The Most Common Causes of Bike Accidents

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When biking, we never think about the rate of accidents that occur bike to bike, bike to person, or even car to bike. It’s important to be conscious about the space around you when turning and changing lanes—similar to driving a car, you don’t want to become a distracted motorist. As such, knowing the most common causes of bike accidents will help you better navigate your way on the road.

Turning

When turning on your bike, be sure that you signal in advance while looking out for pedestrians. You don’t want to run someone over as they’re walking out to cross the street. On the other hand, you don’t want to be on the side of a car turning or switching lanes. Depending on the speed you’re going, you will not be able to slow down, and you’ll be in their blind spot.

Lane Changing

To avoid accidents, be sure to signal when changing lanes. It’s common to see cyclists weaving in and out of traffic and driving in the middle of the lanes. Don’t be like them—for the sake of your and the public’s safety, make sure to use the proper signals before moving through traffic.

Bad Roads

The most common causes of bike accidents are poor road conditions. Badly kept roads can ruin a bike’s wheels and frames, especially if you’re not properly cleaning your bike after riding. Be sure to study certain techniques for navigating large cracks and potholes to avoid an accident.

Distracted Motorist

With most car-to-bike accidents, someone was distracted, whether it was the biker or the driver. Therefore, don’t operate your phone, eat, or use your hands to do anything else besides hold the wheel or handlebars. Furthermore, if you want to bring your pet on a ride with you, please put them in a carrier bag or, if size permits, in a carriage attached to the side or back of your bike.

Needing Speed

When you decide that you want to be fast, remember that speeding is generally the most common cause of bike accidents. While biking, be sure you yield and know how to work the intersections safely. Additionally, make sure you stop at all stop signs and don’t run red lights. Keep in mind that bicyclists can still receive a ticket for not following the rules of the road!

As long as you follow the rules of the road, biking can be a fun and safe activity. However, if a bike wreck does occur, it can be a scary event. Therefore, take some time to learn how to get back on the bike after the bad crash to ensure you can continue to have a good time and get some exercise!

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