Is Cycling Really as Dangerous as They Say?

Pixabay

Cycling is, without a doubt, one of the best ways to get fit and stay that way. But a lot of people are put off of it. They see it as a dangerous activity. This is probably because of its associations with fast travel. When we think of cycling, we often think about traffic. We think about disputes between cyclists and car drivers, where the driver ends up getting a Speeding ticket or something similar. Other forms of exercise begin to look a lot more attractive. After all, there are no speeding cars in the gym, right? And even running outside means you get to stay on the sidewalk.

But as long as you’re in the right state of mind, cycling can be safe. Here are a few things you should keep in mind.

Quieter routes

These fears tend to come with the assumption that the only paths you can cycle on in your area consist of the road. But are you sure you’ve researched the area in which you live thoroughly enough? There may actually be suitable cycling paths in nearby parks or fields. You could walk your bicycle over to these areas (which keeps you off the road) and then mount once you reach the cycling path.

Geograph

Insurance and claims

Somtimes with biking, you have to think about what happens if you do to get into an Indianapolis bicycle accident and what happens after. Of course, not everyone is only worried about the injuries in and of themselves. When you’re involved in an accident, there are a bunch of other things you need to worry about. Medical bills, for instance. An injury could result in you having to stay away from work. In short, there are financial matters to consider, too. You can counter this with the right cycling insurance plan. You could even research cycle accident claims if the worst happens. If you do get into an accident then you should do some research into which law firm can give you the best services. You, as the bicycle rider, are vulnerable on the roads so you should get good representation if anything does happen to you.

Maintenance

Not every accident will involve negligence on the road. Not taking the right maintenance steps for your bicycle can lead to it malfunctioning at critical moments. You have to make sure you keep it in excellent condition throughout the year. The brakes need to work perfectly. The system needs to respond correctly when you change gears. You need to keep it cleaned, because dirt can cause damage over time. You may even want to look into mudguards. These will help you keep damaging dirt away from your frame and other components.

Pixabay

Reflection aids

In many states, this is actually a legal requirement. (As it should be!) Having reflective aids on the front and the back of your bicycle is incredibly important at night. You could also add some reflective strips along the frame. A visibility jacket will help even further. Don’t worry if you and your bike don’t end up looking very cool. You’ll be much safer!

Puncture risks

When cycling, people don’t tend to pay much attention to the ground in front of them. They keep their senses tuned to look out for cars, obstacles, and pedestrians. This, of course, is extremely important! But it’s important to have an occasional look at what’s going to be under your tyre in the near future. If you end up puncturing your tyre, you may put yourself in a very dangerous position! You should look into getting protective layers placed underneath the tyre to help prevent punctures.