Bicyclist and motorist can safely share the roadway Published Sept. 11, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Wendy McDowell 88th Air Base Wing Safety Office WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- With no end in sight to the ever-rising cost of gas, more individuals are trading in their car keys for helmets and applying pedal power. More cyclists on roadways can equal an increase in bicycle mishaps for riders and motorists. To decrease your odds of an accident and to avoid collision, here are some valuable lessons on bicycle safety from www.bicyclesafety.com: - Don't ride against traffic. Ride with traffic, in the same direction. Cars pulling out of cross streets or driveways and making a right turn onto your street won't see you and can run right into you. - Avoid riding on sidewalks. You risk getting hit on either side of the street crossing a sidewalk by vehicles that cannot see you. Also, you are a threat to pedestrians. - Don't pass on the right. If a slow moving vehicle is ahead of you, slow down behind it. If the vehicle does not begin moving faster, pass on the left with caution. - Don't stop in a vehicle's blind spot. Stopping behind the car at a red light or stop sign makes you visible to traffic on all sides and from behind. You also run the risk of getting hit by a door as passengers exit the vehicle on the right. - Get a headlight and mirror. If you are riding at night, a front headlight is required by law. A flashing red rear light will decrease your chance of collision by 60 percent. Never move in any direction without looking behind you first. - Don't hug the curb. Taking up part of the lane makes it harder for motorists to pass and cut you off, or turn into you. Plus, giving yourself a little space between you and the curb gives you some room to move should a large vehicle approach and fail to move over far enough to avoid you. Choosing wider roads and back streets is another way to evade potential hazards. Wright- Patterson Air Force Base cyclists must adhere to local instructions per Air Force Instruction 91-207 Air Force Materiel Command Supplement I of the U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program: - All persons who ride a bicycle, including motor drive bicycles, on an Air Force installation shall wear a properly fastened and approved (e.g., Consumer Product Safety Commission , American National Standards Institute or Snell Memorial Foundation) bicycle helmet. Workers riding bicycles in areas that require the use of ANSI-approved helmets (hard hats) for protection from falling and flying objects are allowed to use those helmets if properly fastened under the chin. - Bicyclists must wear reflective or high-visibility outer garments when riding during periods of reduced visibility (hours of darkness, inclement weather, etc.) on AFMC installations. Additionally, bicycle headlamps, rear lights, and (or) rear reflectors must meet state requirements or locally developed requirements for visibility during periods of reduced visibility. As always, the best course of action is to access and identify the risk prior to the activity. Equally important is for motorists to share the road, be vigilant, and understand that they share a major role in cyclist safety. For more information, visit the Ohio Department of Transportation bike and pedestrian information page at http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Services/Pages/bike.aspx. If you have further safety questions, call the 88th ABW Safety Office at 904-3391, or for law enforcement matters, the 88th Security Forces Squadron Law Enforcement Desk at 255-4855.