Riding a bicycle can be a fantastic way to experience Fort Worth and make your daily commute a little more enjoyable. Bicycles are an eco-friendly form of transportation, they’re great for your health, and they allow you to avoid a lot of traffic jams and frustration. But did you know that, every year, over 600 bicyclists are injured or killed in crashes in Tarrant County?

The good news is that taking a few basic safety measures can help you to stay safe on the roads of Fort Worth. Read on to discover our top safety tips for Fort worth cyclists.

Always Wear a Helmet

The first and most important thing you can do to stay safe on a bicycle is to always wear a helmet. About 97 percent of people who die in bicycle accidents weren’t wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Wearing a helmet could literally save your life if you’re involved in a crash.

When you’re shopping for a helmet, the first thing to focus on is making sure the helmet fits you correctly. It’s also a good idea to look for a helmet that’s designed for your style of riding: recreational, road, or mountain. From there, you may want to consider specialized features, such as built-in mounts for a light or camera, aerodynamics, or cooling.

Slow Down Around Pedestrians

Once you’ve protected your head, it’s time to protect the people around you. Bicycles can pose a threat to pedestrians, and crashes with them can cause harm to the cyclist as well. It’s important to take some precautions when you’re in pedestrian-heavy areas.

Slow down when you’re riding around pedestrians, and keep a sharp eye out around you. Try to avoid riding on sidewalks when possible, and consider putting a light on your bike when you’re riding at night. If you are involved in an accident with a pedestrian, a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer may be able to help you get compensation for your injuries.

Put a Mirror on Your Bike

Keeping an eye on your surroundings is key to staying safe on your bicycle. But what do you do when dangers sneak up behind you? Putting a mirror on your bicycle can help you keep an eye all around you when you’re on the streets.

There are a few different types of bicycle mirrors you can use, depending on your preferences and riding style. Helmet and eyeglass mirrors can give you a 360-degree view of the road just by turning your head slightly. Handlebar mirrors can give you a good view of the dangers coming up behind you.

Pick Your Route Based on Your Skill

Another important step for staying safe while bicycling is to pick a route based on your skill. In mountain biking and some recreational biking, this choice is a little more obvious, and some mountain bike trails are marked with difficulty levels to make your selection easier. You probably know that if you just started mountain biking last week, you probably don’t want to go on an expert-level trail.

But considering your skill level is just as important in road biking, too. Some roads will have less traffic, be flatter and straighter, and have fewer blind spots. Stick to these roads as much as possible while you’re building your skill, and only tackle roads with steep inclines, sharp curves, and heavy traffic once you’re confident you’ll be able to ride defensively in those situations.

Ride Safe in Fort Worth, TX

A bicycle can be a fantastic way to get around Fort Worth, and taking some basic safety measures can keep these rides enjoyable. Always make sure to wear a helmet, and consider putting a mirror on your bike. Pick your route based on your skill level, and always use a little extra caution in pedestrian-heavy areas.