Bike it this Friday

Posted May 14, 2009 by Mary Shedden

Updated May 14, 2009 at 12:13 PM

Cycling fans are encouraging all of us to ride our bikes to work on Friday. if you do, remember to be safe, say the folks at the American Council on Exercise.

They offer a few helpful tips for those hitting the road on two wheels:

“Cyclists have the same traffic rights and responsibilities as motorists. Remember to yield the right-of-way, use proper traffic hand signals, and obey all usual traffic signs. Also, make sure to keep up with the normal flow of traffic.

Visibility: It is the cyclist’s responsibility to be as visible as possible. When riding, make sure to wear bright colors, reflective vests, or spacer flags to help stand out among traffic. When riding at night, the law requires that bikes have rear, pedal and side reflectors. The rear reflectors must be red and visible for a distance of up to 500 feet. In addition, bikes should have headlights that are also visible for a distance of up to 500 feet.”

Since I live across Tampa Bay from my office, I admit I won’t be biking downtown to work. But I’ll do my part to watch out from those with whom I’m sharing the road.