I am sharing with you some of the safety measures that I
cross-check every time I use my bike. Do put in your ideas and opinions into
it.
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The biggest saviors for a biker are not any
gadgets or accessories. They are common sense and presence of mind. Do have
them at all times.
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Helmet is a must. It not only protects your head
from impacts but also helps other motorists to note you. I feel that a helmet
gives you a professional aura and other motorists and pedestrians are more
likely to cooperate with you.
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| Bike Helmet- Its not just a matter of security. |
©www.funnycutepics.com
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Make yourself visible. Wear bright colored
clothing or reflector jackets. Make sure that your bike is also having a lot of
reflectors on it. Especially on the rear and front, on the pedals and along the
rims. While choosing the color of the bike I prefer brighter or vibrant
colors over dark colors or shades that camouflage with the road and
surroundings.
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| Bike lights- Make yourself as visible as possible |
©getoutdoors.com
It would be wise to carry headlamps/headlights
and tail lamps in case if you get late after work and it gets
dark out there.
Don’t even think of biking without bright headlamps at night time.
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| Bike headlamps-Its always a good idea |
©www.123rf.com
Equipping your ride with a bell/horn will make
biking in busy roads much easier. Motorists often overlook a biker while giving
way to another overtaking vehicle in the same lane or when a vehicle coming
from the opposite direction breaks the lane to overtake the vehicle in front of
it. Another trouble is slower vehicles and pedestrians moving in the same direction
as yours. A nice, loud bell can call the attention of all the above mentioned.
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| Use a bell or horn- It might save more than one life |
©mag.bevakoof.com
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Fix a rear-view mirror on the bike or on your
helmet. Assuming that the person behind you has seen you or will do things to
avoid a collision is one of the gravest risks one can take while on the road. A
mirror also makes the ride more hassle free as you don’t have to cut your focus
on the road to look back when necessary.
©http://baltimorebicyclist.blogspot.in
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| Bike rear view mirrors- Better than a head turner |
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Never make abrupt turns or any other
unpredictable movements while on the road. Even though making eye contact with
other motorists may not always be possible, giving hand signals will avoid a
lot of confusion. When I am on the road, I become part of it and try my level
best to obey the rules. I stay confident and gives space and visibility to
other motorists. I keep in mind that having a vehicle without an engine doesn’t give
me any privilege and I am not prioritized in most of the cases.
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I become very alert when I am passing close by a
parked vehicle. I check if the passenger(s) is about to open the door. There can
be another person or vehicle about to get into the road via the front side of a parked
vehicle, which is usually out of sight. I take special care that either of us sees either of us with enough
time to react.
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| Getting doored |
©www.examiner.com
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I have a different philosophy on using
headphones. I find it best not to use them and it makes me more indulged in the
surroundings and biking itself. I am able to hear my bike when I am not using
my headphones. I can sense the tire pressure, chain clattering or any other
creeks that might indicate an upcoming trouble. Not using headphones make quick interactions
with passers by possible and alerts by other motorists are also more audible. However, I
sometimes feel like utilizing the 40 minutes that I take to bike for some extra
benefits. I listen to audio books and sloka chants while biking. These are not
too noisy usually and most of the times I am able to hear the horns or bells or
other motorists. I also put these audio in a low enjoyable volume so that it is
not interfering with my surrounding sounds. If at any circumstance I feel like
listening to the surroundings, I just pop out one of my earphones.
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| Babe on bike Caught in Amsterdam by the Prudent Cyclist on flickr |
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Manage your clothes. The last thing that you
would want is to get a chain tattoo on your 3000Rs khaki trousers or even worse,
get the trousers and yourselves torn. Biking to work may not always give you
the liberty to wear shorts or 3/4ths. So, what I do is that I use a paper clip
to hold a couple of pleats made on the right pant leg or I would just tuck that
pant leg into the sock. Also try and hop onto the bike or tilt the bike to sit
on it. Trying to stretch the leg around with tight fitting trousers can put you
in a very embarrassing situation.
Regular check-up of the ride and gears should be made a habit. Status of brake-shoes, condition of the cables, slackness of joints and bolts, lubrication etc can become decisive factors on overall biking experience.
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| Bikers using tight pants..beware of this and even more |
Regular check-up of the ride and gears should be made a habit. Status of brake-shoes, condition of the cables, slackness of joints and bolts, lubrication etc can become decisive factors on overall biking experience.
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| Bike check-up. Make it a habit |
©http://jeffreymcwhorter.blogspot.in
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Keep a first aid kit handy. After all it is
biking and it is an active sport. Its quite ok to fall; provided the condition
is manageable. There are first-aid kits available but you can always make a bag
of your own with some antiseptics, band-aids, antispasmodic sprays, analgesics,
crapes etc.
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| Keep a first aid kit handy. |
It won't take long to make these safety tips a habit. In fact, after a while, you won't even feel that you are voluntarily doing these check-ups and preparations. It just happens by itself. All these together will definitely make one of your best activities the safest too. In this regard safe biking is beaten only by safe sex.
So, Happy 'riding'. Either ways.
