Basic Bike Tips

1. Plan Ahead - Before you bike, think about your clothes, where to park, how you'll lock your bike, and what you'll do in bad weather. Make a practice run when traffic's easier.
   
   
2. Wear a Helmet - Helmets keep you safe from a fatality and is the cheapest insurance you can buy. Make sure it meets ANSI standards.
   
   
3. Be Visible and Predictable - Make sure that other traffic can see you. Use hand signals for turns or stops.
   
   
4. Ride Your Bike the Way You Drive a Car- Ride on the right, with traffic. Stop at STOP signs and red lights. Ride in a lane that goes where you're going.
   
   
5. Use Lights in the Dark - Night-cycling accounts for over 30% of cyclist deaths, largely because few use lights. In the dark, use lights on both the front and back of your bike.
   
   
6. Combo Commute - Take your bike on transit. When the commute is too long to bike the whole way, consider splitting it between driving and biking. You'll save money, burn calories, reduce driving and pollute less!
   
   
7. Communicate – use hand signals and make eye contact with motorists.