Michelle Kazlausky was half way through the 102 mile Pelotonia Bicycle Tour between Columbus and Athens, Ohio. Friends said Michelle spent months preparing for the ride and raising funds for the Livestrong Cancer Research Foundation. As a state patrolman signaled her through an intersection, a pick-up truck failed to stop and slammed into her. Michelle Kazlausky joined the 600 to 700 bicycle deaths each year in the U.S. With drivers more distracted than ever, we all need some guidance on how to survive a bike ride.
In addition to the fatalities another 500,000 bike riders are hospitalized each year, including 150,000 head injuries. Here are some ideas on improving your biking safety:
• Wear a helmet. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety: of the 6,295 U.S. bicycle deaths between 2000 and 2008, 5,669 riders, or 90%, were not wearing a helmet. If you are one of the helmet-less future casualties, drop by a bike shop or sports store. Helmets are lighter, vented, attractively designed, and available at affordable prices. Use your head and wear one;
• Wear colorful clothing. My biking jerseys are bright yellow with bold red lettering. Friends say I look like Wonder Bread. The same goes for gloves and socks. Distracted drivers must see you. Amplify your biking clothes;
• Avoid fog and twilight. Morning fog and weak evening lighting dim the prospects for driver viability. An hour earlier or later is safer. There are miniature xenon lamps for your helmet or bike that help in the evenings, but the technology for fog horns is still being developed;
• Ride country roads and bike trails. Avoid riding in heavy traffic. Drivers are changing lanes and dreaded car doors will catapult you into an emergency room. I ride in the country near horse farms where only occasionally a four wheel vehicle interrupts the quiet beauty. Some cities offer bike trails;
• Ride to be seen. I ride a foot into the roadway rather than in the bike lane, moving over to the right upon hearing an approaching vehicle. Some drivers give me the horn or other gestures. That’s okay! With so many drivers texting, looking for a cigarette, or spilling coffee on their legs, cars drift into the bike lane unaware of riders;
• Listen to the highway. In the past my ears were plugged with music or an audio book. This year I ride with friends, not my IPod. It is amazing what you hear in highway noise to help avoid a collision. Friends are complaining about my humming;
• Traffic signs apply to bike riders. Your spinning may be exceeding twenty miles an hour, or you are flying down a hill, but bikers must halt at stop signs or flashing lights no matter how quiet the intersection looks an eighth of a mile away.
None of the above ideas would have helped Michelle Kazlausky. Perhaps there is an unstoppable crisis awaiting some of us up the road. Biking is a relatively safe and healthy hobby. Just remember some drivers are not paying attention. Our job is to get their attention and/or get out of the way the best we can. Spin away!
