Bike safety: how to ride a bike safely?

Lack of safety is the reason many people cite for not riding a bicycle on the road. Yet it is a means of transport that is both practical and beneficial to health. It allows you to move while doing sports and reducing environmental pollution. To encourage as many people as possible to get started, cities have developed numerous infrastructures for cyclists. This allows them to ride in a more secure setting. There is also a lot of equipment and various simple measures to adopt to ride a bike safely? Find out which ones…

To be able to “ride a bike safely“, make sure you have all the necessary safety equipment. Some of them are also mandatory. We cite :

The doorbell or a buzzer: this element must be audible at a distance of at least 50 meters

Front and rear brakes

Position lights: white or yellow at the front and red at the rear

Reflective devices or reflectors: white at the front, red at the rear and orange at the level of the spoke and the pedals (unless they are retractable)

The yellow vest or retro-reflective vest: in general, it is not mandatory unless you are driving at night outside built-up areas and when visibility is poor during the day. Nevertheless, it is always advisable to wear it every time you go out on your bike to optimize safety. If you are transporting a person on a bicycle, your passenger must also wear this type of certified vest.

The helmet: it is not obligatory for the adults, but is it for the children of less than 12 years old and this, that they drive their own bicycle or that you transport them on board your bicycle.

Gloves:   they are not mandatory but strongly recommended, falling and slipping on the asphalt can be very painful. Gloves are however mandatory if you have a speedbike .

Still in terms of passenger transport, be aware that this is only authorized on a seat fixed to the two-wheeler. If the passenger is a child under 5 years of age, their seat must be equipped with a footrest and tether straps. As for the location of the child seat , it can be placed in the front or in the back depending on the case.

Before buying your bike, it is advisable to check the presence of all this equipment. Also make sure they are operational before each bike ride.

Watch the video to find out if you know how to ride a bike in the city:

Equipment not mandatory, but recommended

In addition to the mandatory equipment, it is also recommended to use the following optional equipment to increase your safety on the bike:

The danger evacuator: this will prevent vehicles from overtaking you too closely

Anti- theft: this deters thieves from taking away your two-wheeler

The kickstand: it allows you to keep the bike in an upright position without having to hold it at arm’s length. This accessory is, for example, necessary when you want to place your child in the child seat or get it out of it.

The helmet: contrary to what we think, wearing a bicycle helmet is not compulsory, but is still strongly recommended. For optimal safety, the helmet must fit your size and must be homologated.

Mirrors: they allow you to keep an eye on other road users driving behind you. They facilitate your movement, especially in the absence of cycle paths. Read also – VAE: possibility of installing mirrors and lights on your bike

Light-coloured clothing or clothing with retro-reflective strips: they increase your visibility to other road users. In the absence of light-colored clothing, consider retro-reflective strips.

And speaking of clothes, know that there are clothes designed especially for cyclists. They make driving more comfortable, whatever the season. If you prefer to wear your classic clothes (this is often the case when using the bike to go to work), avoid as much as possible outfits that are too long or that can destabilize you. The same goes for the accessories you wear such as shoulder bags that are too long, big scarves that can get in your way… If wearing loose clothes is really required, use trouser clips or gadgets like poupoupidou clips so that the garment does not swell under the effect of the wind.