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Home My WebLink About29 Smart Cycling Quick GuideD id yo u find thi s Qui ck G uid e usefu l'? Want ro support more ini tiat ives-like chis one-ro ge e mo re peo pl e o n bi cycl es'? Beco me a member. Join us. Together, we'll lead the movement to create a B icycle Friendly America . WWW .BIKHEAGULORG/JOIN ~ SMART CYCLING QUICK GUIDE 5. DOCUMENT WHATEVER YOU DO AFTER THE CRASH Especially medical care, repairs, and more - anyt hing with money or an impact on compensation. )) Seek medical care. )) Pre se rv e yo ur bicycl e, clothing, and other damage -take photos if yo u mu st repair. )) Kee p a journal of sym ptoms/pain s and what yo u do to address them . 6. GET CONNECTED TO THE BICYCLING COMMUNITY )) They may be able to p oint yo u to a bicycling-specific la wye r or provide o ther helpful advice . 7. DECIDE WHETHER TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY )) The greater the extent of property d amage or injuries the hi gher likeli hood yo u'll find a competent and willing attorney. 8. CONTACT THE MOTORIST'S INSURANCE COMPANY )) Don't agree to a written or recorded statement without an attorney unless, after reflection, yo u have decid ed to n ot hire one. 9. PUBLICIZE YOUR CRASH THROUGH THE RESOURCES PROVIDED BY YOUR LOCAL ADVOCACY GROUP (e.g. @s truckdc, #bikedc, city or fede ral bike accident repo rtin g o utlets) )) Be aware that if yo u cho ose to comment on yo ur actions before or after the crash it may affec t you r ability to recover damages. THE EVENT OF A CRASH 1. MAKE SURE YOU 'RE SAFE -RELAX AND COLLECT YOURSELF )) If yo u move yo u rse lf o r any ve hicl es move, no te wh ere th ey were b efore th at move ment. )) Don't refuse medic al ass istance or say yo u're fi n e. Be ca uti ou s and protect yo ur rig h ts . 2. CALL THE POLICE -AND FOLLOW APPROPRIATE REPORTING LAWS )) D on't nego tiate wi th th e drive r prior to p olic e invo lve ment. )) Make sure yo u give a sta tement and th at th e p o li ce repo rt is acc urate. )) Take yo ur ow n pictures if p oss ible. )) If yo u dec id e to pos t / publicize the cra sh on so cial medi a, be awa re yo ur co mm ents co uld hu rt yo ur case . )) Pu sh office rs to iss u e cita ti on s to motorist s if ap prop riate. If yo u're hit by a p ass in g ca r, th e mo tori st sh ould ge t a safe p ass in g violati on ti cket. )) Kn ow yo ur ri ghts and traffic laws . (Not wearing a helm et does n ot make yo u at fault.) 3. IDENTIFY THE OTHER PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE CRASH )) Get n ames, li ce n se numbers, ve hicl e registra ti on s, injuries and apparent d amage . )) Id entify and ge t co ntact info rm ation fo r wi tnesses. 4. CHECK YOUR BIKE FOR DAMAGE )) An y mo ney yo u sp end beca use of a cras h may be recovered , eve n ca b fa re to ge t yo ur broke n bi ke. )) Prese rve evid enc e of d amage to yo urse lf and th e bike. SMART CYCLING QUICK GUIDE CONTENTS FITTING A HELMET WHAT TO WEAR RIDING AT NIGHT AS SIMPLE AS ABC LOCKING YOUR BIKE SIGNALING SCANNING SHARING THE TRAIL RIDING ON SIDEWALKS RULES OF THE ROAD PRINCIPLES OF TRAFFIC LAW I ntersections One Lane Multi-Lane Multiple Left Turn L anes One-Way Streets with Two or More Lanes BIKE FACILITIES WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS 1611 K STREET , NW, SUITE 308, WASHINGTON , DC 10006 101-811-1333 J 101-811-1334 fax WWW .BIKELEAGUE .ORG 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 r9 2 0 2T 22 26 Keep in mind ch ar eve n if your co mmuni ry h as a law requiring yo u rid e in a b ike lan e, there are u s ua lly exceprio n s, includ i ng ... WHAT TO WEAR YOU CAN RIDE A BIKE IN YOUR EVERYDAY CLOTHES, THOUGH SPECIAL BIKE GEAR CAN IMPROVE LONGER RIDES AND INCREASE YOUR COMFORT AND SAFETY AT NIGHT, IN THE RAIN AND IN THE COLD. NIGHT RAIN COLD AS SIMPLE AS ABC THE ABC QUICK CHECK WILL ENSURE YOUR BIKE IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND MAKE YOUR RIDE SAFER. A: AIR If your tires g ive a bit when you press with you r thumb, they need some air. B: BRAKES When yo u squeeze yo ur brakes hard , yo u should still be abl e co fit yo ur thumb between the brake leve rs and the handlebars. Check that yo ur b rake pads are n't worn out -if they are, repl ace th em. C: CHAIN , CRANK . CASSETTE Make sure your chain is running smoothl y -li ghtl y o il ed and free of rust and gunk -by spinning it backwards a few revo luti ons . 