5 Safety Tips For Bike To Work Month

February is National Bike To Work Month. It can be quite chilly this time of the year to ride your bike, but if you’re among the hearty who want to ride their bike to work you could hop on your bike and head to the office for a little invigorating ride to get your day going. If you’re planning on getting on your bike to ride to work you will want to take some time to learn a few safety tips that will help you prevent getting into a New Haven bicycle accident on your trip in to the office.

If you’re choosing to ride your bike to work you are going to need to be prepared well in advance of your trip. It is not possible to toss on some sneakers and hit the road without any planning. If you do this you are likely going to put yourself in a bad situation before you even start working for the day. It is best to spend a little time planning so you can enjoy the benefits of riding your bike to work without any of the pitfalls that many people run into when they attempt to do this.

Riding your bike to work in February is a little bit easier in warmer climates where you don’t have to concern yourself too much with the weather, but here in the Northeast you will need to keep a keen eye on the weather and if there is going to be any inclement weather you will need to reconsider your ride for that day. While it’s not impossible to ride in snow or ice, it can add a degree of difficulty to your ride and it might be best to wait until the weather passes. One other consideration you will need to account for is the temperature. Keep in mind that when you’re riding your bike you will experience wind chills of 10-15 degrees colder then what the forecast says it is supposed to be.

Once you’ve made the final determination that the weather conditions are not prohibitive to your ride and that your office is flexible enough that you can ride into work without too much of a hassle it is time to plan for your ride. Safety should be at the top of your mind when you’re considering whether your ride and what you need to do before you roll off to work. Here are five tips that will help you get to and from work safely.

1.) Check your equipment. This is especially important if you haven’t ridden your bike in quite some time. You will want to make sure your tires are inflated to the recommended level. You will want to test your brakes and make sure they allow you to smoothly and easily come to a complete stop. Finally you will want to make sure your chain is in good working order and is lubed up appropriately so you will not have any problems while you ride.

2.) Do a check of all of your riding gear. You should make sure your helmet is in good working order and will keep you safe in the event that you do have an accident. Check to make sure your cold weather gear still fits you well and that you can wear it comfortably to keep yourself warm while you’re on your way into work. If you don’t already have gloves, you may want to invest in a pair of gloves that will allow you to both grip the handlebars and keep your hands warm at the same time.

3.) Make a plan for how you will carry the items you will need for work. You cannot have your papers all disheveled and your computer cable dangling when you get on your bike, this would not be safe. Everything you need for work will need to be stowed safely and effectively so you can ride your bike unencumbered by work items.

4.) Add reflectors to your bicycle. In all likelihood, especially in February when the days are shorter, you may need to install reflectors on your bike so you can be seen while riding in the dark. Riding your bike to or from work, depending on your hours at the office can be somewhat dangerous, but if you had reflectors to your bike you will be able to be seen by on-coming traffic.

5.) Install a handlebar mirror. If you will be riding alongside traffic of all kinds and through the streets of the city you will want to be able to see who/what is behind you without having to turn your head. A good handlebar mirror may not be ideal for speed or appearance, but the function of it will keep you safe and allow you to head in to the office safely without having to worry about navigating traffic.

The idea of riding your bike to work on National Ride Your Bike To Work Week is such an invigorating and exciting idea, but it doesn’t come without issues. If you follow some of the safety tips above and give yourself plenty of time to get to and from work you will be able to ride your bike into work without too much of a fear of getting into a New Haven bicycle accident. Anytime you are riding your bike as a mode of transportation and not just for fun you will need to plan ahead and make sure you are riding safely so you can continue to utilize this great form of transportation regularly.

Accidents do happen, even if you are extra careful. In the event that an accident were to happen and you were to get injured you may need to speak with an attorney who has experience handling a situation like yours. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.