There is a lot of concern involving safety when it comes to motorized vehicles getting close to bicycles on the road. Why is it important to be so careful about passing them?
You should be cautious when passing a bicycle because it is easy to end up in a collision with them due to sudden changes in movements. They may swerve out of the blue and crash.
Safety measures can help prevent such accidents. Keep reading to learn more.
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Bicycles on the Road and Safety
Bicycle riding has many benefits, such as reducing carbon emissions and providing healthy exercise. However, there are critical considerations for other vehicles when passing bikes to avoid cycling accidents, which can lead to serious injuries.
In most cases, an accident arises because a cyclist needs to change course all of a sudden due to an obstruction ahead. Without proper safety measures, you may crash into the cyclist as they swerve into traffic to avoid the obstacles.
To give you an idea of how severe the consequence can be should you fail to take proper measures: there are almost 1000 cycling-related deaths annually in the US and around 130,000 are injured. Most of these involve a crash or collision, with the fatal rates being higher when the accidents involve motor vehicles.
Although cyclists have their own set of rules to follow, such as wearing protective gear, it never hurts to be extra careful when passing them by.
Things to Consider Before Passing a Bicycle
1. Bring your speed down
Slowing down before passing on the road allows you to look out for what is happening. You will also have more time to react, so be sure to reduce your speed before making your move.
2. Mind your distance
To combat high accident rates, there are rules for passing a bicycle you must abide by, such as the distance between your vehicles and the cyclist ahead.
Regarding how many feet of clearance should be observed when passing a cyclist on the road, always make sure there’s a distance of 2 to 4 feet. The specific figure will change according to states. Some places, such as Kentucky, will require you to change lanes completely.
3. Wait for the right opportunity
When is it safe to pass? This is something you should ask yourself before proceeding to do so. If you’re not confident about the circumstances, wait for the right conditions. And as mentioned above, it is also an option to change lanes to pass.
Tips for Passing Safely
What should you do when passing a bicyclist? Here are some steps you can take to make it easier and safer to pass.
- When passing a bicyclist you should keep it slow
- Do not use your horn, as you may startle the cyclist
- Use the turn signal to convey your intention
- Maintain your distance
- Let the bicycle keep as close to the right as possible
- Return to the lane only when the bicyclist passed is visible in your rear mirror
- If turning requires crossing the bicycle’s path, it’s best that you don’t pass the cyclist at all.
Conclusion
Now you know that you should be cautious when passing a bicycle because of the risk that comes with cycling-related accidents. Fortunately, the safety measures needed to reduce the risks are easy to follow.
Did you already know that to safely pass a bicycle you should take the measures mentioned here? Are these regulations enough? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Always ride safely.
“I ride my bike to work for years, but is that enough? Our carelessness towards our surroundings has taken a toll on the environment. And now, everyone is responsible for changes; even the most minor contribution is counted. With this hope and spirit, I started with my partner to establish Biketoworkday to help more individuals commute to their work sites on their bikes.”