Tag: Safety

How To Ride Bicycles Safely On The Road

This is a guide to riding bicycles safely on the road, and it will be especially useful to new cyclists, or to cyclists who have no previous experience of riding their bikes on the road. Even experienced cyclists might need a refresher too. Whatever level you are as a cyclist, make sure you follow this guide to ensure that you stay safe while riding your bicycle on the road.

Dress Right

A helmet is the most essential piece of equipment to assure safety while riding your road bike. Actually, this should be worn wherever you’re cycling. But besides a helmet, make sure that your attire is suitable for cycling too.

This means that you should be wearing comfortable road cycling shoes that will aid pedaling, you should make sure that your trouser cuffs are tied back, if they are loose, so that they don’t get caught in the spokes, and make sure all your clothes are secured to your body.

The number one element to keeping safe is making yourself as visible to drivers as possible, so fluorescent, bright, or reflective clothing and bibs are recommended too.

Know the Laws

It doesn’t matter where in the world you are riding your bicycle, there will be specific laws to keep you safe, and also to keep those around you safe. In some places, for example, you will have permission to cycle on the sidewalk, and in other places, you won’t be required to wear a helmet – although, you should, regardless of the law. To keep yourself safe, make sure you’re following the rules of the road.

Signal Clearly

Even if you know you want to turn left or right, the drivers around you won’t have this knowledge. Whenever you turn you must clearly signal with the suitable arm. Don’t do this quickly or half-heartedly, keep your arm stiff, and don’t let it drop until you have started to turn. If you cycle the same way to work or home every day, you might forget to do this, as the route is so well-known to you, but forgetting to signal clearly could put you in danger.

Stay Away from the Kerb

No one wants to find themselves in the gutter. You need to keep this in mind while cycling. Keeping away from the curb makes you more visible to other road users. The closer you are to the curb, the more chance of an accident, as there are drains and potholes that could cause you to come off your bike.

The gutter is also where water will collect, sometimes it will be dirty and slimy too, so it heightens the chance of skidding and falling from your bike. Stay safe by staying out of the gutter.

Be Vigilant for Car Doors

There are many city cyclists with tales to tell about how they cycled into an open door and went flying from their bike. When you’re cycling on the road, there’s a good chance that cars will be lining the pavement. And, actually, even if you’re cycling on a bike lane, you could also have the same problem. Watch out for car doors, they open in a moment, and if you’re not vigilant, then you could cycle straight into them.

Keep Your Ears Open

It can be tempting to put your headphones on while you’re riding your bicycle on the road, but if you’re listening to your favorite song, then you won’t be listening to the sounds around you. To ride your bike safely on the road, you must be able to hear everything that’s going on, including car horns, emergency vehicle sirens, and bells from other cyclists.

Use Bike Lanes

Wherever it is possible to use a bike lane instead of the road, then choose this option. You will be much safer on these lanes, but remember, they are not without risks too. Bike lanes often run parallel to roads, and often cars will ignore them when they are merging or turning. As ever, to keep safe, then keep your eyes and ears out for what the cars are doing around you.

Choose the Right Bike

Some bicycles are better suited to riding on the road than others. The last thing you want to be riding on the road is something large and unwieldy. You need a bicycle that has been designed for cycling on the road, such as a commuter bike or a road bicycle.

Be Visible

Making yourself visible is rule number one when it comes to riding bicycles safely on the road. Lights for the front and back of your bicycle are absolutely necessary, and you should be able to illuminate yourself whether it is night or day.

Weather conditions can quickly change, and when the dark clouds come over, then you will remain safe with lights on your bicycle. Clip-on lights are recommended, as you can remove them when you lock up your bike, which will reduce the chances of them getting stolen.

Always be Ready to Brake

There are so many unknowns when you are cycling on the road. Drivers and other cyclists can be unpredictable. Cars might pop out of places you wouldn’t expect. To ensure safety, then have your hands in a good position to brake at all times.

Keep Calm

Cycling on the road is a high-pressure situation with danger around every corner. It’s natural to be worked up, and if someone cuts you off, forcing you to come to a sudden standstill, then you might be tempted to flip them the bird or give them a piece of your mind. But this will just put you in unnecessary danger. Take a deep breath and keep cycling. This is the best way to stay safe on the road.

