Since the late 1990s, major U.S. cities like New York have launched campaigns to encourage citizens to ride bicycles for personal and municipal benefit. Riding bikes provides cardiovascular exercise, it's cheap, and it helps the environment by keeping air-polluting vehicles off the streets. Bicycles also reduce traffic congestion in downtown areas. While sharing the road, cyclists should ride in designated bike lanes safely.
Obey Traffic Laws
Contact your town's department of transportation for information about local bike lane laws. Some cities place restrictions on the roads available to cyclists at different times of the day, or have different rules for bike lanes in streets, as opposed to parks.
Use the Right Equipment
Always wear a helmet, even if your municipality doesn't require it. Make sure your bike has a front headlight and a back taillight, so drivers can see you in the dark. Wearing reflective armbands at night also increases your visibility. Tune up your bike regularly so the brakes and other gear are in good working condition.
Plan Your Route
Many cities and towns offer free cycling maps that show where bike lanes are on city streets. The maps may also indicate streets without designated bike lanes that are safe to ride on. Plan your route before heading out to avoid potential traffic jams, dangerous, busy main streets or bike lanes in bad condition.
Ride Predictably
Signal your right and left turns, ride straight within the boundaries of the bike lane and ring your bell to tell other riders you're behind them. Try to establish eye contact with drivers, pedestrians or other cyclists to reduce the chance of crashes. Obey stop signs and red lights, even if the intersection is empty. Acting like a good driver will help you blend in to the flow of traffic and decrease the risk of accident.
Give Vehicles Space
Unpredictable behavior by drivers, even in parked cars, is a constant concern for bike lane users. Ride at least 3 feet away from parked cars on the side of the street to avoid getting "doored"--knocked off your bike by someone who suddenly opens a car door in your path. At intersections, leave a wide berth around delivery trucks or city buses that have a wide turning radius so you won't get trapped between a turning vehicle and parked cars.
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