Questions tagged [safety]

Riding safely, safety equipment, and safe places to ride.

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What percentage of bike vs. car accidents at night could be avoided by good side visibility?

I'm trying to assess how important side visibility is at night on a bike.
Clay Nichols's user avatar
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7 votes
4 answers
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What is the braking (stopping) distance for bicycles?

A vehicle driver must keep enough braking distance (aka stopping distance) between him/her and a vehicle in front in order to avoid collision. It depends on the driving speed. What is the braking ...
Orion's user avatar
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3 answers
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Does a three foot passing law actually require drivers to give three feet?

Utah has a three foot passing law that states: Title 41 Chapter 6a Section 706.5 Operation of motor vehicle near bicycle prohibited. An operator of a motor vehicle may not knowingly, ...
amcnabb's user avatar
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7 votes
3 answers
1k views

Tips for having partner drive support.

I am hoping to get some tips and suggestions for having a partner drive support for long rides (training or touring). Is it best to plan spots that they will meet you and can get to your location of ...
Matthew's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
299 views

How to pass by a horse and rider? [duplicate]

I sometimes meet horse riders on my way. As the road is closed for the regular motor traffic, I am not sure if these riders and horses are trained enough so I do not need to care. What is the safe ...
nightrider's user avatar
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7 votes
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294 views

Thunderstorm Safety

I commute 5 miles each way to work. I live in a climate where the weather can change from decent to torrential rain and thundering within 5 minutes (i.e. the first mile of my commute). This ...
Joe's user avatar
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5 answers
2k views

Can a Reynolds 753 aero fork steerer tube be unbent?

I was hit by a car and now the steerer of my Reynolds 753 aero fork is bent. Is it possible to bend them back? Would that be safe? I can't afford a new pair!
tom's user avatar
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3 answers
356 views

How can I tell if a helmet will be comfortable before buying?

Barring taking a helmet on a 50-mile ride before buying it: Some kinds of chin straps, for example, won't stay tight, and some kinds of cages aren't comfortable no matter how I adjust them. What ...
Goodbye Stack Exchange's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
1k views

Fracture in folding frame - safe to ride?

I cycle every day because I live in a city and I find it a fun, fit and convenient mode of transport. I am not a cycling hobbyist, am only averagely fit and know pretty much nothing about bike ...
Bob Tway's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
393 views

How to get back on the road again?

I am from Mumbai, India. And as some of you might be knowing, it is a pretty crazy traffic on roads here. Many times, it so happens that trucks, cars etc. may force you to get off the road while you ...
Subodh's user avatar
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3 answers
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Effect of helmets and other impressions of the bike rider on driver behaviour?

Are there any studies on the effect of helmets and/or other impressions of the bike rider, on driver behaviour? Has anyone collected their own data on things like this? Has anyone noticed any other ...
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How does the risk of a cyclist colliding with a vehicle vary with the speed difference?

In a recent answer I asserted Statistics show that the probability of a collision rises rapidly after the speed difference between two road users exceeds 20 kph (12 mph). So choose paths without ...
andy256's user avatar
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Is cycling an aerobic or anaerobic exercise? What is the effect of cycling on weight loss?

I like to do cycling and I want to lose weight through cycling. But my friend told me about cardio instead of cycling, since cycling burns calories at a much slower rate. Is it true? So what's better ...
Santic's user avatar
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6 votes
7 answers
3k views

How to handle motorists' dangerous behaviour with an impassable group?

I rode in a Velowagen (1) with over 300 cyclists on the national bike route in Switzerland, while on a narrow countryside road a few cars began piling behind us and one of them started trying to pass ...
bookman B.'s user avatar
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6 answers
1k views

Can I run a red light at a T junction?

I was wondering if I was on a bike could I run a red light if it is impossible for me to get hit by a car? (Unless the car drives into the bike lane). I made a quick picture on paint to try and show ...
Anthony Hoang's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

Does tire need immediate replacement?

I have received a hand-down bike from a friend that had a punctured inner tube which I have since patched, however during my fix I noticed that the tyre is not in the best condition when looking at ...
strox's user avatar
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6 answers
4k views

Is riding shirtless safe?

During the summer, I like to go for rides on trails without a shirt. Is this safe? Also, related: is it rude to other people on the trail not to wear a shirt?
Kevin's user avatar
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3 answers
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What is the drag / power lost to a safety flag?