8 QUICK RELEASE If you r bike has quick re lease wheels, make s u re the relea e levers are sec urely closed. CHECK As yo u start co ride, li sten for any rubbing, gri nding or clicking noises that might in dicate some- thing isn't working correctl y. If something isn 't working properly, fix what you can and take any additional adjustments to your local bike shop. Schedule a regular tune-up for your bike. ONE-WAY STREETS WITH TWO OR MORE LANES If a o ne-way street is two or mo re lanes wide, laws in mo st state s allow you to rid e on either side. When yo u make a left turn from a one-wa y stre et onto an oth er o ne-way street, it's easiest to turn from the left. MULTIPLE LEFT TURN LANES Wh en turnin g left o n a roa d with mu ltiple left turn lanes, se lect t he ri ghtm ost lane turning left. I I TO LOCK YOUR BIKE, USE A LI-SHAPED LOCK, A HEAVY STEEL CABLE LOCK OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. SECURE BOTH WHEELS AND THE FRAME TO AN IMMOVABLE OBJECT. ALWAYS LET OTHERS KNOW WHEN YOU'RE TURNING, CHANGING LANES OR STOPPING. Wh en co ming up to an intersec ti on with multiple lanes, place yo urself in th e ri ghtmos t lane th at is trave ling in th e direc ti on yo u're ~~go in g . Whe n approaching an incersection with one lane, position yo urse lf in the lane with res pect w yo ur des tinatio n direc ti o n . ,....-"~·'.____11.....----=---L SCANNING BEFORE CHANGING LANES OR TURNING, ALWAYS LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND UP AHEAD (SCAN). THEN SIGNAL YOUR TURN AND MAKE YOUR MOVE. » Be courteous . » Know the rules of the trail you are using . » Give a clear signal when passing either by using a bell or your voice. » The most dangerous part of a trail is usually where another trail or road crosses, so be cautious and yield to any crossing traffic . » Always be predictable by riding in a straight line and warn others when you are turning, slowing, passing or stopping . » If you are riding while it is dark , be sure to use lights. » When riding with others . stay on your side of the trail. 12 PRINCIPLES OF TRAFFIC LAW Riding o n th e sid ewalk is d ange rou s, ofte n illegal a nd not recommended for adults . Motori sts are not lookin g fo r yo u , espec ial ly if yo u're riding against th e fl ow of traffic . If yo u mu st rid e on th e sid ewalk fo r a sho rt stretch, be sure to : » Ride at walking pace . » Watch for pedestrians and yield to them at all times. » Use extra caution at every driveway/intersection and assume drivers aren't looking for you. THE ROAD » FOLLOW THE LAW Your sa fety and the perception of bicycli sts depend on you . Yo u ha ve th e sa m e ri ghts and duties as drive rs . Obey traffi c s ig nals and stop sign s . Rid e with traffi c; use the rightmost lane hea ded in th e direction yo u are go in g. » BE PREDICTABLE Make yo ur intentions clear co everyone o n the road. Ride in a strai ght lin e and don't swerve between p arked cars. Signal turns, and check behind you well befo re m akin g a turn o r ch ang ing la ne s. » BE CONSPICUOUS Ride where people can see you and wear bri g ht clothing. U se a fr o nt wh ite light, rea r red light and refl ectors when visibi lity is p oor. Make eye co nta ct with och er road use rs and d o n't rid e on sid ewa lks. »THINK AHEAD Anticipate what drivers, pedestrian s and other p eople on bikes will do nex t. Watch for turning vehicles and ride outside the d oor zo ne of parked cars. Loo k out for d ebri s, pothole s and ocher road ha zard s. Cross railroad tra cks at ri ght ang les. » RIDE READY Before yo u ride, do your ABC Quick Check. M ake sure yo ur tire s have enough air, brake s are working, chain runs smoothly and quick release leve rs are closed . Carry cool s and supplies that are appropri ate for your rid e. Wear a helm et . '/ PRINCIPLES OF TRAFFIC LAW In all 50 states, bi cycli sts are required co follow th e sa me law s as ocher drivers in mos t circumstance s. There are a fe w key principles th at underpin all U.S. traffi c laws. )} FIRST COME , FIRST SERVED Everyone on the road is entitl ed to the space they're using. If yo u wa nt to use so meone else's space, yo u mu st yield to whoever is usin g ir. )} RIDE ON THE RIGHT Never ride again sc traffic -chis pu ts you in a position where drivers don't ex p ect you to be. » YIELD TO CROSSING TRAFFIC When you come to an in te rsec ti on , if you don't have the ri ght of way, yo u mu st yield . )} YIELD WHEN CHANGING LANES Before ch angin g lanes, look behind yo u and ensure th at no traffic is comi ng. » SPEED POSITIONING The slowest ve hicl es o n the road should be the furthest to the right and yo u shou Id alw ays pass on the left. » LANE POSITIONING Some lan es are wide eno ugh for a ca r and bike to o perate safely sid e by si de. Ride a safe di stance from the curb or parked cars -never rid e in the gutter. When a lane is too n arrow to share safe ly, rid e in the middle of the lane . » INTERSECTION POSITIONING When approac hing an intersection , alway s use th e ri ghtmost lane go in g in the direct ion yo u're riding. » FOLLOW ALL STREET SIGNS, SIGNALS, AND MARKINGS 15