Safe Riding Tips

Help us make it better for bicycling

There’s the law.
It says what a bicyclist must do and what a driver must do. It says who has the right of way. More

Then there’s what you should do to not get into a crash.
If you are the bike rider, it might be more important to avoid the crash than to have the right of way and still be hit. More

Bicyclists do make mistakes.
Drivers avoid crashes by anticipating those mistakes… defensive driving. More

Drivers make mistakes.
Bicyclists avoid crashes by anticipating what a driver will do wrong…defensive bicycling.

The Top Twelve

1. Never ride against traffic.	Ride with traffic, on the right, just like cars do.
2. Use hand signals for turns.	Are you SURE you know your hand signals? More
3. Never pass on the right.	But ride as far to the right as practicable. See discussion
4. Yield to pedestrians—always.	On sidewalks and at crosswalks!
5. Follow all traffic signs and lights— bikes are vehicles.	This means stop signs, right-turn-only lanes, one-way streets, and more!
6. Be visible.	Wear brightly colored clothing. At night, use reflective materials and lights. Ride where traffic can see you.
7. Ride predictably.	Ride in a straight line and do not weave in and out between parked cars. The more predictable you are, the more drivers will respect you.
8. Wear your helmet, and wear it properly.	See how
9. Ride single file.	Riding side by side is social, but isn’t a good idea in very many places. More
10. Use a light at night.	Seeing where you are going is the smaller part. Being visible is HUGE.
11. Look for drivers in parked cars.	Be ready for a car door to open or the car to move out into traffic.
12. Establish eye contact with drivers.	Seeing a driver is not enough. Be sure drivers see you.