Ride with the flow of traffic Wrong-Way Cycling against traffic is one of the most dangerous cycling behaviors.
The obvious danger of a head-on collision with a lawful cyclist or motorist is only one of several types of crashes caused by wrong-way cycling. A motorist pulling out from a stop sign,
commercial driveway, or turning right at a stop sign or traffic signal including right turn on red looks in the direction of traffic, not in the direction of the wrong-way cyclist, and then often has
no time to avoid a collision. Cyclists riding against traffic accounted for nearly 1/3 of car-bike collisions.
 Motorist Left and Right Turn The
motorist left turn collision occurs when a motorist turns left into an intersection or driveway and hits a cyclist coming from the opposite direction. This is the most common motorist-caused car-bike
collision, accounting for 7.6% of urban car-bike collisions. Cyclist can reduce the risk of a motorist left turn collision by being more visible by (1) using a head light at night and (2) riding close
to the stream of traffic, not near the curb nor on the sidewalk. Red-Light Running Studies
show, 6.5% of car-bike collisions, were caused by the cyclist entering the intersection on a red signal (by comparison, in only 2% of crashes did the motorist run a stop sign or red light). Many
cyclists routinely ignore traffic signals and stop signs. Car-Bike Collisions
Most car-bike collisions, about 80%, happen when either the cyclist or motorist is turning or crossing, usually at an intersection or
driveway. The share of collisions at intersections is even higher for urban areas (89%), and most car-bike collisions happen in urban areas (also 89%), because that is where most cycling occurs. Bikes
and cars collide at intersections when they are approaching from opposite directions or when one is turning and the other continuing straight.
Rear collision is the most feared of all bike crashes, fewer than 10% of car-bike collisions occur when the motorist is overtaking. When they happen, it is usually in rural areas or at night, or when
the motorist is impaired or drunk. Helmet Effectiveness - wear a helmet
Wearing the bike helmet gives you the credibility of a serious rider in automobile traffic. Studies found that 57% of injured cyclists without
head trauma were wearing helmets. They calculated the implied reduction in risk of head and brain injury as approximately 70% .
Accident avoidance diagrams 
other safety reading - http://www.bicyclesafe.com/
Accident procedures
Identify other principals involved in the accident advice for cyclists at the scene of a motor vehicle accident:
- Ask to see the driver's licenses and vehicle registrations of the drivers of all motor vehicles involved in the accident.
- Write down the names, addresses and driver's license numbers of all the drivers. Obtain the names of the motorists' insurance companies
from their vehicle registrations.
- Look for witnesses to the accident, and ask them for their names, addresses and telephone numbers.
- Write down or take notice of any injuries suffered by you or other people on the scene.
- If the police investigate, cooperate with them. Tell them what you saw. Avoid drawing conclusions of responsibility for the accident --
that will get sorted out later. Right now, it is enough to describe what occurred. Be careful about speaking to the investigating police, who often have a bias against cyclists.
Be prepared to identify yourself to others involved in the accident. Avoid getting angry with the other parties - it will only
make the process longer, and might work against you. What if the motorist - driver leaves
A motorist who is involved in an accident, and who leaves the scene without stopping and identifying himself or herself has committed a serious offense. Try to get the vehicle license number and
US state or Canadian province from the vehicle's marker plate. Report this information to the police as soon as possible, and again when you file your accident report.
Check out your bike
Even if you feel well enough to ride your bike, you should consider not doing so if there has been any damage to the fork, the handlebars, or the headset bearings that let you turn the handlebars.
Most better-quality bikes feature lightweight aluminum alloy handlebars, which can snap suddenly if they have been bent, making them dangerous to ride on. Similarly, if your fork is bent or if your
headset is damaged, your bike's steering and balance might be dangerously out of line.
If the front end of the bike looks okay, spin each wheel, and apply the brake to stop each one. If either wheel is significantly out-of-true, or if one or both of the brakes do not apply smoothly, do
not ride the bike.
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NIGHT RIDING
To ride at night, you need lights. Even when streetlights show you the way, you need lights so other people can see you against the glare of car headlights. A white headlight identifies the fronts of
all vehicles.
All states require a bicycle to have a headlight at night.
TYPES OF BICYCLE LIGHTS
Three major types of lights are available for bicycles: small battery lights, generator systems and the high-powered battery systems. Choose your lights depending on where you ride.
Small battery lights are most useful for riding under streetlights. Aim the headlight so its looks as bright as possible to people ahead of you. Nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries will cut the cost
of operating small battery lights. Most hardware stores sell these batteries and chargers for them.
Unlike small battery lights, a good generator system is bright enough to light your way on dark roads. It's the best choice for long-distance touring, where you may not be able to buy or recharge
batteries. Most generator systems go dark when you stop riding; a disadvantage in stop-and-go city riding. Some generator systems have a battery backup that keeps them lighted when you stop.
High-powered battery lights are brightest of all. They're best for night riding under demanding conditions: on dark roads or off-road. They're more expensive and heavier than other bicycle lights, and
they need recharging frequently.
NIGHT-RIDING TACTICS
When riding at night, you can't see drivers inside their cars to make eye contact, but you can flash your headlight at them by twitching the handlebars. Flash your headlight when you need to get the
attention of a driver pulling out of a side street.
In some cities, the risk of theft and physical attack in dark, empty places like parks, pedestrian overpasses and industrial areas is generally greater than the risk of crashes on streets with a
reasonable amount of traffic, in residential areas and business districts. Choose routes accordingly.
Rural riding at night is the most demanding of your equipment and technique. Most generator lights are not bright enough to allow you to ride downhill at full speed on an unlighted road. Stay within
the limitations of your lights.
Two-lane, shoulder less rural roads with moderate to heavy traffic have a bad record for nighttime crashes. On the other hand, quiet rural roads can be very pleasant to ride at night if your
headlight is powerful enough to show you the way.
At night there are generally fewer drivers on the roads, a useful trick on an unlighted road is to look at your shadow as a car approaches from behind. If the shadow moves to the right, the car is
passing to your left.
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