Questions tagged [safety]
Riding safely, safety equipment, and safe places to ride.
536 questions
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How safe are NTA-877 e-bike helmets for real world use?
If a helmet designed for urban, class 3 e-bike riding passes the NTA-8776 standard, will it actually be sufficiently for urban, class 3 e-bike riding? I can imagine several scenarios where meeting the ...
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Fixed gear Biking, how to ride properly?
I Have been riding bikes since I've been 6 years old, and I don't mean riding up and down the street - I mean touring with my sisters for 10-20 Km. Later on, I really got into Downhill.
Over time I ...
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Pedal-powered head/tail lights
I'm planning to get a pair of pedal-powered head & tail lights to get my husband as a gift.
He commutes ~11mi roundtrip every day to/from work. In summer, he rides a Cannondale touring bike. In ...
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What to do after an accident?
This morning I almost witnessed an accident. I was a couple of hundred metres behind the incident but arrived at the scene when a pedestrian was picking a bike from the middle of the road, a ...
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What should I be looking for when buying reflective lights for night riding?
I would like to buy some reflective tape to stick on my wheels and to my frame to increase visibility at night.
From a look on eBay, it seems there's a variety of different types of reflective tapes ...
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Stick lodging into front wheel - is it preventable?
I had a classic bike accident in a forest today. A short stick about 4cm thick got stuck into my front wheel, bent the mudguard into number 7, ripped three spokes from the rim and threw me over the ...
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How can I make my bike (and myself) visible at night?
By winter I will be commuting on my bike at night. How can I make my bike as visible as possible to all car drivers?
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Night cycling: Is it worth using electroluminescent wire?
It's currently winter in the UK, so for my commute to and from work I need lights and reflective surfaces for safety. I've read about local people losing their lives cycling, so I want to make myself ...
- 1,403
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Has mandated/suggested cycling liability insurance been implemented successfully in any jurisdiction?
Any time a few cyclists organize a group ride, more seasoned riders come over and whisper to the organizers that they are taking a risk. Bicycle riding (blissfully) does not require liability ...
- 259
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My wife has Cerebral Palsy (CP) so can’t balance on a normal bike, what are the options so she can go cycling with me?
My wife has Cerebral Palsy (CP) so can’t balance on a normal bike, what are the options so she can go cycling with me?
We don't own a van, the size of any "bike" is important as it will have to fit ...
- 1,403
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Is a long, high angle stem safe to use with a carbon steerer?
I purchased a hardly used road bike someone else had built up for a deal a few weeks ago, and am a bit disappointed with the fit - it's fine for rides less than a couple hours, but too aggressive for ...
- 21.2k
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Long sleeves for safety?
I took @Jason's and @Neil's advice and practiced wearing clipless pedals in cold weather. I fell three times (nearly four) last week, all at very low speeds: twice because of ice, and twice because of ...
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What are the risks of a compromised top tube and of attempts to repair it?
I understand that the top tube undergoes mostly compression (rather than tension or twisting) forces. My question is: what happens if a top tube is compromised? What are the risks?
For context, I'm ...
- 17.4k
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How to avoid crashing while mountain biking
After the tragic news of Scott Huntley, with myself just an average rider I've had a number of broken bones and concussions that have made me want to quit. Most recently I got knocked out after an OTB....
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Is it possible to replace the flat-top pins on flat pedals with ones that have a dome top?
Is it possible to replace the flat-top pins on flat pedals with ones that have a dome top?
I'm finding that SPD pedals are a bad idea — for me. If I make a mistake while trying something new, I'm much ...
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Using a ski helmet for winter biking
I am curious if anyone uses a skiing helmet for winter biking? Would this be safe? Are skiing helmets designed to protect you from the same kind of accidents that you would have on a bike?
My ...
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What camera could I mount or rig to my bike that can read/recognize license plates
Background and context:
I'm getting tired, very tired. I live in a car-addicted cesspool (I don't own a car, I only bike and walk) with some of the worst drivers south of Mason-Dixon line. Every, and ...
