Bike-riding provides one of the most enjoyable experiences, among the city chaos, work bustle and daily tasks.
Gliding on 2 wheels can be a liberating feeling; however, to enjoy this activity, exist cycling rules you should know.
In order to comply them, is necessary to have a good road culture, & safeguard the integrity of all.
When respecting and developing these rules, you’re taking care of others but above all, yourself, a good bike control and correct use of bike infrastructure can save your life in more than 1 occasion.
Here, we present you some cycling rules that will help you to move safely and enjoy completely this beautiful sport. In addition, by complying them you are helping to a better coexistence among all the people that share the street.
Essential cycling rules
No calls, no music: when driving a vehicle, you must pay all your attention to the wheel and your surroundings. This includes bike. It doesn’t matter if it isn’t a motor vehicle, when using it is forbidden the cellphone use and listening to music with headphones. The cellphone distracts you from certain sounds to prevent accidents, as a car horn or the sound of a vehicle rising its speed.
No beer: We shouldn’t drive under the influence of alcohol. We must be aware of our senses to avoid obstacles and adverse situations presented in our road. From other motorists’ recklessness to a good driving to avoid the impact against objects or pedestrians.
Use your infrastructure: bikeways, paths, lanes and other protected spaces with devices as confibicis are for your safety. Use cyclist infrastructure every time you can. Doing this, guarantees you a safe space free from cars. Consider that can be shared spaces with pedestrians. In addition, if more people use bike paths, is more probable that local authorities & governments expand them or create more.
Shine: we don’t refer to dazzle with your riding abilities, but be as more visible as you can. Use reflective clothing at night, use a colored light at the back and a white one on the front. Apart from being visible for motorists, you will have greater safety in your road. And of course, add the use of safety helmet.
Don’t forget these other cycling rules…
If you don’t have directional lights, use your hands: bikes don’t have directional lights to indicate where to turn, we can use our hands to let the people behind us know our direction. It is so easy as reach your arm out to the side you will turn, always very careful.
The same happens if you change your lane, we recommend to reach your arm out to a side, flex up your elbow in a 90º angle with closed fist. With this, you can warn you will slow down in a couple of miles.
Respect the traffic lights: bike is a vehicle, and also has to respect traffic lights. In other words, if there’s one in front of you, you will move forward when this change to green and stop when change to red. Careful! In certain countries as Mexico, cyclists can cross with red light if there aren’t pedestrians neither vehicle to the side they want to cross.
No sidewalk and no opposite direction: If we already know that depending on road, sometimes is safer to transit on the opposite direction or on the sidewalk, these are forbidden actions for cyclists. Sidewalks are pedestrian zones and it isn’t allowed to use bikes on them; in all cases if you’re in sidewalks, you must get off the bike and walk. Also, remember pedestrians are priority so let them cross when they are going to cross street.
Safe driver, safe Passenger: two or more people can’t use a bike, this case is not applicable for children. With an approved seat a child can go with you. However, driver must be of legal age. The allowed age of passenger also depends on the zone and country. In Spain, for example, is not allowed to carry children of more than 7 years old.
For a better coexistence
These were some of the basic rules of cycling, even though as we already mentioned, can change depending on the country and zone.
For example, in Europe, cyclists get a ticket with economic sanctions while in Latin America a verbal warning from transit authorities is enough.
Another difference for example, in Spain if a cyclist is submitted to a blood alcohol test and their alcohol level in blood exceeds the allowed standard (0,25 ml per litter in aspirated air, or the 0,5 gr per litter in blood), can also be ticketed as they were a motorist.
As we can see, exist variations in transit standards, but not for that we must be less careful and disrespectful. We can also create a greater road safety for everyone and also for us to get home safely.
See you later. Ride safe.
