Commuting by bike and cycling for recreational purposes is becoming a popular activity in Riverside, California. Cycling has many advantages over other methods of transportation including health, financial, and environmental benefits. However, if you’re considering the switch, there are a few things you should understand before you start biking on city roads.

Riverside is the 12th largest city in California, with over 300,000 people. As with any large city, there are often a number of hazards you need to watch for while riding. However, by simply applying these five tips while you cycle, you can greatly reduce your risk of being in a bike accident:

1) Get Proper Gear: There are many types of bicycles, but road bikes and hybrids are the best for commuting in the city. You should also have proper safety gear including a well-fitted helmet, protective gloves, front lighting, a flashing red light on the back, and a repair kit in case of emergency.

2) Follow the Rules: Over 50% of bike accidents in California are caused when cyclists fail to follow the rules of the road. Cyclists are treated as any other driver of a vehicle in Riverside. This means you need to stay in your lane, yield when necessary, and follow traffic signs and lights at all times.

3) Plan Your Route Ahead of Time: Riverside doesn’t have bike lanes and bike paths on every road. You can avoid many hazards and reduce your risk of being in a bike accident by simply choosing a route with less traffic and fewer intersections. If you’re choosing a route that you will be using on a regular basis, you should also look for good scenery so you don’t get bored.

4) Be Predictable: Cyclists face a much higher risk of being in a bike accident when they ride sporadically, without signaling their intent to others on the road. You can enjoy a much safer commute if you make eye contact with others, signal every directional change you make, and pay attention to the traffic around you at all times.

5) Ride Defensively: An important rule to keep in mind while biking is to always pretend you are invisible to others. Since bikes are smaller than any other vehicle on the road, they can often be difficult for other people to see. Many bike accidents in Riverside occur when a car takes a left turn in front of a cyclist who is riding through an intersection, when a car passes a cyclist and takes a right turn in front of him or her, or when a car overshoots a stop sign and blocks a cyclist’s path. You can avoid these types of situations by planning ahead and predicting these hazards before they occur.

Bike accidents can happen at any time and you can never guarantee your safety on the road. However, cycling remains the safest form of transportation and has many valuable benefits. By preparing ahead for cycling in Riverside you can decrease your chance of being in a bike accident and enjoy cycling more.

If you are ever involved in a bike accident in Riverside and believe you are not at fault, you should contact a personal injury lawyer for a free consultation. An attorney specializing in bike accidents can help you assess, file, and win your personal injury claim so you can recover the maximum compensation your specific case allows.

John Bisnar is the founding partner of the Bisnar Chase personal injury law firm and creator of BestAttorney.com. He is a leader and innovator in law office management, marketing and the creation of the “Client Experience”.Visit http://www.Accidentinjuryattorneyscalifornia.com or call 888-265-0161.

Related Articles