On the Right Track: Bike to Work Day
It’s not a revolution, not yet anyway, but clearly more people are commuting by bicycle. Friday is national Bike-to-Work Day, drawing even more attention to the trend.
There are more bicycles on the road than there were a year ago, more than even a couple of months ago. Soaring gasoline prices have convinced some people that it is time to minimize the number of miles driving a car and maximize travel on foot or on a bicycle.
Before you hop on the seat, review the rules and hazards of the road for cyclists.
Some Mistakes Bikers Make:
• Riding against the flow of traffic
• Failing to use signals when changing lanes or turning
• Riding too close to parked cars (stay at least 3 feet away)
• Not wearing a helmet
• Failing to obey stop signs, traffic lights and lane markings.
Some Mistakes Motorists Make:
• Following bicyclists too closely.
• Failing to reduce speed when encountering cyclists
• Tooting the horn when approaching cyclists
• Passing too close to cyclists
• Failing to look for cyclists when opening a car door.
Advice For Cyclists from the Experts:
• Ride in a straight line; don’t swerve in the road or between parked cars.
• Wear brightly colored clothing. Be visible.
• The average /bike/ commuter travels at 10 mph; the more you ride, the faster you get. • Try out your bike-to-work route on a weekend, when traffic is light, to pin down the best route and get a feel for what the commute will be like.
• Worried about being sweaty when you arrive at work? Ride at an easy pace to stay cool and dry.
• Ride home at a faster pace if you want a workout.
• Panniers, which look like saddlebags, are a good choice for carrying things to and from work.
Comments
One Response to “On the Right Track: Bike to Work Day”Trackbacks
Check out what others are saying about this post...[...] Bike-to-Work Day just passed, and it’s possible you never actually got on your bike. No doubt you wanted to. You probably thought about it but maybe you were worried about traffic or you live in a city with hills. Or maybe you just wanted to be able to arrive at work or school without looking like a sweaty mess. [...]