I have a recumbent bike that has a safety flag on the top of a thin pole, so it flutters around higher than and after my head. How much power am I losing to this flag that could be used to power my ...
Criggie's user avatar
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6 answers
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Dealing with homicidal drivers [duplicate]

I do a 35km return commute into a big city. Almost daily, someone tries to run me over. Just in the past month I've experienced the following: I filter to the front of the traffic, wait at the ...
LifeCycle's user avatar
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3 answers
2k views

What is the role of the "safety plate" on a Shimano Hollowtech II crank?

The left crankarm of an HollowTech II crank has a little part called "safety plate" (number 4 on the drawing below). What is exactly its role, and what kind of 'safety' does it offer given ...
Rеnаud's user avatar
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2 answers
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Are some tires safer than others?

I bought a Bell Road tire from Walmart. Since I haven't exactly had great luck with Walmart bicycle products, I looked up the reviews... not so great. In their defense, they are 1.375, not 1.25, but ...
user1833028's user avatar
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2 answers
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Is my carbon frame done?

I have a carbon trek Emonda bicycle. Today, my rear derailleur got caught in my wheel. As a result, the rear derailleur is bent, the rear derailleur hanger snapped off, the chain got twisted and the ...
Bubblesphere's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
337 views

How can I gauge what angle I can safely ride at on a downhill curve?

On a Strava segment featuring a 80-100m-long, 40-50m radius curve going downhill on a paved road at about 8-10%, I make generous use of my brakes out of fear of wiping out on my 23mm, fairly slick ...
Jules's user avatar
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4 answers
505 views

Safety check for a used bike

I'm a poor student and I bought a used bike. I don't have experience with bikes and I want to make sure that the bike is safe for me because actually I found the bike in a garbage container and the ...
Jack Twain's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
764 views

Are 2-way bike lanes safe?

For this question, I'm referring to bike lanes of the type shown here: To me they seem like a really bad idea. Firstly, one of the lanes is going against traffic. In this instance, the cars ...
Kibbee's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
496 views

Riding with a Gates belt past its due replacement mileage: can it snap or other risks?

I just purchased a belt drive bike (Gates CD). Maintenance free, according to the BS and what I have read online. The only attention is to replace it every 5000 km. Since I usually ride around 8000 ...
L.Dutch's user avatar
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6 votes
3 answers
3k views

Safety guidelines when using MTB clipless pedals on a road bike

Yesterday, I went for a ride and my legs felt really great (hadn't been cycling for about 2 weeks) so when I was climbing on a hill, I decided to go on a full blown sprint and unfortunately... somehow ...
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
669 views

In city traffic, is sitting more upright safer than more aero positions?

I like the handlebar height lower than the average road bikes I see in my city. Am wondering if I am putting myself in more risk.
nolawi's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
337 views

Is this rim safe?

The rim has a parting at the join: This is a brand new wheel, and I was wondering if this is a safe one. Could it split at the join?
Will's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
4k views

Overheating: Are Latex inner tubes on rim brake carbon wheels safe?

Currently I'm using standard butyl inner tubes on my clincher carbon wheels. My bike uses rim brakes, and searching on internet I have found that carbon rims are not great for dissipating heat: ...
Edgardo Barría Melián's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
394 views

I want to ride a bike, but its dangerous for me to have weight on my arms

I ride about 6 miles a day to work and back. I would like to ride more, but because of a bum shoulder I am increasingly getting into dangerous situations and I want to give up riding. I have a Giant ...
nonremovable's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
371 views

Safety vest: is an all-reflective one fine?

I stumbled across a question on whether yellow or orange safety vests were better for visibility, and it got me wondering - I have a vest that consists only of the silvery reflective fabric (and it ...
KeyboardCat's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
970 views

What bicycle safe anti-car road spikes exist?

I am curious if there is a technology that allows bicycles to run over it, but will destroy car tires. From my understanding, usually poles like this are placed on trails to prevent vehicles from ...
Timothy Swan's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
9k views

How to properly attach a "tag-along" bicycle

I have a tag-along for my son that wants to join me on some rides. It's a great way for father-son bonding. He's 7yo. I've attached the collar of the tag-along to my seat post, and tightened the four ...
Fandango68's user avatar
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6 votes
4 answers
1k views

If a lane is going to expand should the left lane be taken prior to the expansion?

