Bicycle Safety

Safety is an important part of the program. To ensure you safety, certain measures and precautions need to be taken in order to avoid injuries. It is always important to check the bicycle before getting on:

• Make sure your seat, handlebars, and wheels are secure/ tightly attached.
• Check your brakes to be sure they work well and are not sticking.
• Check your tires to make sure they have enough air and the right tire pressure.

Other precautions that should be taken:

• Wear bright clothes to increase visibility.
• Daytime riding is the safest, so try to avoid riding your bike at dusk or later.
• Make sure that nothing will get caught in your bike chain; such as loose pant legs, backpack straps, or shoelaces.
• Wear the right shoes when you bike. Sandals, flip-flops, shoes with heels, and cleats will not help you grip the pedals. And never ride barefoot.  

On the BGSU campus, it is permissible to ride on sidewalks, as long as they are not too crowded with people. Should you have to travel momentarily on a street, it is important to understand that the same rules apply for bike riders as cars:

• Ride on the right-hand side of the street, so you travel in the same direction as traffic.
• Use bike lanes or designated bike routes wherever you can.
• Don't ride too close to parked cars because doors can open suddenly.
• Stop at all stop signs and obey traffic (red) lights.
• When passing other bikers or people on the street, always pass to their left side, and call out "On your left!"