Cyclists are people who use the bicycle as a means of transportation, something they do sometimes correctly but other times incorrectly.
Cycling is a very beautiful sport and the bicycle is a good means of transport, since it allows you to exercise your body and mind for free, and is also a faster means of transport than walking and less tiring than running.
That is why there are more and more cyclists in Spain, who are increasingly using the bike instead of using the car or motorcycle. In a country as car-driven as ours, the crisis and awareness of the environment affect more and more and the bike is gaining ground.
As you know, to ride a bicycle you don’t need a license (and hopefully it will always be that way). This has a drawback, and that is that cyclists do not know the Highway Code well on some occasions and I think they are not aware that a bicycle is a vehicle.
This is why many do not respect the rules, it seems that they think they own the road and commit infractions. This is bad, since it is what causes cyclists to be run over and all these fatal accidents, since we are not protected on the bicycle and a fall could be fatal.
In addition, a hit with a bicycle to a pedestrian, even if it is not fatal, could be very painful for both the cyclist and the pedestrian, so they should be avoided.
The best way to avoid accidents is to circulate correctly. If you are a cyclist and you do not know how to ride, I am going to show you step by step how cyclists should ride, something that will avoid ends and accidents.
What do you need for cyclists to circulate?
- Read these instructions.
- Safety equipment for cycling.
Instructions for cyclists to circulate
- Takes up little space:
One thing that many cyclists do wrong and that causes irritation from drivers is that they take up too much space when riding in a pack. When you ride a bicycle, try to go in a single file with your companions, to occupy the minimum essential space on the road and that cars can continue circulating. Avoid driving parallel unless strictly necessary, as this will take up too much space on the road. It also avoids occupying driving outside the hard shoulder, that is, if the hard shoulder is passable, always drive on the hard shoulder and do not go out onto the road. - Helmet and other safety elements:
Being a cyclist does not give you the right not to take safety measures to avoid accidents. The helmet is mandatory for children under 14 years of age on urban and interurban roads and is mandatory for those over 14 on interurban roads. This means that you must always wear an approved helmet, even on urban roads, although it is not mandatory. If you drive at night, you should wear a reflective vest and something to illuminate, such as a dynamo or a headlight, so that cars can locate you when you go at night. - Respect the rules as a vehicle, not as a pedestrian:
This is the biggest problem for cyclists, who circulate around the city as if they were a pedestrian that is, skipping traffic lights, riding on sidewalks, skipping the yield.This is not right ethically and it is also illegal and could even lead to loss of points on the driving license, therefore, respect the traffic regulations as if you were a car. Also avoid driving under the influence of alcohol, since that also has a penalty and remember that in narrow passages you never have priority, as it is a light vehicle that can be easily pushed aside (the larger the size, the higher the priority). - Use the lanes indicated for you:
I think bike lanes are a great invention, but I don’t think its right that many people don’t use them. If you are in a city and there is a bike lane, always use this lane as it is the fastest method, the safest method for you and the method with which you least disturb other drivers and pedestrians. When you have to ride on interurban roads, you must ride on the right shoulder when it is passable (that is, there is space for the bike to enter). If the shoulder cannot be traveled because it is very small, you can drive along the road, but occupying the minimum indispensable, that is, close to the gutter. On the highway (recently you can drive on highways) try to never enter the road and always go on the shoulder, trying never to bother other drivers.
Tips for cyclists should circulate
- Cross country riding: If you do mountain biking, try to always be visible in the eyes of others and not occupy the space that motor vehicles may be using.
