Scenes From The Wheel World: Bike Commuting Safety Tips

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Do you consider yourself an environmentalist who wants to do more for the earth? Have you been in need of more exercise? Than you should consider commuting to your place of employment on a bicycle. If you do, you'll be far from alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, bicycle commuters have increased in number by roughly 60 percent over the past decade, from about 488,000 in the year 2000 to approximately 786,000 in the 2008 to 2012 time period.

But before you hop on your two-wheeled chariot, it's important to understand your rights as a bicyclist and also to follow important bike safety tips. While biking is a very green form of transportation, it also comes with its own risks. For example, in 2013, 743 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles, according to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC). In addition, another 48,000 bikers were injured in 2013. So how can you avoid being hurt or killed in a bike accident? The following are a few tips for avoiding accidents and also what you will need to do in the unfortunate event that you should get involved in a bike crash.

Bike Safely

While you can't control the behavior of other vehicles on the road, there are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself and to also lessen serious injuries, including:

• Always wear a helmet. According to Helmets.org, helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. 
• Invest in a rear-view mirror for your bike or helmet. These devices allow you to see what is coming up behind you without having to constantly twist your head to look behind you. In urban traffic conditions, this could be a lifesaver, as taking your eyes off the road ahead of you for even a few seconds could result in a collision or a dangerous meeting with a pothole.   
• Consider alternate, safer routes. Seasoned bike commuters recommend that you avoid the roads that are popular with automobile drivers and search, instead, for quieter parallel routes on side streets. Those roads typically have low speed limits, which make them unattractive to automobile drivers, but excellent alternatives for bikers.
• Avoid drinking and biking. According to the PBIC, a startling 20 percent of bikers who were killed in accidents had blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 g/dL or higher. 

So What Should You Do If You Are Injured While Biking

Unfortunately, bike accidents can and do occur. For example, every year many bicyclists are injured when a person opens an automobile door in their path. Known as dooring, these crashes can cause serious injury to a bicyclist. So what should you do if you are injured or your bike is destroyed by another's actions? If you were in a car, you would typically report the incident to your automobile insurance company and then let them handle the details. Bike insurance is available, but what if you don't have any? Well, if you want to have any possibility of recovering for your damages and your injuries, you will need to: 

• Call the police. You will need to have a record of events if you should decide to pursue a lawsuit. 
• Exchange information with the vehicle owner. It's also important to get the name and contact information for any witnesses to the accident.
• Hire a personal injury lawyer to help you recover damages for your injuries. It's possible that you may have suffered permanent injuries that could negatively impact your ability to provide for yourself or for your family so it's important that you have legal representation on your side. The defendant's lawyer may also try to lay some of the blame for the accident on you, so that is another reason why having legal representation is crucial. 

Commuting by bike is generally very safe. However, it never hurts to click here for info on legal help, be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.

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14 August 2015