Your Essential Guide To Riding A Bike After Dark

By Author: Blackburn Design
Total Articles: 11
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Come nightfall, there is a definite shift in traffic patterns. With freer roads, cars tend to speed more and there is a higher incidence of drunk drivers.
Over and above taking the standard precautions associated with riding a bike; nighttime demands riders to take a few additional measures to ensure maximum safety. Riding safely after dark involves a little more than following the law and making sure you wear a helmet.
Here is how you can enhance your safety when you are required to ride your bicycle after dark –
• Installing bike headlightsto ride in the night is a norm in most parts of the world. Lights are required by law if you are riding in low-light conditions or after dark.
• As per the law, you are required to install a white light that is visible at least 500 feet to the front and bicycle tail lights or reflectors that are visible at 600 feet to the rear.
• By installing these ...
... lights, you are allowing other people to see you from the front as well as the back; making your riding conditions safer, especially on single-lane, unlit roads.
• Invest in rechargeable bike lights,on which you may rely in case you need to head out in an emergency.
• To further improve your visibility to cars on the road, make it a point to wear bright colored clothing as far as possible. If that is not possible at all times, consider investing in an orange vest or make use of reflective tape on your jacket.
• The more reflectors you can place on your person or your bike, the easier it will be for drivers to notice you on the roads.
• If you are training for an upcoming cycle-a-thon, ask a friend to ride in a car behind you and keep a watch on oncoming traffic.
• Once it is dark, it may get more difficult to notice an oil spill or a recently wet road. Using effective LED bike headlightsand maintaining a controlled speed is a practical way to avoid accidents.
• Avoid riding in high-traffic zones and areas that you arenot very familiar with unless absolutely necessary.
In addition to this, follow standard traffic rules irrespective of the hour of the night. Disobeying traffic rules is one of the principle reason of bike accidents. Do not deter from slowing down or opting for alternative modes of transport in conditions where you arenot confident about riding your bike.