5 Vital Laws To Remember When Riding a Bike
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If you’re new to riding a bike or returning from a long hiatus, you may find yourself feeling anxious about rules you aren’t sure you remember.
How do you turn in a circle safely? When do you need to signal? Do you need to maintain a one-meter distance from a passing vehicle?
Don’t feel bad if you don’t know cycling laws. Many seasoned cyclists don’t know them. Yet, knowing them can guarantee your safety on the road.
1. Use the Bicycle Lane When Available
Bicycles are a mode of transportation just like cars, buses, and trains. They are required to follow the same rules of the road. This includes riding in the bicycle lane when one is available.
The bicycle lane is there to protect the bicyclist from being hit by a car or other obstacles on the road. It is also there to keep the bicyclist from impeding traffic.
If you know anyone who has suffered a bike injury as cyclist caused by a motorist’s negligence, faulty road conditions, or a poorly designed bicycle, contact a bike accident injury lawyer right away for legal assistance.
2. Biking Under the Influence
Biking under the influence has been a problem since the invention of the bicycle. Whether it’s alcohol, drugs, or just plain old fatigue, biking under the influence is dangerous. Every year, there are countless accidents and injuries because of it.
It’s not worth the risk. Not only could you hurt yourself, but you could also hurt someone else. Just like driving under the influence, biking under the influence can have serious consequences.
3. Know the Pecking Order
In any social group, there is a pecking order, a hierarchy of power and prestige. The key to success is to know where you stand in the pecking order and to use that knowledge to your advantage.
You have the power to influence those below you. If you are at the bottom, you need to be careful not to offend those above you. Knowing the pecking order is essential for success in any social group.
4. Use Biking Hand Signals to Change Lanes
Biking hand signals are a great way to communicate with drivers when you are changing lanes. They let drivers know where you are going and help them to avoid cutting you off.
To use biking hand signals, extend your arm out to the side and point in the direction that you are turning. For a left turn, point your arm to the left. For a right turn, point your arm to the right.
5. Stay to the Right and Pass on the Left
When changing lanes while biking, be sure to give the proper hand signal to indicate to drivers which way you will be going. If you are going to move from the right lane to the left lane, extend your left arm out horizontally.
It’s important to use hand signals when changing lanes while biking. Stay to the right and pass on the left is a good rule to follow. Hand signals will let other cyclists and drivers know what you’re doing.
Read More Laws When Riding a Bike
When riding a bike, always be sure to familiarize yourself with the local laws. Every city and state has different state laws regarding biking, so it is important to know what is expected of you before hitting the road.
In some places, cyclists are required to ride on the sidewalk, while in others they are allowed to ride on the street. Be sure to always yield to pedestrians, and never ride against traffic.
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