The bicycle, as a means of transportation and a form of recreation, offers many benefits for individuals, families and the community. Yet many people fail to follow simple, yet fairly obvious safety tips. Here’s a short list of bicycle do’s and dont’s.

Sidewalk riding for bicyclists past the learning stage and being closely supervised by adults can be more dangerous than on the road, obeying traffic laws. It is also illegal unless the community has passed an ordinance specifically permitting sidewalk riding. Sidewalks can be more dangerous due to the number of sight restrictions, driveways and obstacles.

Reflectors and lights make you and your bicycle more visible to car drivers in the dark. Reflective stickers are a great choice because they look cool and make you more visible to people driving cars.

If you ride a recumbent bicycle, make certain you have flags and plenty of reflectors to enhance your visibility. Often recumbent bicycles are harder for motorists to see simple because of their low profile.

Carrying things in your hands and not using your handlebars prohibits you from making quick turns to avoid hazards and endangers everyone on the road. Also, just like motorcycles, your handlebars may not be higher than your shoulders.

Perhaps most importantly, ride predictably. Swerving in and out of traffic, jumping back and forth between sidewalk and roadway, and changing lanes without warning are all activities that drive motorists crazy. Even the best bicycle accessories can’t protect you from a vehicle that outweighs you by a ton or more!

Ride carefully!