You think you know the answer, right? Bike against a car. Who will win? The car will win every time. Why?
Because the car weighs thousands of pounds, is made of metal, steel, glass and surrounded by material to absorb the impact. A bicycle on the other hand, weighs anywhere from 16 pounds for a super-light road bike to 30-40 pounds on a mountain bike. The bike has no crash protection, no bumpers, no way to absorb impact. Only you and your thin bike to youfrom one place to another.
What to do, safety equipment bicycles?
(1) reflectors
(2) Rear Tail Lights
(3) Sometimes, a front headlight is
(4) An experienced driver will often wear high visibility clothing with reflective strips on it, or give them better chances of visibility, cars and trucks. Many drivers also carry battery powered bike lights flashing-back to improve their chances, the views of motorists.
What do car safety featureshave?
(1) spotlight
(2) Taillights
(3) Anti-lock Brake System
(4) front and rear proximity sensors
(5)-head airbags / front and side windows
(6) Thousands of pounds of metal, glass and an engine to include
Often, motorists see cyclists do not know even with all the "safety devices" designed to improve their visibility.
Recently I was asked a man cycling home from work at his job at a computer company. He was traveling on a busyRoad during rush hour, with the "cycle" on the shoulder of the roadway. It was about 5:30 PM He was wearing a helmet, reflective bike shoes, and a highly visible Bike Jersey. The traffic goes in his direction was in stop and go traffic, but on the shoulder lane it clear sailing.
He was on a mountain rising slightly to do about 10 miles per hour. A car in the opposite direction decided they need in a strip mall just about doing where my client was riding on.Unfortunately for my client, made the car a very quick turn left, and because car traffic is no longer right next to my client, I never saw him as he accelerated toward the driveway to the strip mall. Who won? The car-as always.
Who lost? My client. His mind racing, the least of his problems, was completely destroyed. He suffered fractures, bruises, cuts and lacerations. An ambulance deposited him to the nearest emergency room, where he underwent a battery of tests, including x-ray, CTScans, blood tests and an overnight stay in hospital. The impact brought him out of work for more than a month, and he needed repeated visits to the orthopedist to follow his fractures and to ensure that they are properly healed. According to the orthopedic surgeon gave the order, it was said to begin physical therapy to begin to use the arm and leg properly again.
My client lost his dignity that day. He lost the ability to ride his bike home without further interference by a car. His family was thrownTurmoil, rallying around his father in the emergency room. He'd tell his boss why he could not go back to work for weeks. He had to explain to his friends why he could not join them in their activities. He was sitting at home watching useless to his wife on the couch mindless television.
On the day I met my client for the first time, he had to work in a limited capacity back, and to a reduction in working hours. The most important thing he wanted to show me was not his scars and his cast. Rather, heI was broken and destroyed his bike, the white in a crumpled heap in his car SA As any cyclist is a good bike for a reliable friend that you effortlessly from point A to point B gets. If that was destroyed is devastating. However, since all material things can and will be replaced after some time. My client was spared the life of a miracle that day, and go run it again to learn, too, will write, and yes, on a bicycle.
The driver of the car, unfortunatelyhad a limited insurance, which was quickly offered to settle the case.
Remember to wear a helmet always when you ride, and make yourself as visible as possible to the motorists around you. Never wear earphones to listen to your iPod or MP3 player, because you will not hear in a position to the traffic around you. Be smart and enjoy driving your bike.
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