A Winter Bike Ride? Use These Tips To Avoid A New Haven Bicycle Accident

For some, winter weather may be a deterrent for heading out on your bicycle for a ride. Frigid temperatures and the possibility of slippery roads may make you think twice before you clip in and take off, but if you’re among the heartiest of them all, you may not be able to resist a crisp, winter day to hop on your bike and go. This is all good, but we want to make sure that if you are hearty and want to get out and ride that you are able to do so safely and while avoiding a New Haven bicycle accident.

Going for a bike ride in the winter is unique in many ways compared to a spring or summer time ride, but there are certain things that you will want to keep in mind no matter the season of the year. You will want to make sure your bike is tuned up. If you haven’t checked your brakes in a while, give them a once over and make sure they are working. Do a tire check and make sure each of your tires is holding pressure so you don’t run into a situation where you are stuck on the side of the road with a tire that has blown out. Finally you will want to make sure you bring with you an emergency kit so that even if all your pre-checks hold up, you are still ready for the unexpected.

The other difference between going for a ride in the spring and summer and going for a ride in the winter is the clothing. This may go without saying, but you’re likely not going to want to jump on your bike and head out into frigid New England temperatures wearing bicycle shorts and a racing shirt. Even the heartiest bike riders may not last dressed in this outfit in the winter months. Instead you will want to take a page out of the book of the skier in your life who knows that the most important thing you can do to keep yourself warm and enjoying your time in the cold is to LAYER your clothing. Whether you’re racing down the mountain or whizzing by traffic on your bicycle, if the weather conditions are cold you will want to make sure you are wearing multiple layers. You will want a base layer, a mid-layer and an outer layer. You will also want to make sure you have identified the proper accessories to keep you warm like gloves that will allow you to grip the handlebars and head wear that will allow you to wear your helmet comfortably and also keep you warm.

Once you’re dressed and you’ve done your bicycle pre-check you will want to hit the road for your first ride of the winter. When you’re on the road you should consider some of these following safety tips to make sure that you keep yourself safe and free from incident.

1.) Brake smoothly: This is not a weather related tip, but it is far more important in the winter than in any other seasons of the year. If you come to a sudden stop you are much more likely to skid on a patch of ice or snow. Another consideration is the salt or sand that municipalities use to treat the roads. If you are riding through a city that has had a recent winter weather event you may think the roads are dry and free from snow and ice, but if you’re not careful you might skid out on a patch of sand or salt that would be troubling to your safety.

2.) Increase your following distance: Just as if you were driving your car and a winter storm popped up you would want to increase your following distance between you and the cars that you are surrounded by, you will want to do this if you are riding your bike and on the road in these conditions. You will want to make sure you give yourself enough space to come to a complete stop when you are following other vehicles on the road. The weather conditions will require you to allow for added distance between you and others on the road so you can brake smoothly (see item #1) and come to a complete stop without any trouble, even if the roads are not completely clear.

3.) Be Predictable: While you’re riding your bike in the winter, you need to be very careful that you are not riding erratically. Remember, the cars that you are sharing the road with are also struggling to drive safely in winter weather conditions so they will need to have predictability from the other vehicles on the road and that includes you. There is already unpredictability from the weather conditions that you otherwise might not have had under normal circumstances, the last thing you want to do is make the conditions more unpredictable. You can do things like signal when you’re turning, not make any sudden stops or changes in direction and follow all traffic signs as you ride your bike in these winter weather conditions.

When you see the sun is shining, the outdoors may be calling you loudly to hop on your bicycle to go for a ride. Just be prepared when you step out into the cold weather that even if the sun is shining and no precipitation is falling, it doesn’t mean that you are going to be able to go for a nice, easy ride. If you are prepared and follow some important safety tips for riding your bike during the cold winter months, then you will go a long way in not getting into a New Haven bicycle accident and enjoy your bike ride, even if it is frigid out.

If you do decide to go out for a bike ride when the weather conditions are less than ideal, you may find yourself in a difficult situation where you are injured as the result of an accident. If this is the case, contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.