top 15 dangerous actions or practices that commuting or working bicyclists shouldn’t do

There has been a revolutionary in the number of people cycling to work recently. The benefits of riding into work rather than driving or using public transport are numerous：it’s better for the environment, it keep you more fit and it gets you out in the fresh air.

However, the biggest problem we are facing now is the insecurity of riding into work for the great possibility of being hit by cars and other accidents.
Having asked some seasoned commuters to pass on their knowledge to me, I write this article to warn those tinkering with the idea of traveling to work by bike up, and here are 10 top dangerous actions or practices that you shouldn’t do for your safety.

1.running red lights
Running red lights is against the running against red lightslaw and you are putting your life in jeopardy. Besides, if you jump red lights, it will stroke resentment in every driver that sees it and make them less likely to treat cyclists with respect including the cyclists beside you who did wait for the lights to change.

2.Riding on the sidewalk
riding on sidewalks
Riding on the sidewalk is illegal in some places. If you are riding on the sidewalk, it will increase the chance of minor collisions with cyclists and pedestrians due to poorer visibility and restricted room and also a greater chance of falling down. One study shows that sidewalk-riding is twice as dangerous as road riding, and another study shows that it’s even more dangerous than that.

3.No wearing a helmet
Wearing a helmet is of great importance when you are cycling to commute because it can greatly reduce the risk of serious brain injury from a bicycle crash. Never think that wearing a helmet is not cool or convenience. It may not be as protective as the motorcycle helmet, but believe me, it’s better than a bare head. I have crashed 4 times on my road bike and the helmet protected me from serious injuries. Wear your helmet every time you ride. Remember, having a bad hair day is a lot better than having a bad brain day.

4.Not signaling turns
You are likely to get hit when your movement takes motorists by surprise. When you are turning left or right, make sure to signal early on and let them know you are about to turn left or right by signaling with your arms so that the vehicles riding with hand signals
in front of you can adjust their speed. I have seen cyclist commuters who signal and turn at the same time and it caused a serious accident.



5.Riding an ill-fitting bike
Having a bike that fits you is important for safety and comfort. Riding a bike that is too big or too small will affect your control of your bike. You should reach the pedals and handlebars easily which can reduce the difficulty in controlling the bike. You can go to local bike shops and the staff will explain and identify which bike fits your bicycling needs.

6.Riding in unsuitable shoes
Riding with shoes that are too loose or too tight will affect your pedaling. If you are a woman, don’t wear shoes with heels. It is very dangerous though it looks great.

7. Not being visible
The problem of visibility is mostly due to darkness and glare from the sun. Reflectors and lights are required and a wise investment even in daytime for your better safety. It helps drivernot being invisible
s and pedestrians see you better. Besides, instead of stopping in a blind side, you should stop behind a car where you can see the driver’s face in the driver–side outside rear-view mirror.

7.Being obnoxious to other road users
When you are riding on the road, if some driver cuts you up or hurls about you, you’d better take it and not retaliate. If you give them the finger, and they retaliate, the cyclist will always come off worse.

8.Riding very close to the curb or road edgeriding too close to the road edge
Don’t hug the curb or road edge since this position makes bicyclists invisible to motorists, and exposes bicyclists to various hazards. You have to ride to the right unless you’re riding on a road with a very low-speed limit. Besides, you should position yourself to maximize visibility to discourage motorists from turning right into you.

9. Not maintaining your bike
Get into the habits of regularly checking your bike and keeping it maintained is the basic info and of great importance not only from a convenience point of view but also from a safety perspective. Paying particular attention to the brakes may save your life.

10. Passing a car within door-opening distance
Watch out for car doors. You will never know when the drivers will open their doors right in your path. It can be very bad for you and your bike when someone opens their door in front of you. It’s nearly impossible for you to notice that there is someone in the car and it happens so fast, usually, there is no time for you to evade or stop. So make sure to take a wide berth at least 5 feet from parked cars to stay out of their door-opening zone.

11. Weave through traffic to get to the front of the queue
You are on a blind side, especially for tall vehicles and trucks. Besides, you will never when the traffic will move and you could be caught between 2 lanes with insufficient space. Drivers always resent this behavior. You’d better wait your turn in the queue just like a car because most drivers will respect this.

12. Riding against trafficriding against traffic
Riding against traffic looks like a good idea because you can look at oncoming traffic. In fact, it’s more dangerous and it’s the leading cause of crashes. One study shows that riding the wrong way is three times as dangerous as riding the right way, and for kids, the risk is seven times greater. If you are riding against traffic, you can’t see signs and traffic signals. Besides, motorists are not expecting bicyclists to be approaching from that direction. Also, riding a bike the wrong way through traffic is against the law.

13.Riding with music players
riding with music player
It’s more important to hear what’s around you when you are riding than when you are driving. If you ride with headphones, it will increase your risk. Also, texting or talking on a mobile phone that young people usually do raises the risk level. During your biking, the fewer distraction, the better.

14.passing on the right
If you overtake slow-moving vehicles on the right, it will makes you invisible to left-turning motorists at intersections. besides, it also means that the vehicles you are passing have the possibility of making a right turn into you.

15. Simply dashing in zebra crossings
Because some drivers don’t respect that road sign, better be safe than sorry. Be sure to slow down and see first that incoming cars slow down before your cross.

Conclusion
For your safety, following the traffic rules is of great importance. Please take some time to learn them before you commuting cyclistsstart to ride in traffic if you are not familiar with them. Besides, choose a route that is safest and most enjoyable for you to take on your bike. Generally, you should avoid busy streets. No matter you are biking in daytime or at night, visibility is the key. What I have mentioned are some common problems. No matter you are commuters or experienced bicyclist, you should always bear in mind.