True cyclists know there is not an ending to the bike season, just a change in the type of clothing you wear to enjoy the invigorating ride. Those that are casual cyclists know that the bike season is winding down for them and every ride could be their last of the season depending on changing conditions.
It doesn’t matter what time of year you are riding you will always want to avoid a Connecticut bicycle accident, but especially this time of year it is important so you don’t end the season on a bad note. There are a variety of things you can do to protect yourself from getting into any sort of accident with your bike. You can wear reflective clothing. You can use proper turn signals to indicate which direction you’re planning to turn. You can wear a helmet in the event that an accident does happen so you don’t get seriously hurt. You can take all of these steps to keep yourself safe when riding, especially in the late fall months, but did you know there is one other thing you can do that can have a dramatic impact on your safety when riding? You can pick the right route.
It’s true, the route you choose to take when riding your bike can have a dramatic impact on whether you get into an accident or not. You wouldn’t think the road you take or the bike path you traverse could have that big of an impact, but it most certainly can. That is why there are some rules you should follow when you’re planning your bike route. Whether you’re hopping on your bike for a quick ride to the store or you’re headed out for an extended ride to do some leaf peeping, your route can make all the impact on your safety. Here are some rules you should follow when planning your route to keep yourself safe and free from injury.
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Skip busy roads. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but even if the straightest line you can take will get you there faster, but it is the busiest road, you should skip it. Try to plan your trip on back roads where there is less traffic. A busy road is a recipe for disaster for even the most experienced cyclists.
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Make sure the route you are traveling is well-lit. This is especially important this time of year as you could be out on your ride and darkness could sneak up on you. It’s hard to remember that the evening darkness approaches earlier and earlier in the fall and if you get caught out riding when night falls you will want to make sure the road you are traveling is well-lit.
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Plan with an eye on intersections. While intersections are unavoidable, you can make an effort to ensure that the route you are planning to travel has limited intersections and where there are intersections they are well marked and will be safe to cross on your bike. To that end, when you get to an intersection you will want to get off your bike and cross with safety in mind.
When you plan your route you are making a roadmap for your safety and putting yourself in a position to avoid a Connecticut bicycle accident. Taking a few extra minutes to plan your route and get to your destination safely is one of the best things you can do to have a successful end to your bike season. Once you put your bike away for the season you’ll be itching to break it back out when the spring weather allows you to break out of your winter hibernation.
No matter how safe you are, injuries do happen from time to time, and in the event that you become injured you may want to speak with an attorney to review your situation. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will speak with you and work with you to protect your long-term interests.
