Tips for how to drive a bike safely in traffic

Staff report Updated 7:02 PM Saturday, May 15, 2010

Here are some tips from bicycling instructors on bike safety in traffic.

Know the Ohio traffic law and follow it. Bikes are vehicles and motorists must share the road with them.
Always ride with traffic. Riding against traffic is the No. 1 cause of crashes.
Don’t ride on sidewalks. Drivers won’t see you. They are used to looking for pedestrians, not someone traveling at bike speed.
Be visible. Wear bright colors and use lights, front and back, after dark.
Practice bike handling skills. For example, learn to look over your left and right shoulders without swerving.
Don’t ride too close to the curb. Ohio laws says you should ride as far to the right “as practicable,” but also says it is legal to move into the middle of the lane to avoid hazards or “if the lane is too narrow for the bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side.” A good rule of thumb is to ride 3 feet into a lane, about where the right tire track is.
Be careful at intersections, where most crashes occur, and use hand signals to indicate turns or lane changes. Try to make eye contact with other drivers before proceeding.
Stay more than 3 feet away from parked cars. Opened doors are a deadly crash hazard.
Wear a rear-view mirror. You need to watch behind you as well as in front. Get a mirror that attaches to your helmet or glasses for more complete rear visibility.
Wear a helmet. When all else fails, protect your head.