Items to Keep You Safe

The following items should be with you at all times to keep you safe on the road:

• A patch kit, in case of punctures.
• Bicycle pump, in case the pressure on the tires go.
• A tire lever, in case you need to remove the tire.
• A multi-functional bike tool that includes a wrench, for all those roadside emergencies.

There you have it. If you follow this guide to riding bicycles safely on the road, then you’ll have no injuries or issues, and you can just get on with the pleasure that cycling on the road can give you.

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When you first start out on your skating journey, you’re going to experience quite a few hiccups. The pros might make it look easy, but there’s definitely a learning curve. If you’re up for the challenging, skating provides more than enough excitement, health benefits, and unforgettable fun for a lifetime.

Next, to actually buying your gear, safety is the most important part of skating. The good news about safety equipment in the sport is that it all looks cool. Many years back, it might’ve been a little difficult to find a helmet that didn’t hurt your style, but these days it’s a different story. Plus, nothing looks cool about getting injured without the proper setup!

Here at MyProScooter, we did quite a bit of research to find out the best skating and skateboarding safety tips around. Some of them might seem a little obvious, while others came to us as a surprise. If you or a loved one are learning how to skate, check out our advice below!

Know Your Safety Gear

Safety gear is the top priority in preventing unwanted harm while participating in any sport. Skating is no different, so we figured it should be number one on the list. Before you even place a foot on your skateboard or roller skates, you need to strap on your helmet and maybe a set of elbow and knee pads.

There are quite a few different types of skating helmets, all of which have the same intense: To keep your head safe! However, some of them are more breathable and lightweight, while others prevent scratches and damage to the helmet itself. Picking out the right helmet for your unique style of skating and experience will help you stay comfortable down the line.

Next up is the aforementioned elbow and knee pads. While these aren’t completely necessary, it’s not a bad idea to stay extra careful. Kids should absolutely wear these pads since they’re not as coordinated with balance and can be injured easier. Remember the old saying; It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

The last bit of safety gear is for those parents looking out for their children or individuals who aren’t completely comfortable skating yet. There are a few extra measures to take, including mouthguards, gloves, and wrist guards in case you fall over. Some skating gloves even come with hardened composite wrist protectors, saving you money overall.

Start Skating Slow and Familiarize Yourself

You couldn’t start dribbling a basketball and suddenly shoot hoops like Lebron, so don’t think that owning a skateboard or a pair of skates will get you into the X Games anytime soon. Start off by familiarizing yourself with the feeling of rolling forward and backward, leaning, turning, and so on before you try any tricks.

The best way to slowly progress into skating is to begin on a flat surface and try to stand still. It might sound strange but standing still is actually a challenge for some beginners who aren’t used to resting on wheels. It’s not a bad idea to have a friend or family member hold you in place until you get the hang of it.

Finally, look for a place with a slight decline such as a driveway or sidewalk to learn the ropes of rolling. Removing any and all obstacles will keep you safe, but don’t forget to wear all that safety gear from the first tip!

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

You can have all the safety gear and requirements down completely, but there’s no way to control what other people do. Keep an eye out for cars, pets, pedestrians, and other objects that might block or hinder your path.

If you’re skating at a skate park, always make sure that you look for other people’s skateboards from rolling in your way. You don’t want to slip or trip over their gear when you’re in the middle of a trick! The nice thing about being in a skate park is that there aren’t any basketballs or cars that can roll around dangerously. Nonetheless, always be aware of what’s going on around you to prevent harm to yourself or others.

Another small tip that goes with knowing your surroundings is to check out signs. There are tons of places where any kind of skating isn’t allowed. Whether or not you agree with them, try to respect the property and stay away from the unwanted trouble. The signs are there for a reason!

Practice Makes Perfect with Skating

Just like with anything new you’re trying to learn, practice makes perfect with skating. Not only is it nice to understand the ropes and how it all works but staying up with your practice sessions will keep you safe. Everything will eventually become a second hand, and that’s when you can finally take the training gloves off!

Ironically, you can learn quite a bit about skating safety by practicing on grass. It might seem a little weird at first since you’d never normally skate on grass, but you can learn to balance much easier. Not to mention that falling on grass is much more forgiving than falling on concrete or asphalt.

Staying safe while skating and skateboarding are much easier than you might think. Remember to always wear the right gear, start off slow and steady, be aware of your surroundings, and practice until you feel comfortable enough to roll without falling too often. Most importantly, have a good time and stay safe out there!

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