Bicycle safety
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Bicycle safety

Prepare for your ride

  • Wear a properly fitted helmet.
  • Check brakes and tires.
  • Wear light colors to make it easier for drivers to see you.

Tips to stay safe while riding

  • Stay alert.
  • Put away electronic devices.
  • Pay attention to lane markers.
  • Don't ride between vehicles.
  • Cross at intersections.
  • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
  • Never attempt to cross a multi-lane highway.
  • Read more safety tips in the Texas Guide to Safe Bicycling.
  • Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to learn more about bicycle safety.

Follow traffic laws

  • You have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers.
  • Stop at red lights and stop signs.
  • Ride in a bicycle lane if present, traveling in the same direction as traffic.
  • If a bicycle lane is not present, ride as close to the right side of the road as possible.
  • Use a light on the front and a red reflector or light on the back of your bike at night.
  • Learn more about Texas bicycle laws.

Use proper hand signals

  • For a left turn, stretch your left arm to the left.
  • For a right turn, stretch your right arm to the right.
  • For a stop, hold your left elbow out, arm downward, with palm facing behind you.

Tips for drivers

  • Stay alert.
  • Be on the lookout for cyclists on the highway, especially at intersections.
  • If you're passing a cyclist, move to another lane if possible and give them plenty of room.
  • Watch for cyclists who may need to maneuver around potholes and debris.

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