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6
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2
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Will a rack-mounted child seat be safe if the rack's maximum load is 2kg less than the seat manufacturer describes as the minimum load?
The question might sound confusing (my apologies), but here are the specifics.
I have a bike that's fitted with a Racktime rack, which has a maximum load of 25kg.
I also recently got a child seat that'...
- 24.6k
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Accidentally punctured through aluminum frame with a screw tip - still safe? Repairable?
I went to tighten up my rear rack and realized that it was actually a screw not a bolt holding one of the arms on my rear bike to my frame. Apparently I stupidly used a screw that's longer than the ...
- 6,284
5
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How to determine Giro helmet age?
I have a Giro Savant helmet and I was wondering if it's due for replacement based on age. I thought helmets usually had a clear "year of manufacture" type sticker or something but I can't ...
- 1,403
14
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Armor and helmet for ultra-safe commuting (women's size)?
I'm about to start daily bike commuting again after a long hiatus, and I want to go all out on safety. My fear of an accident is extreme enough that I am looking into regularly wearing body armor and ...
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Are winter tires (with studs) safe to use in summer-like conditions?
The climate where I live is such that you may get snow or even true ice one day, but it will be dry gravel and tarmac on another. I understand that winter tires would not be ideal on these, but ...
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How far a damaged rim can be taken safely
While riding last week, I was going over an obstacle at speed and I did not manage to lift my back wheel, therefore think I damaged the rear rim.
Since the damaged is looking minor, how far is it safe ...
- 6,747
6
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2
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Material chipping from fork dropout. Still safe?
I have a 10 year old Suntour suspension fork where some of the material on the dropout has started to chip and fall off. I think it has happened because of some harsh winters with lots of road salt. ...
- 1,006
55
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Protocol for downhill cyclist overtaking a car?
Last weekend, I was driving (yes in a car, something I rarely do) down a fairly steep and very curvy mountain road (thus with very poor sight lines/visibility ahead) when I noticed a cyclist in my ...
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As recumbents are low to the ground and hard to see, how to you use one safely on a normal road?
My wife thinks that she can't use a recumbent on the roads, as a car driver will not be able to see it. What’s the solution?
- 131k
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Is it legal to pass a car on the right when that car is turning?
So I've been poring over the bikes SE, and as a recreational biker and an automobile commuter, I'm naturally most interested in topics addressing how bikes interact with automotive traffic.
In one ...
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How can I prevent cars from passing me too closely?
Recently, a driver buzzed by me, leaving just a couple of inches between my handlebars and his car. It was very scary.
In general, how can I prevent cars from passing me too closely?
Please cite ...
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Do I really need to replace my helmet every 2-3 years if it hasn't been in a crash?
OK, I know from the top answer here: When or how often should I replace my bike helmet?, that I should buy a new helmet every 2-3 years, even if it hasn't been in a crash and shows no signs of damage.
...
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Staying out of the blind spot of a truck that has camera "mirrors"?
As a little kid, I learned a simple rule when cycling around trucks, vans and buses to stay out of their blind spot: "If you can see the driver, the driver can see you". When stopping at an ...
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3
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Recommended wall thickness on rims with caliper brakes
I have caliper brakes on my 700C road bike wheels. I notice that the surface of the rims, both front and back, where the brake pads make contact is starting to look a little worn (after eleven years).
...
- 4,576
2
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2
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472
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How unsafe is it to ride a bike with this dent in aluminium top tube?
This didn't happen as part of a crash. In fact, I'm not sure what might be the reason. I just looked down and saw this while riding on a sunny day. My bike is always in my room and I live alone. I sit ...
- 1,403
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What to look for in bone conduction headphones for bike voice navigation?
I am getting lost. Easily. And looking too hard at the screen (phone mounted on the handlebars) makes me lose concentration. Luckily, Komoot I'm trying now, and Google Maps, provide voice navigation. ...
