For years, the Triad community has embraced the many benefits of riding a bike, especially in the pandemic’s challenging times. Whether by yourself or with your family, cycling is a wonderful way to stay active while getting you where you need to be and even helping the people and environment around you.
Bike to Work Week, which is observed between May 16th and May 22nd this year, shines a light on the contributions bicycling has to healthy living and efficient transportation. This week, people around the globe are encouraged to forego their motor vehicles during their commute and consider riding a bike instead. Here’s why you should participate and how you can do it safely.
The Boundless Benefits of Bicycling
At Daggett Shuler, we love bicycling and all of the good it brings to our community. In fact, our very own Ironman triathlete Attorney David Daggett is an avid biker on a mission to educate the Triad community about the many benefits of riding a bike. They include:
- Promoting a healthy lifestyle. When you ride a bike, your heart works extra hard to keep you moving, resulting in light and enjoyable cardio exercise. This is key to a happier and healthier you.
- Helping save the environment. By biking instead of driving to work, you would release approximately .06% of the CO2 usually emitted by a car after riding just one kilometer.
- Safer streets for everyone. Unlike cars, bikes alone rarely ever cause fatal accidents, making them a safer mode of transportation for fellow bikers, motorists, and pedestrians alike. But, of course, this is just another reason to strap on your helmet and take a lap.
- Fun for the whole family! Biking is an excellent way for your family to get out and active. Everyone will enjoy the adventure of pedaling through town while getting the much-needed sunlight and fresh air only the great outdoors can provide.
Important Bike Safety Tips
Even though biking boasts a variety of benefits, there are also essential safety measures to bear in mind. Since you’re likely to be on the road with other motorists, you must make a dedicated effort to avoid getting seriously hurt. By practicing these safety measures, you can ensure you’re a good cycling ambassador and help prevent injuries that could impact your life:
- Wear a helmet that is properly secured. In North Carolina, helmets are required for all bike riders under 16. Still, bikers of all ages should wear a helmet with a snug fit to prevent serious head injuries.
- Ensure you are visible to other drivers by wearing bright colors or utilizing blinking lights. By wearing clothing and accessories that capture the attention of other drivers on the road, you could prevent an accident due to the driver not seeing you.
- Signal turns. By raising your arm in the direction you are going to turn, you indicate to drivers where you’re going, so there are no surprises in your route change.
Accident Attorneys Protecting Fellow Cyclists in The Triad
At Daggett Shuler, we encourage the people of the Triad to make good choices now and moving forward. We recommend observing Bike to Work Week and seeing what biking your commute can do for you. We also urge you to be a good cycling ambassador by practicing safe habits every time you get behind the wheel and the handlebars. This is essential to protect yourself and everyone around you from suffering severe injuries and damages in an accident.
However, if this has happened to you or a loved one, we are here to help. Contact us today by filling out and submitting a contact form on our website or calling our office toll-free at 336-724-1234 for a free consultation of your case. At Daggett Shuler, you can depend on us.