Hello Lauderhill Family!

When bicycles are ridden on the roadway, did you know they are considered vehicles?  Bike riders have the same rights and responsibilities as car drivers! With that in mind, whenever you’re on the road, always think “SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY!”

The first thing to pay attention to is your equipment, and the most important is a secured helmet. Beyond simply wearing one, make absolute sure it is a proper fit to best protect you. Please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and check out the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute for more details.

Next, before heading out, we want to be prepared to ride safely. Some things to consider are:

1. Ride a bike that fits you — if it’s too big, it’s harder to control the bike.
2. Ride a bike that works perfectly (it really doesn’t matter how well you ride if the brakes don’t work).
3. Wear protective equipment and make yourself highly visible to others: helmet, bright clothing during the day, reflective gear, a white front light, red rear light, and reflectors on your bike for instance.
4. Ride one person per seat with both hands on the handlebars, unless signaling a turn.
5. Carry all items in a backpack or strapped to the back of the bike.
6. Tuck and tie your shoelaces and pantlegs so they don’t get caught in your bike chain. If you or your chain gets tangled onto something, you might be prohibited from reacting or pedaling.
7. Plan your route — if you’re on the road among cars, choose routes with less traffic and slower speeds. Your safest route may be away from traffic altogether, in a bike lane or on a bike path.

Just as we want to drive defensively, we want to ride defensively as well. The more you remain focused on the traffic around you, the quicker you can recognize a potentially dangerous situation and react to prevent it. Make following at least these four rules your G.O.A.L.:

1. Go with the flow: ride in the same direction as traffic.
2. Obey traffic signs, signals, and road markings, just like a vehicle.
3. Assume the other person doesn’t see you.
4. Look ahead and listen for hazards or situations. That means no texting, listening to music, or using anything that could limit your sense of sight or sound, like a toy bouncing in front of you, or the sound of an oncoming truck.

By riding predictably, motorists get a sense of what you intend to do and can react to avoid a crash. Ride where you are expected to be seen, make sure you signal, and look over your shoulder before changing lane position or turning. Avoid or minimize riding on the sidewalk. When backing out of a driveway or turning, cars only expect pedestrians on the sidewalks. They do not think of bicyclists on a sidewalk, so they don’t look for you. Besides, sidewalks sometimes end unexpectedly, which forces the bicyclist into a road abruptly – this is another example of cars not expecting to watch out for bike riders.

Finally, practice your riding! Before earning a driver’s license, we learned to operate a car safely; same goes for preparing to ride bicycles in traffic. Start by riding your bike in a safe environment away from traffic (a park, path, or empty parking lot). Take an on-bike safety class – it may be offered through a local bicycle shop or riding club. Confidence in traffic comes with learning how to navigate and communicate with other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Tying it back to Lauderhill Police Department’s (LPD) encouragement of traffic safety awareness, the primary focus of our Slow Roll is to promote bicycle safety. Personally, this is one of my favorite programs that the LPD hosts. We meet routinely to bike ride at a light level through different parts of Lauderhill. It is a chance to ride alongside the City's police officers in a casual and friendly activity. Each Slow Roll begins in different area with a unique route. Our slow pace keeps the group safe and gives riders a unique perspective of our great city. Whether large or small, we like to show off our neighborhoods! All ages, all skill levels, and every type of bike is welcome. The positive energy and community-driven atmosphere is what keeps people coming back, see for yourself! We hope you can join us!

Until next time…