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IT’S CRITICAL FOR CYCLISTS to follow these three simple rules whenever they share the road with motor vehicles: 1. Ride predictably— Follow the same rules of the road that all other drivers must follow. Obey all traffic signals and stop signs, yield the rightof- way when appropriate, signal your intentions before turning or proceeding from a stop, allow plenty of room between yourself and other cyclists or vehicles on the road, and always ride with traffic.
Remember, when bicyclists and motorists collide, it is often the result of the cyclist’s failure to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign, red light, or driveway.
2. Ride visibly— Wear brightly colored clothing and a light-colored helmet so you stand out in traffic during the day. At night, make sure you have an operational white front light and red rear reflector, and wear reflective clothing.
n Whenever possible, avoid riding in a motorist’s blind spot, and be sure to hold your place in a moving traffic lane. If you try to pass a line of stopped or slowing cars on the right to get through traffic faster, you may be invisible to a right-turning car at the next intersection. Also, ride just to the right of the moving lane of traffic and avoid swerving into the path of an oncoming or overtaking car.
Even though you may be following all the rules, others on the road may fail to do so. If you ride defensively and try to anticipate the mistakes of other cyclists and drivers, you’ll most likely avoid accidents. The key to defensive riding is to stay alert and continually scan the road for dangers and safe ways to evade them. If you see a problem developing, be prepared to act decisively to avert it. ✲