- 1,403
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6
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What statutes govern the directing of traffic by citizens in Massachusetts?
Are there laws or statutes governing the directing of traffic by citizens or "members of the public"?
A scenario I often encounter is one in which someone — typically another rider or pedestrian in a ...
- 4,576
7
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3
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902
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How strong are pedals?
Pedals are obviously a critical interface with the bike. A broken pedal axle would be catastrophic, most likely causing injury or even death, especially considering that pedal failure would really ...
- 131k
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Red light facing forwards?
I was criticized for having a blinking red light facing forwards on my handlebars (in addition to a White headlight). What is wrong with this? It was nighttime in Manhattan. Isn't more always better ...
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How much protection would a motorcycle jacket provide in a low speed, ebike accident?
How much protection would a motorcycle jacket with CE certified body armor provide in a sub 20mph/32kmh, ebike accident? I'm particularly interested in the following scenarios:
A car running a stop ...
- 8,134
16
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4
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Max weight of child, for rear bike seats - why is it always (seemingly) 22kg?
I had a rear child's bike seat on my old bike (which was stolen, boo hoo). It was a Yepp Maxi and was the kind that sits on a rack, rather than being mounted to the seat post.
The maximum weight ...
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Why would a salty damp road be slipperier than the same road just damp?
I came off this morning* on a road I ride every day, in all weather conditions. Last night was frosty so the road was salted/gritted, but there was no visible frost nearby, it had warmed up from the ...
- 1,403
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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 ...
- 8,134
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Why is it safer to bike with traffic, instead of facing oncoming cars?
There has been an ongoing debate in my area's local newspaper, regarding biking with vs. against the flow of traffic. A recent incident in which a cyclist was hit from behind, and later died of his ...
- 21.2k
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I have a Weeride child seat (mounted on top tube). I worry that if the handlebars turn suddenly, they will hit my child. How can I manage this risk?
I have a Weeride child seat, mounted atop my top tube.
I am concerned that if my handlebars turn abruptly, they will stab my child (please do say if there's a better term for this than stab). How do ...
- 53.1k
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Is it unsafe to put a stoker stem on the front?
This year my wife and I bought a used tandem and have been having fun. We like long rides on our singles, but the tandem cockpit is uncomfortable for me. I'd like to put an extra-long stem on the ...
- 11
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Safety data: Which is safer, head/tail lights which blink or emit a steady beam?
My head and tail lights can be set to blink or emit a steady beam of light.
I usually set my rear (red) light to blink, because I believe it makes me more visible at night. My friend argues that it ...
- 1,403
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Is Touring in a highway more safe than travel in a Car, Autobus or Motorbike?
Please share your past experience on touring. I have my own past experience but running only on my city.
I am on bicycle since I was 11 years old. I used it for moving in my city and I still do.
...
- 131k
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Slipping handle bar, how to torque safely
I ride a bow shaped handlebar mounted in quill stem. I am riding this with a somewhat sporty setup, which means I do have weight on my hands and thus handlebar grips.
Originally I torqued this to 8Nm....
- 1,484
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Did this part come from my bicycle?
I was working on my bicycle, a 2021 Domane SL5, and laid it on the ground. When I picked it up, I saw a small metal ring on the ground underneath. I don’t know for certain if the metal piece came off ...
- 131k
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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 ...
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Used mongoose BMX started having issues with rear sprocket not engaging when pedaling causing safety issue
I got a used Mongoose BMX for my son. I know when I was younger Mongoose was halfway decent. But now they kinda stink. Putting that lightly!
Anyway the bike rode well at first, then after a flat tire ...
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Time for a new tyre?
On my ride yesterday the rubber on my tyre seemed to rip away revealing the second layer of the tyre. I was wondering whether this would still be safe to ride on. Maybe the tyre is less puncture-...
- 3,291