Questions tagged [safety]

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

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34 votes
10 answers
11k views

What should I look for when buying a used bicycle?

I'm moving to a city where I can ride a bicycle to the grocery store, coffee shop etc. I want to purchase a decent used bicycle. I'm leaning towards a bike that's in between a "10-speed" or road-bike ...
MrDatabase's user avatar
48 votes
16 answers
10k views

Best ways to avoid getting hit by cars?

When riding through city traffic, what are the best ways to increase the chance you are seen, given a bit of space, and are not touched by any vehicles?
ebrohman's user avatar
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63 votes
15 answers
42k views

Why don't cyclists wear all-encompassing motorcycle-style helmets?

It is possible to get a helmet that covers your entire head and face, and in theory would protect you against more kinds of falls. In particular, Why don't bicyclists wear them, and why do ...
Goodbye Stack Exchange's user avatar
59 votes
21 answers
11k views

Is listening to music dangerous while cycling? [closed]

This wouldn't apply to riding technical trails or anything challenging, but are there any reasons to eschew the tunes while riding? Noise canceling earbuds would probably be hazardous to myself and ...
Kara Marfia's user avatar
19 votes
34 answers
18k views

What are the reasons for and against wearing a bicycle helmet?

This is a tricky question to ask correctly. One attempt has already been closed as subjective and argumentative. There is no one correct answer, for sure. However, there are interesting reasons that I ...
113 votes
6 answers
37k views

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 ...
user229044's user avatar
  • 3,566
58 votes
30 answers
14k views

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?
b.roth's user avatar
  • 1,807
25 votes
14 answers
18k views

Bicycle designed for one-arm usage?

I badly fractured my shoulder in a car accident and have limited mobility in my right arm after the repair. Is there a way for me to safely bicycle on city streets with one arm? Can I modify my ...
RoboKaren's user avatar
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70 votes
8 answers
9k views

When or how often should I replace my bike helmet?

I’ve fallen a couple times, but no serious damage is visible on the helmet except for a couple divots here and there. Should I consistently be replacing my helmet after a certain amount of time? ...
kamens's user avatar
  • 803
55 votes
17 answers
10k views

How to get over anger at inconsiderate drivers

Fortunately, I have very few strongly negative interactions with cars (most people generally seem to respect the way I ride), but those that do stick with me for a while. The scenario is almost ...
Felix's user avatar
  • 763
41 votes
12 answers
52k views

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 ...
sixtyfootersdude's user avatar
12 votes
6 answers
22k views

What are the advantages of filling tires with Nitrogen instead of air?

I am completely new to riding bikes and know that are usually filled with air but nowadays some people fill them with Nitrogen instead. I don't know why they prefer to fill their tires with nitrogen ...
SpringLearner's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
1k views

What are the features that I should seek in cycling glasses?

I am seeking eye protection for cycling. I don't know if I should buy glasses or goggles.
Jader Dias's user avatar
8 votes
13 answers
59k views

Do the benefits of clipless pedals out weigh any danger they may pose the rider?

As a newbie rider, I was asked by many experienced riders and bike shop experts if I was using clipless pedals yet? The implication was you are not really a serious rider until you are clipless, sort ...
Joe's user avatar
  • 605
86 votes
13 answers
5k views

Is pollution a problem in urban cycling?

I usually ride a bicycle in Barcelona. I'm concerned about pollution and I take an anti-pollution mask. Of course, some people scream because they confuse me with Hannibal Lecter but currently that's ...
FerranB's user avatar
  • 961
29 votes
2 answers
4k views

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. ...
PaulStock's user avatar
  • 393
25 votes
4 answers
8k views

Does it make you safer to use lights during the day?

My bike light, the Cygolite Metro 360, has a "Daylighting" mode which flashes very brightly and is intended to be used during the day. Similarly, many tail lights have flashing modes. Obviously one ...
Jason's user avatar
  • 809
24 votes
6 answers
21k views

Would a military helmet make a safe alternative to a bicycle helmet?

