Bicycle Safety: It’s Not What You Think!

Autumn is my favorite time of year to ride my bicycle. While the intensity of the hot summer sun is diminishing, with the proper attire the crisp cool air is a perfect complement to my rising body heat as I pedal all my cares away. Although some people think of bicycle riding as being something only children should enjoy, I can think of a whole list of reasons why it’s a perfect adult activity.

First of all, bicycle riding is one of the best all-body workouts you can get. Every muscle group is stimulated from your feet and ankles all the way up your spine, arms, and neck. Bicycle riding is an excellent way to work out your heart (cardio); it gets your blood pumping and improves circulation throughout your entire body.  Moderate cardio exercise burns the stress hormone Cortisol and releases endorphins into your blood stream, resulting in a ‘natural high’ that leaves enthusiasts yearning for more. Sometimes in the winter or on a rainy day I will settle for a stationary bike ride at my local gym, but it never compares to the rush I get from riding all the way to the top of a hill and then soaring down to the bottom, with a breeze blowing through my hair. Indoor workouts hardly compare to getting fresh, clean air into my lungs while I enjoy the luscious northern New England scenery that this area is so well-known for.

Riding bicycles is fun! And not just for children. There are a multitude of dirt and paved trails in New England that anyone can enjoy, from young and inexperienced riders to more experienced professional riders. I was originally into mountain bikes and then got into BMX trail-riding for a number of years. Now I mostly spend time on my hybrid mountain-street bike because it has features that make it safe for both riding on pavement and dirt trails.

In addition to the personal health benefits of bicycle riding, this mode of transportation is also cheap and better for the environment when compared with fossil-fuel based vehicles. Of course it is not reasonable to commute an hour away to work on a bicycle but for in-town traveling it is completely doable. It’s healthy for you, reduces carbon-dioxide and other emissions from being emitted into the environment, and with the costs of gasoline these days, it’s a nice break on the wallet! With consideration to all of these factors, I notice more people riding bicycles lately, but unfortunately, I also hear about people being hurt because of carelessness, both on the part of other drivers on the road and because of the bicycle riders themselves.

Just last month on August 23rd, I heard about a forty-six year old Nashua woman being struck and killed after a tractor-trailer collided with her on Celina Avenue. At first I instinctively blamed the UPS driver for hitting her, thinking he must not have been paying attention, but later I learned that he was following all the rules. He simply didn’t have enough time to stop when the woman rode out into the street in front of him on her bicycle.  While I truly feel sad for her friends and family, it was a good reminder to me as to why bicycle safety is so important.

Many people are not aware of this, but riding on different surfaces requires different types of equipment, with tires, brakes, and shocks being the most important features to consider. Just like when driving a car, good traction is imperative. Traction is basically the force of the grip that your tires have with the pavement, dirt, or whatever surface you are riding on. Bicycle tires that are made for good traction on pavement (typically thin with small ridges) usually do not interact the same way with other terrain. I learned this the hard way in my early twenties, when I tried to slow down as I took a corner from a paved trail to one with dirt and sand. With no traction between my tires and the ground, I lost control and ended up wiping out.

People always say that wearing a helmet is the most important safety precaution you can take while riding recreation vehicles, yet while I don’t disagree with helmets being essential, wearing one will not necessarily keep you completely safe. Sporting proper riding gear is key but so is your appropriate behavior! When riding on the road, or anywhere, a bicycle rider has all the same rights and responsibilities as any other vehicle (yes, even cars!). While adult riders legally have the right to take up as much space on the road as any car, I can’t bring enough attention to the fact that it’s up to YOU to keep yourself safe, and that means ‘driving’ defensively.

What do I mean by this? Like a person driving a car, bicycle riders must follow all the rules of the road. Pay attention to and follow the lights, signs, and traffic around you. Don’t assume that everyone else knows you are there or what you are doing. Try to predict what other drivers are going to do but always be ready to stop. If you are riding on the right side of the road and planning on continuing straight, while a car on your left side is planning on taking a right, you could get hit if neither of you stops. That wouldn’t necessarily mean you are in the wrong, but it’s not worth the risk, especially when you are the one in direct contact with the terrain. If you are involved in a bicycle-car collision the person in the car will be protected by the car, but you will not be so lucky, regardless of who’s ‘fault’ it is.

My hope is that like other parts of the country I have visited, New England will become more bicycle-friendly. I know that as the years go on bicycle riding will continue to increase in popularity for both children and adults. When everyone is following the rules of the road riding a bicycle can be an amazing experience. Get out there and ride!