This is US law and roads. Drive on right side. Speed Limit is 45mph (72kmh) And as @Benedikt Bauer pointed out solid white lines are not supposed to be crossed. In the morning though there is very ...
Ryan's user avatar
  • 584
6 votes
3 answers
744 views

Does a highly visible frame colour improve safety significantly?

Studies have shown that wearing hi-viz colours, particularly on moving extremities such as one's feet, coupled with hi-viz helmets and cycling shirts, increases the chance of been seen by a driver ...
murungu's user avatar
  • 215
6 votes
2 answers
623 views

Is a headlight required to emit light to the sides?

The California Vehicle Code says: (d) A bicycle operated during darkness upon a highway, a sidewalk where bicycle operation is not prohibited by the local jurisdiction, or a bikeway, as defined ...
Johnny's user avatar
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6 votes
4 answers
2k views

Cycling traffic signs and rules in Germany

I'm over 30 and have just started cycling in real traffic, my first experience, as I have only ever ridden as a child in parks and such. I live in a university town in the state of Baden-Württemberg ...
Ivar Persson's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
263 views

Safe to Ride Tires Packaged for Two Years?

Below is a picture of two Continental 5000's that were kept in their boxes for about two years: They were kept out of direct sunlight inside a house that was not climate controlled. The tires feel ...
Shawn Eary's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
4k views

Child sleeping in bike trailer

My husband and I like to take our 3.5 year old daughter for bike rides and she rides in a trailer. But the problem is that she is sitting idly on a calm, mostly smooth ride on a bike path surrounded ...
TheSmallestOne's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
4k views

Sunglasses anti-fog solutions safe for cycling

I wear full sun protection when I ride, including sunglasses and a tube wrap around the lower half of my face. The issue I have is that in cool weather the wrap tends to channel air from my lungs up ...
Michael's user avatar
  • 1,249
6 votes
1 answer
552 views

Do cyclists make safer drivers?

Is there any research that suggests cyclists are safer drivers than drivers who don't cycle? Is there evidence to suggest the opposite? Please remember this is not a discussion. Please include ...
Jason S's user avatar
  • 2,153
6 votes
2 answers
240 views

Are there any post 2013 studies available that focus on the use of bike lights during the day to prevent collisions with cars? [duplicate]

My cousin was recently killed when hit by a car from behind as he was cycling his road bike in the countryside in broad daylight. The accident occurred on a sunny day as he entered a shaded area of ...
Chloe's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is there a significant difference between the new all-mountain/trail and classic cross country helmets?

There is a new niche of "all mountain" helmets, like Fox Flux, POC Trabec, 661 Recon etc. They feature closed, rounded backward design, and claim to protect the brainstem better. I ride all-mountain ...
J-unior's user avatar
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5 votes
9 answers
1k views

How would the "pros" bike this commute?

I've been putting up some pounds and have a bike gathering dust at home =D I normally commute by bus or carpool, but would like an opinion from some more seasoned bikers on how you'd tackle this ...
alex_mayorga's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
3k views

Signal a u-turn to road users

I am living in the UK and in this situation (sorry for my bad drawing): The bike (the dot in front) wants to do a u-turn and needs to signal to the car (the dot behind). If the bike does not signal, ...
user avatar
5 votes
10 answers
6k views

Is it possible to get a light that is too bright?

This question is related to this recent question: Best ways to avoid getting hit by cars? I have a 750 lumens front head light - it's bright! Some of my riding buddies say it is too bright for the ...
Trevor's user avatar
  • 636
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

What is a safe weight for front rack + luggage for a steel race bike fork?

I frequently commute with a backpack on my '90s steel race bike, and encounter the usual issues of sweaty back and tired shoulders. The riding position is also not perfect for carrying a backpack on ...
goose_lake's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
4k views

Turn signal lights for bikes

I am interested in buying turn signal lights for bicycles. I read something about here and in other websites, but I did not find answers for the following questions: For the point of view of a driver,...
Zhozer's user avatar
  • 161
5 votes
6 answers
4k views

Why do only downhill mountain bikers wear full face helmets?

A lot of cyclists are concerned about safety and having the proper equipment, but I have never seen a cyclist riding in the city with a full-face helmet, nor have I seen a full-face helmet marketed ...
Kris's user avatar
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