10 Bicycle Safety Tips | Seattle Washington Bicycle Injury Attorney

The Bellevue Police Department and the City of Bellevue published a brochure designed to bring awareness to the importance of bicycle safety.  Here are their top 10 safety tips to reduce the chance of injuries to you and your loved ones:

1) Protect your head- wear a helmet!
Make sure yours and your child's helmets fit properly. Wearing a helmet reduces the chance of brain injuries by 85%!

2) See and be seen- wear proper clothing.
Wear light colored clothing and avoid clothing that is loose fitting, as it may interfere and get tangled in the bicycle's moving parts.

3) Go with the flow of traffic- stay on the right side of the road!
Bicyclists must obey all traffic signs and lights, just as motorists do. Use hand signals and ride on the right side of the road to follow traffic, and not against it on the left side.

4) Keep your eyes on the road- be aware of traffic around you!
Always pause, look left then right, then left again before pulling out of a driveway or onto another street. If the road is busy, walk your bicycle across the crosswalk.

5) Ride defensively.
Be aware of potholes, road cracks, railroad tracks and loose gravel- ride with caution! Never assume drivers can see you or that they will stop at a stop sign or red light.

6) Avoid bicycling at night.
If you have to ride your bicycle at night, use front and rear lights, wear reflective clothing and reflective material on helmets, ankles, back and wrists. Try to travel on roads that are well lit.

7) Consider off-road paths and designated bike routes.
These routes are away from busy roads and give children a chance to learn bicycle handling skills.

8) Fit it right- check your bicycle!
Make sure all your bicycle's parts are secure so it will ride steadily.

9) Properly stop a bicycle
Use your rear brakes before your front brakes so as not to flip yourself over the handlebars. In adverse weather conditions, allow yourself more room to come to a complete stop.

10) Keep your wheels on the road
Monitor your bicycle's tire pressure levels and make sure they are property inflated. Also check the wheels whenever it is transported to make sure they are secured properly.

If you have been injured while riding your bicycle, an experienced Bellevue, Seattle bicycle accident attorney Andrew Kim at the Andrew Kim Law Firm can help.  For your free consultation, call (425) 289-1990 in the Bellevue and surrounding areas, (253) 682-2000 in Tacoma or toll free at (800) 636-3676.