Bike Safety

Ghost Bike" memorial to Houston cyclist Leigh Boone.  In 2009 a fire engine ran a stop sign and struck her.  Dunlavy at Westheimer, northwest corner.

Cyclists are, for the most part, not immortal, but can get closer by riding safely. Every year, cars kill more than 600 cyclists in the U.S. The first automobile crash in the United States occurred in New York City in 1896, when a motor vehicle collided with a bicyclist. All over the city, “Ghost Bikes” stand as stark memorials  to the deceased victims.

 An outstanding bike safety course is available at http://www.BikeEd.org .

 A few things to keep in mind:

·         Assume you are invisible to motorists and pedestrians, because in most cases you are

·         Wear a helmet. If you ride, you WILL fall sometime. If you think head injuries are rare on a bicycle, ask any emergency room doctor.

·         Carry medical insurance i.d. and a cell phone with emergency contacts

·         Use bulletproof tires with some tread for a grip on sand, gravel, water and oil. Carry a spare tube, pump or gas cartridge and basic tool set.

·         Watch for road hazards, especially gaps between lanes, railroad tracks, water, gravel, mud, grease and wet leaves. 

·         Avoid routes with heavy traffic. Cross major streets at stop lights.

·         Don’t ride too fast. You are more likely to fall and more likely to get hurt if you do, and you know who you are.

·         Don’t ride too close to your spouse or any other rider, and you know who you are.

·         Use your ears for traffic hazards, not music or phone chit-chat that distract you from safety hazards and  annoy your fellow cyclists.

·    Not all interesting neighborhoods are safe, so use your judgment about when, where and how to ride. When in doubt, check crime reports and street views for further guidance, ride in a group in broad daylight on major streets, and turn around if it doesn’t look right.  In 2013, police arrested nine juveniles, aged 10 to 16,  for committing at least thirteen sometimes brutal robberies of joggers and cyclists along the Columbia Tap bike trail, roughly one block east of Ennis between North MacGregor and the I-45 service road. The nine, some with previous criminal records, told police they were an aspiring offshoot of a Third Ward gang. In some of the attacks, the juveniles, all boys, used guns. The 13 victims ranged from college students to senior citizens.  Subsequently, lone cyclists have experienced more muggings in this area.

     In addition to your own safety, be aware of the safety of others, particularly when riding on bike paths and in  parks and schools. Ensure that pedestrians and other cyclists know you are coming up behind them or beside  them, and slow down when you are passing.