Bicycling is a great way to stay active, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy the outdoors. However, riding a bicycle comes along with a number of safety risks, especially as it pertains to visibility. Compared to other vehicles on the road, bicycles are significantly smaller and therefore easier to miss. Furthermore, doing what you can to help increase and enhance your visibility on the road is crucial for cyclists. Let’s explore some ways in which bicyclists can stay visible on the road.
Bicycle Statistics
To give you some perspective as to how dangerous riding a bicycle can be, here are some statistics. In 2020, 938 bicyclists were killed in accidents. This amounted to approximately 2.4% of all traffic fatalities during that year. In addition to the 938 bicyclists who suffered fatality in 2020, there were an estimated 38,886 bicyclists who were also injured. Furthermore, the safety risks involved with riding a bicycle should not be underestimated.
Wear Fluorescent Clothing
The first thing that bicyclists can do to help stay visible on the road is to wear fluorescent colors. Fluorescent colors, also regarded as neon colors, consist of bright shades that can be recognized more quickly and from further distances, thereby increasing one’s visibility. The makeup of fluorescent colors makes them brighter and more visible in that they absorb light energy in a narrow band of wavelengths and reradiate the energy at longer wavelengths than non-fluorescent colors. Essentially, any pop of color that you wear is far more likely to stick out than any dark or muted color.
Wear Reflective Gear
The next thing that bicyclists can do to increase their visibility is to wear reflective gear. Reflective gear for bicyclists may include gloves, jerseys, helmets, headbands, shoes, and shorts. While the more reflective the clothing or accessories are the better, even reflective strips will help improve one’s visibility. When light is shined on it, it reflects a bright flash that is hard for other drivers to miss. This is particularly important in the late night and early morning hours, as well as during foggy conditions when one’s visibility is greatly hindered.
Use Your Lights
Another thing that you can do to stay visible is to use the lights that are on your bike. Just like the headlights and rear lights on a car, these lights draw attention to your bicycle and help others assess the distance between you and them. While using your front and rear lights at night is essential, it is also just as important that you use them during the daytime as well. Moreover, the more attention and awareness that you bring to your bicycle, the better.
Stay out of Blind Spots
The last thing you can do as a bicyclist is to be conscientious about riding in the blind spots of other vehicles. This is particularly important while riding next to large commercial trucks or buses that have more significant blind spots known as “no zones.” Furthermore, as a bicyclist, be conscious of the vehicles you are driving next to, and do not assume that you are safe just because you are riding in the bike lane.
Stay Safe!
By following the aforementioned tips, you can greatly improve your visibility on the road as a bicyclist. However, in the unfortunate event that you are in a bicycle accident, be sure to seek medical assistance, document the accident scene, gather the contact information of those involved, and contact a St. Petersburg bicycle accident attorney to learn about your legal options. Remember, stay visible and ride safely!