Safe Biking is a Two-Way Street May 21, 2015

May is National Bike Month, so we’ve got bike safety on the mind.

We talked in April about the rules of the road that bicyclists and vehicles are required by law to follow. So today, we’re highlighting safe biking practices, as well as sharing the top mistakes that bicyclists and drivers make that contribute to bike-vehicle collisions.

The Alaska Driver’s Manual includes the following safety tips for bicyclists:

• Always wear a helmet.
• Obey all traffic controls.
• Ride your bicycle near the right-hand edge of the road.
• Never carry another person on your bicycle.
• Always use hand signals when turning or stopping.
• Look out for cars at cross streets, driveways and parking places.
• Be careful when checking traffic and don’t swerve when looking over your shoulder.
• Give pedestrians the right-of-way.
• Keep your bicycle in good condition.
• Always ride carefully.

We also encourage bicyclists to use reflectors or wear reflective clothing when they’re on the go to help drivers and pedestrians see them.

But the responsibility of staying safe doesn’t just fall to bicyclists. Everyone on the roadway plays a part in safe travel.

The graphic below from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists the most common actions that contribute to bike-vehicle crashes. No matter which of these modes of transportation you use, make sure you practice safe handling and pay attention to your surroundings.