Now that the weather has warmed up there are plenty of riders who have hopped onto their bikes and headed out on to the road for a favorite spring pastime. There is something invigorating and wonderful about riding your bike when the weather warms up, but if you’re not taking the appropriate precautions it may also lead to a Connecticut bicycle accident injury and eliminate your ability to ride for the rest of the spring and summer.
Bicycle accidents are common for those riders who choose to get out on the open road and share a piece of pavement with cars and other vehicles. When riding with a purpose, i.e. heading to work or to the store, you may have no choice but to share the road with motorized vehicles that can be dangerous to your well-being. When doing so you will want to take all of the precautions you can to make sure you are riding safely in a very challenging zone that in many cases lacks safety measures to protect those that are riding bicycles.
There are many cities and towns in the state of Connecticut that have prioritized the safety of their bike riders, but still others have not taken the safety of these riders into account. Bike lanes are often crowded off to the side of the road and in some cases bike lanes don’t even exist so a cyclist needs to ride with traffic which presents many problems and safety concerns. A long term goal of many cyclists is to lobby their municipality to get bike lanes that are protected from traffic installed throughout their city or town making riding a bike on city streets just as safe as driving a car is throughout the state. This is an admirable effort, but it is one that takes many years to accomplish.
If your objective is not necessarily to get from point A to point B on your bike, but rather to get out and get some exercise and have some fun your best bet is to find a dedicated bike trail that is free from traffic concerns and limits danger to your safety. There are a number of “rail trails” throughout the state of Connecticut that have been converted from old rail lines to be flat, paved, paths that bike riders, runners, roller bladers, and walkers can enjoy with relative safety and ease. In some cases, these rail trails are also connectors between communities.
The longest such rail trail in the state of Connecticut is the Air Line State Park which is a total of 56 miles long and connects East Hampton, Connecticut to Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This trail is perfect for a scenic ride along the Connecticut River and to get out and get an extended amount of exercise.
Other rail trails exist in the state of Connecticut as well. These trails are considered the crown jewels of both bicycle riders and the state’s environmental infrastructure. While riding on a rail trail is not free from the occasional Connecticut bicycle accident injury, injuries are generally less severe because riders are not contending with motor vehicle traffic.
Whether you’re out riding your bike on one of the roads in your city or town or decide to take the safer route and try a rail trail, if you find yourself injured you may need to speak with an experienced attorney. One of our attorneys is available to speak with you and may be able to help protect your long-term interests. Contact our office today.
