Biking is a great way to get around. It’s good for your health, the environment, and it is fun to see the city in a different way and get some fresh air! While riding a bike has benefits that you just cannot get when riding around in a car, a bike also lacks the weight and safety features of a car. On a bike, you do not have the protection that you have when you are in a car. There are no walls, airbags, nor seatbelts. Because of this, if you are hit on a bike, the likelihood of being injured, and seriously injured, is exponentially greater than if you were in a car. So, bike riders of Nashville, let’s take a look at how we all can work to keep you safe.
How to Bike Safely in Nashville
First and foremost, let’s start with a word to drivers of cars and trucks on Nashville roads. Bikes have a right to be on the road and you should respect their presence. Do not crowd them. Give them the space needed to bike safely. Double-check your blind spots for bikes. They are smaller than motor vehicles and requiring that second look to make sure all is clear. Be mindful of bicyclists and, as always, be prepared for the unexpected.
Bicyclists, there are a number of things you can do to help prevent injury-causing accidents. Check that your bike is in full working order. Also, be sure that you are wearing proper safety gear, like a helmet that fits. A helmet is a critical piece of safety equipment and significantly reduces your chance of sustaining a head injury should you be involved in an accident. To fully reap the benefits of wearing a helmet, it needs to fit you properly. It should also be certified for safety by SNELL, ASTM, or ANSI. If your helmet has been involved in a crash or is about 5 years old, it should be replaced. While Tennessee only requires helmets for riders under the age of 16, every bike rider should wear a helmet.
Bike riders should also work towards safely sharing the road with cars. Avoid erratic movements and focus on making predictable moves. Go with the flow of traffic and follow traffic safety rules. Use designated bike lanes whenever available. Communicate as clearly as possible with drivers, and try to make eye contact with drivers. Use hand signals to alert drivers that you are stopping or turning. Make yourself visible by wearing brightly colored clothing and/or safety gear.
Last, but not least, be an alert bicyclist. Be mindful of cars, pedestrians, and other bikes out there on the road. Watch for hazards that lie in your path. Anticipate where things might get dangerous.
Bike Accident Injury Attorney
It is so easy for a bicyclist to be injured in a crash. While the threat of injury will never go away completely, bicyclists and motorists alike can make great strides to help ensure bike riders are as safe as possible on the roads. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you are legally entitled to compensation for your losses. Cummings Law is here to help you enforce this legal right. Contact us today.
Posted in: Bicycle Accidents