The number of bicycle accidents across the country rose by 9 percent between 2008 and 2017, a grim reminder of the growing number of bicyclists on our roads and the risks they face every day. In order to tackle the growing threat to bicyclist safety, the Governors’ Highway Safety Association has joined hands with Uber Eats, the online food delivery platform, to educate bicyclists about the need to ride safely.
The Governors’ Highway Safety Association is a non-profit advocacy group that aims to promote efforts to keep all users of the roads, including bicyclists, safe. Uber Eats has a strong presence in many American cities, including the metro Atlanta region. Uber Eats and the Governors’ Highway Safety Association have come up with a set of eight tips for bicyclists to stay safe on the roads. The tips, although developed by Uber Eats for its thousands of bicyclist delivery boys across the country, are nevertheless also applicable to all bicyclists.
The Bicycle Delivery Safety Tips booklet advises all bicyclists to choose a bicycle that fits them correctly. This means that you should be able to extend your leg fully while pedaling.  A test to make sure you have the proper size bike is to see if your feet can reach the ground when you are seated on the bicycle.
Another tip is to keep up with routine bicycle maintenance. Unfortunately, bike maintenance is not something that every bicyclist pays attention to. After all, this is a non-motorized machine, so the risks of an accident involving defective parts or a deflated tire are minimal, right? Wrong.  Be sure to check for tire pressure before you begin your ride, and make sure that the pedals are functioning properly.
Another very important tip is to make sure that you are visible to everyone else on the road. That means wearing bright or fluorescent -colored clothing, and sticking reflective tape to the back of your bicycle. Use blinking lights in the front to signal your presence to motorists.
One of the most important tips, however, is to always wear a certified bicycle helmet. Your helmet should fit your head properly. That means that you should have a gap of two fingers width between your chin and the helmet. A helmet that is too snug will be uncomfortable, and you will be less likely to wear the helmet. Â On the flip side, a helmet that is too loose means that the helmet may be at risk of coming off your head during an accident, which could lead to a deadly result.
When riding your bike, ride in the same direction as oncoming traffic. Remember to obey all traffic signs as they apply to you as well. Don’t ride your bicycle on sidewalks. These are meant for pedestrians only.
If you are riding past a row of parked cars, protect yourself by placing a distance of a car door width between your bicycle and the cars. This way you avoid crashing into a suddenly- opened car door, a frequent and injurious accident situation involving bicyclists in Atlanta.
The Governors’ Highway Safety Association also asks all bicyclists to limit distraction and keep their hands on the handle bars and eyes on the road while riding. Don’t use voice-activated cell phone systems – your attention must be focused on getting to your destination safely.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, consulting with an experienced bicycle accident attorneys can help you navigate the complexities of filing a claim and make sure you get the maximum recovery you deserve.