10 Tips for Riding Safe

1. Increase your visibility to manage your riding risk.
2. Dark colors can be hard to see. If bright clothing is not your style, consider adding a few well-placed pieces of reflective tape to your gear, especially at night.
3. Make sure your turn signals work – and use them! Consider using hand signals in situations where you want to make sure a driver knows your intentions.
4. As you slow down to come to a stop, flash your brake light to let those behind you know you are stopping.
5. When riding alone on a straight road most people prefer to ride in the left third of the lane. It provides you the best line of sight for the road ahead, and makes you more visible to oncoming traffic.
6. Be aware of your surroundings. As you ride, scan the area ahead, as well as along the road and behind you.
7. Adjust your speed and positioning accordingly, while communicating your intentions to others – use hand signals if necessary.
8. Know your skill set - sometimes knowing your skill limits may mean keeping your bike at home when the weather is bad. For others, it may mean choosing a route that avoids congested areas or timing your departure to avoid rush hour traffic.
9. Riding in an aggressive manner is never acceptable. Riding while tired is another risk that no rider should take.
10. Avoid alcohol and drugs, including certain prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. They can have a deadly effect on your ride.