I am in need of a new bicycle helmet and have been exploring some alternative options. One possibility I am considering is visiting my local Army Surplus store and getting a helmet there. I only use ...
CatsAndCode's user avatar
16 votes
10 answers
44k views

How to keep glasses dry in the rain?

Today in the middle of my ride it started raining and I could barely see due to the amount of rain on my glasses. This is basically what I could see I have jokingly talked about using Rain-X on my ...
npsantini's user avatar
  • 1,907
13 votes
6 answers
42k views

New Chain causing skipping on cassette - will this work itself out or is it unsafe?

I just installed a new chain on my 2002 Trek 2200 Road Bike. The old chain was a Shimano 9 speed that I installed 18 months and about 5000 miles ago. It had stretched modestly and was full of winter ...
Dan Catlin's user avatar
6 votes
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
79 votes
11 answers
27k views

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 ...
nhinkle's user avatar
  • 3,883
29 votes
7 answers
8k views

Is there a way to hop up onto a parallel curb?

The scenario: you're riding in a curb-adjacent, paint-only bike lane. You happen to look over your shoulder (or in your mirror) and see a vehicle approaching from behind, either fully in the bike lane,...
TinKorcim's user avatar
  • 417
28 votes
6 answers
71k views

What are the risks of untrued wheels?

I understand that wheels should be trued for efficiency. Are there any safety risks (or risk of damaging the bike) in using untrued wheels? Are the risks different between wheels untrued left-right ...
Vinko Vrsalovic's user avatar
20 votes
11 answers
1k views

Urban Cycling Safety Innovations

Portland, Oregon is one of several U.S. cities with a progressive bicycling culture. A couple of innovations the city has implemented are "bike boxes" and "sharrows". Bike boxes are road markings ...
15 votes
4 answers
10k views

Enhancing brake force with steel rims in wet conditions?

I currently own an old racing bike, that still has ripped steel rims and a side pull caliper brake. The braking power is acceptable when the street is dry, but as soon as it gets wet (even morning dew)...
Paul Weber's user avatar
  • 1,269
14 votes
4 answers
5k views

What hand signals work best for cyclists in the US?

I am looking for some guidance on what hand signals and strategies to keep me alive on the roads.
Richard Tasker's user avatar
13 votes
4 answers
13k views

What is the recommended type of tire for riding on wet pavement?

I am commuting in rainy Seattle, and the rain has started. Right now I have Continental Gatorskin tires on my commuter, but yesterday I noticed I was braking to stop the wheels and skidding quite a ...
Ash Machine's user avatar
12 votes
5 answers
5k views

Recovering confidence after a fall

One month has passed since I fell on a mountain bike trip. The accident wasn't critical, it just left a huge scratch. The accident happened during a fast descent when my front tire hit a little crack. ...
Tiago B's user avatar
  • 221
11 votes
1 answer
334 views

Water safety during touring?

This question raised a new sub-problem of which I was not at all aware of. I carry a heater to boil the water before I drink it but I am unsure whether it removes all dirt from water. Please, note ...
user avatar
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
  • 702
123 votes
33 answers
63k views

How do I deal with a dog chasing me when I'm touring?

Once I was riding my road bike down a rural road. I heard barking over my shoulder and saw two dobermans running toward me. I can't think of a time in my life that I felt more endangered. I reacted ...
54 votes
4 answers
8k views

Does a helmet-mounted light affect the safe functionality of the helmet?

I am currently testing a bunch of lights for my (slowly) upcoming head lights review. Several of the lights can be mounted to a helmet using a mounting strap, like this: I'm wondering if having a ...
nhinkle's user avatar
  • 3,883
54 votes
16 answers
32k views

Safest way to slow down a bike quickly if both sets of brakes fail

This may sound like a crazy question, however today in the wet my rear brakes decided to stop working effectively. It has been pouring rain here which makes the problem more apparent. I managed to ...
going's user avatar
  • 1,509
33 votes
10 answers
5k views

Which states or countries have stop-sign-as-yield laws for bicyclists (Idaho stop law)?

