence endangering the safety of cyclists.

Following Cyclists Too Closely

Drivers who fail to provide an adequate buffer between themselves and cyclists create dangerous situations. These drivers are likely to hit cyclists and affect cyclists ability to avoid collisions, enter junctions, or change lanes.

Have you or your friend been involved in a bicycle accident? Get in touch with us and let’s get you the fair and deserving compensation by the insurance companies involved.