|
|
| *Vultures Knob>>>Cycling |
Give me advise about safe biking ! law, rule and tip please? |
Give me advise about safe biking ! law, rule and tip please? Hey, did you mean for your user name to be "curious" but you spelled it wrong? Anyway, go to www.google.com and type the name of your state and "bicycle laws" Also check here; http://bicyclesafe.com/ You didn't mention which state you live in, but here in Pennsylvania, a bike has to follow all the same rules and laws that auto's do and a bike has the same rights as an auto. So just keep your local automobile laws in mind while riding. Although keep these things in mind: 1. Before riding make sure your tires are inflated to proper rating, make sure your brakes are working, make sure your handbars and seat are tightened. 2. Always be looking ahead for upcoming dangers...cars pulling out, potholes, the guy running with his dog, etc... 3. Always wear your helmet. They may not me all that fashionable but they can mean the difference between a bad concussion and death. 4. While riding in traffic, stay as far to the right as possible. If the road has a wide shoulder, ride on the shoulder. Even though most states state that bikes have the same rights as automobiles, most drivers don't appreciate cyclist's slowing them down. 5. Use hand signals when turning. 6. When looking back to check for vehicles coming up from behind you look over your right shoulder. Your bike will tend to go in the direction you are looking. After a while you will learn how to look back and not veer off. 7. Have fun! Experienced cyclist. http://www.dot.state.pa.us/bike/web/docs... The following is an article published in the June 2007 issue of Cycling Utah. I think it would be helpful. From running stop signs to using the wrong lanes at intersections to riding three abreast, cyclists can be their own worst enemies. 鈥楩ess up. You know you鈥檝e done one or all of those things -- maybe more. We all have, especially when caught up in the group-think of a club ride. But whether you ride a bicycle as daily transportation or take leisurely weekend rides to the coffee shop or pound out the miles on club rides or team training rides, you are the driver of a vehicle in the state of Utah. And that can be a difficult concept to respect -- especially when stopping for a red light or moving left to avoid going straight in a right-turnonly lane screws up your cadence or your paceline. Still, as cyclists we need to exhibit the kind of driving skills we want to see in others. And it鈥檚 not all that hard. According to the League of American Bicyclists鈥?鈥淏ikeEd鈥?program, a national bicycle traffic education curriculum, there really are only six principles of traffic law that all drivers expect: Drive on the right side of the road. Drivers entitled to the spaces that they already occupy. Yield to crossing traffic when crossing a larger road. Yield to change lanes. Slowest vehicles use the right lane or the right side of the lane. Use the proper lane at intersections. Let鈥檚 consider these principles as we look at some of the most common errors experienced road-riders make: Problem: Groups of recreational club or race team members bunching up in a right-turn-only lane when they intend to go straight. Solution: It is against the law to go straight in a lane intended for only right or left turns. Most cyclists would not do this in their cars. We should not do it on our bikes either. It confuses other drivers. Scan over your left shoulder before reaching the intersection. When it is clear, signal your intention to move into the straight-through lane and move over. Always use the rightmost lane that goes where you want to go. Problem: Riding too far to the right. Solution: Individual riders and commuters most often make this mistake. Don鈥檛 be timid. Cyclists ride to the right of the travel lane because of the speed-positioning principle above, not because they are inferior road users. Position yourself 2-3 feet from the edge of the travel lane and at least 3 feet from cars passing on your left. If the road is too narrow to have this amount of space, take the lane and ride in a steady, straight line. Motorists can, and will, move around you as they would any other slow-moving vehicle. Problem: Commuters, club and team riders failing to stop at red lights and STOP signs. Solution: For pity鈥檚 sake, stop! These signs and signals help drivers follow the principle of yielding to crossing traffic. Don鈥檛 ignore them. Also, don鈥檛 allow motorists to motion you through a four-way stop when it is not your turn. Never allow another driver decide when you get the right of way. The law already does that. Make them obey it, as you intend to do. When riding in a group, avoid confusion by treating the group as a single vehicle and go through at once. If you鈥檙e straggling four or five bike lengths behind the group, stop and wait your turn. When stuck at one of those neverchanging traffic lights, make certain that you are not sitting too far to the right of the travel lane. Since you are going straight, sit in the center. Most of the time this will place you over the loop that triggers the light. If not, press the pedestrian button and reposition yourself in the trafficlane. You鈥檙e doing this because no other traffic is around, so repositioning should be no big deal. Problem: Commuters, club and team riders filtering to the front of a line of traffic at an intersection when there isn鈥檛 room to do so. Solution: Filter forward only if you have 2-3 feet from the edge of the lane on your right and 3 feet from the car on your left. Remember, anything narrower is too narrow to share, and you should take the lane. Taking your proper place helps motorists see you as the vehicle drivers that you are. Problem: Riding more than two abreast. Solution: Stop it. It is illegal, and it hacks off every motorist on the road. Don鈥檛 give people ammunition against cyclists. Problem: Yelling 鈥渃lear鈥?for other riders at intersections. Solution: Team and club riders routinely do this. Never make someone else鈥檚 traffic decisions or let someone else make yours. Communicate with riders behind you by using hand signals and yelling 鈥渟lowing鈥?or 鈥渟topping.鈥?Yes, it will screw up your paceline. But pacelines are specialized maneuvers intended for use on closed racing courses. We cannot expect to use them on open roads without some adaptations. Problem: Road rage 鈥?ours in response to theirs. Solitary riders, such as longtime commuters, fall into this trap. You鈥檙e tired; traffic is smelly, and it鈥檚 100 degrees. The jerk behind you blows his horn, and you respond with the Universal Finger of Understanding. He accelerates and turns you into a bumper sticker. Solution: When the 700-pound gorilla throws feces in your face, you must be the higher-functioning primate. Nothing good comes from an angry encounter with something larger than you. Hold your line and ignore the bully. If the encounter continues, stop, pull over, jot down his tag number and call the cops. No, the guy isn鈥檛 going to learn anything -- but that鈥檚 a given, no matter what happens. However, you鈥檒l feel better, and he will be gone. Those of us who ride daily have far more opportunities to develop bad habits 鈥?too many of which we pass along to novice riders who look to us as examples. We can, and must, do better. Assuming you are speaking about biking in America, the best place to learn about proper bicycle driving is in League of American Bicyclists BikeEd courses. Cycling on all available facilities (cycle paths, bike lanes, narrow roads) and in traffic are the hallmarks of the course. Learn why it's such a bad idea to ride against traffic, and disobey traffic signals. Some states have mandatory sidepath / bike lane laws; you'll learn about your local jurisdiction in the BikeEd class as well. Other countries have similar training programs, if you post which country you are interested in learning about, I would likely be able to find you links. Other tips: helmets help survialability- but vehiclular cycling will help avoid the crashs in the first place. Good to do before a ride, or after you've worked on your bike: (also from the BikeEd course)-- ABC Quick Check - Air -- is the tire flat?, Brakes -- if you can bring the brake handle to the grip, you need to adjust the brakes, {Chain, Crank, Cassette, ChainRing} - free of debris? Quick (Release) - tight?, Check - pick up the bike about 6 inches and drop it - any extra noises?. Find League Certified Instructors & BikeEd courses: http://www.bikeleague.org/cogs/resources... |
| Tags |
| Cycling Bike Race Bike Insurance Bike Repair Bicycle Shop Bike Tours |
Bike Categories--Copyright/IP Policy--Contact Webmaster |