Safety, precautions and the rules of the road
Denver was rated the 12th most bicycle friendly city by Bicycling.com, so even in densely motorized sections of town there are options for a bicyclist to have a safe and fun ride.
Some Basic Rules of the Road:
Riding on the sidewalk is illegal. The only exception to this rule is if the sidewalk is part of a designated bike route or the rider is accessing a B-Station or other bike parking facility.
"Ride to the Right". When you are riding WITH the flow of traffic be sure you are at a safe distance to the right as possible.
Pedestrians have the right-of-way, and you should always announce your presence if you are passing a pedestrian or another cyclist.
Always pass on the left. Announce "on your left!" and proceed to ride ahead of the other cyclist or pedestrian.
Use hand signals to show direction change. With those signals always look over your shoulder and give yourself enough time to safely change lanes or cross the street.
Stop lights and stop signs apply to you the cyclist just as much as the car next to you.
Safety First:
Wear a Helmet. Even a minor fall or accident can cause serious head injuries.
How far right, is right? There are two things to pay attention to when you are riding on the right. The first, "The Curb", curbs and gutters can be significant obstacles that can significantly limit your escape options from a dangerous situation. Gutters can catch your tires and curbs can catch your pedal, causing a crash.
Don't Get Doored. When you are riding in a bike lane, or just riding on the right side of the road that is lined with parked cars, you should always be aware that a door could open at any time.
Use lights, brightly colored clothing, reflective clothing and even ride a brightly colored bike! This allows other cyclist, pedestrians and vehicles to see where you are.
Use a bell or a horn, they announce your presence and they can be a very stylish accessory for your bicycle.
And remember! There is safety in numbers. Denver is doing a great job investing in safer bike infrastructure, with an average increase in cumulative total facilities of 18% a year since 2008! THANK YOU DENVER! But we bicyclists need to use them Take a little time to get to know and even go out of your way to use our great paths, marked sharrows and lanes. You’ll be safer and meet cool people when you stop and those stop lights. Click Here to go to Denver’s Bicycle map. Denver B-Cycles and Denver B-cycle riders have helped to focus the public’s attention on urban mobility and bicycles as an affordable, clean, healthy and fun transportation alternative that can replace car trips. Now let’s work together to focus the public on safe riding practices. Let’s do it now before there are more accidents and more serious accidents!
Riding against the flow of traffic is incredibly dangerous. This is a common offense and accounts for the highest number of car-bike collisions