In Idaho (PDF), bicyclists are allowed to treat stop signs as yields, and red lights as stop signs (essentially; see the actual law for details). This seems like a very reasonable approach, balancing ...
Brian Campbell's user avatar
31 votes
9 answers
1k views

What is a good camera arrangement for city riding?

I would like to have continuous camera coverage while commuting on city streets, in order to have evidence in any collision. I have been experimenting with an ATC3K mounted on the pannier rack, ...
Joel Aufrecht's user avatar
29 votes
11 answers
47k views

What's the safest way to turn left from a right-side bike lane?

(United States road configuration and customs here. Sorry, those of you who drive on the left!) On my trip home, I use a bike lane near the right side of a very busy one-way arterial street; there is ...
D.Salo's user avatar
  • 2,076
29 votes
12 answers
64k views

Carbon bikes make me nervous. Can you ease the tension?

Is it only me, or do Carbon bikes make others nervous! I realize that carbon fibre is strong, but for some reason, having a bike that isn't made out of metal seems like asking for trouble. My main ...
Kibbee's user avatar
  • 21.7k
26 votes
12 answers
1k views

Safety guidelines for cycling in traffic

Please post your safety tips for cycling/commuting that should help you get to your destination place in one piece. I came across a nice printed guideline a few years ago when working as courier, it ...
kristof's user avatar
  • 941
26 votes
4 answers
25k views

What are my options for cycling mirrors?

What options are available in terms of types of cycling mirrors? Where all can I mount them and what are the advantages and disadvantages to each?
joelmdev's user avatar
  • 13.3k
24 votes
5 answers
14k views

How should a bicycle helmet fit?

I see enough folks wearing helmets in such a manner that they might as well not be. What is the proper way to fit & wear a bicycle helmet?
Drew Stephens's user avatar
24 votes
9 answers
4k views

What are some alternatives to fruitlessly ringing my bell at a motorist?

I doubt that motor-vehicle drivers can hear the "ding" sound that a bicycle bell makes. What are some better alternatives?
unforgettableidSupportsMonica's user avatar
22 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is fluorescent clothing effective?

I read recently that fluorescent clothing was not effective at all at night. If this is the case, how effective is it during the day, and should I stop buying tops that are fluorescent to use on my ...
Anthony K's user avatar
  • 6,233
22 votes
8 answers
4k views

Why are battery-powered lights so popular?

Both on this site and "in real life", battery-powered lights appear to be at least as popular as generator-powered lights. I have always been slightly confused by this. To me, a generator-powered ...
sleske's user avatar
  • 2,309
21 votes
7 answers
36k views

How do I bring an old bike up to speed?

I'm an adult that is new to biking due to a triple whammy of a childhood aversion to effort, my family moving to a town on the side of a mountain with steep roads, and my bike getting run over by a ...
Kalamane's user avatar
  • 313
21 votes
6 answers
8k views

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 ...
Peter Bridger's user avatar
21 votes
3 answers
7k views

Are anti-pollution masks effective?

In Toronto when the temperature goes above 30 degrees Celcius (90 degrees Farenheit), for a few days and without wind, there is smog. I find the smog irritates and makes it difficult to breathe in ...
ChrisW's user avatar
  • 12k
20 votes
9 answers
9k views

How many fingers on the brake lever of an MTB?

I have seen people stop with one finger, two fingers or the whole hands on the levers. Is there a recommended number of fingers on the brake levers when stopping/anticipating an emergency stop? Do ...
Vorac's user avatar
  • 13.7k
19 votes
13 answers
7k views

Why should I use a mirror?

In a comment to an answer about helmet replacement mention was made of a mirror and perhaps suggesting that a helmet was merely a good place to mount a mirror. I, hopefully humorously, suggested that ...
Unsliced's user avatar
  • 11.8k
17 votes
7 answers
5k views

How important is the MIPS safety system for a bicycle helmet? [duplicate]

I'm shopping for a bicycle helmet. The ones without this "MIPS" feature can cost 549 SEK: https://www.sportson.se/produkt/miles-69415850 But then there is an identical-looking one with "...
K. Bache's user avatar
  • 179