Now that the weather has finally warmed up, it’s time to take advantage of our beautiful community! One great way to experience nature and get some exercise is to break out your bicycle. You can ride around your neighborhood, take a trip to a local park, or even get in the habit of taking your bike to work.
No matter where you decide to go, make sure that you gear up for bicycle safety.
Wear The Right Safety Gear
The first rule of bike safety is always the same – never ride your bike without the proper safety gear. Don’t leave home without these pieces of equipment:
- Your helmet.
- Bright or reflective clothing.
- A bike bell and front and rear bike lights.
- Gloves and sunglasses.
- A cell phone (preferably one with GPS).
- Identification and some money for emergencies.
If you ensure that you have all these things with you when you use your bicycle, you will reduce your risk of injury, and you will be ready for any situation that may present itself.
Make Sure That Your Route Is ‘Bike-able’
When you consider taking a ride, you should first ask yourself these four questions to assess the safety of your intended path:
- Is there room for you to bike? A path, sidewalk, bicycle lane, or wide road shoulder provides bicyclists a safe place to ride.
- How is the condition of the road? A road with an uneven surface, excessive potholes, debris, rumble strips, or broken pavement can be an unsafe place to take a bicycle.
- Is it easy to use your bike? Routes that have lots of hills, or where you ride by unleashed dogs or unsupervised children can be dangerous.
- Is your destination bike friendly? Only bike somewhere if there is a safe place to leave your bike when you arrive. Also, make sure that there is an easy way to get yourself and your bike home if there is an emergency or you cannot ride, such as a bike-friendly bus or train.
If your route passes these 4 tests, then it is a good route to take. If not, you may want to consider a different path, or a different mode of transportation.
Keep Your Bike Properly Maintained
Also make sure that you occasionally check your bicycle to make sure that it is safe to ride. Here’s a quick checklist of what you need to do:
- Check that your seat, handlebars, and wheels aren’t loose.
- Regularly check your chain and oil.
- Test your brakes to make sure that they work properly and don’t stick.
- Examine your tires to make sure that their pressure is at the recommended level.
If you have any questions about bike safety or maintenance, remember to call or drop in on our friends over at Ashmont Cycles in Dorchester. They can answer all of your bike-related questions!
And remember, Vargas and Vargas Insurance will be raffling off a “Street Cruiser” bike from Ashmont Cycles at the opening of the Dorchester Farmer’s Markey on Friday, June 21st, so don’t miss out! Stay tuned to the Vargas & Vargas Insurance Agency Facebook Page for more information.
Photo credit: Michael Bentley / Foter.com / CC BY
