Written by Erin Heide – Personal Fitness Trainer
People are flocking to the streets to run, walk, and bike. My family has never been more active outside. In fact, we all bought new bikes in the last month. It’s one of the things we can do right now with the stay-at-home order in place, and we are so thankful for that ability!
Being able to get outside and move our bodies as a community is a life-saver…in many ways. A life-saver, UNLESS, we don’t follow some simple safety precautions. So, ride, walk, and run to your heart’s content with the following things in mind.
Biking
- Ride with traffic, not against it. This makes you more visible to motorists on the street and especially in intersections.
- Follow traffic laws. Just because you’re not in a car, doesn’t mean that you don’t need to follow traffic signals such as stop lights, signs, etc. Not doing so can put you at risk for an accident.
- Wear a helmet. A helmet is a MUST when bicycling. This rule applies to children AND adults. In 2018, 857 people died in bicycle crashes in the U.S., about 2/3 of those deaths were caused by head injury. Wearing a helmet reduces your risk of head injury by 85%. With those statistics in mind, take 10 seconds to strap on a helmet.
Walking, Jogging, Running
- If you can’t walk on a sidewalk, you should always face traffic when exercising on foot in a street. Though it might seem counter-intuitive, you do this for several reasons. First, you can see motorists on your side of the street to avoid being hit by a absent minded driver. It’s also a good idea because motorists expect you to be on that side so you are more predictable.
- If it is dark, either in the morning or in the evening, you should wear light colored clothing or reflective clothing so you are easily spotted by traffic. Remember, only ninjas need to dress in all black at night!
- Pay attention. You should also be following traffic signals such as stop lights and always, just like when you were a kid, look both ways before crossing the street.
General Safety for Everyone
- Check the weather before you leave the house and dress appropriately. Layers are always a good idea when the weather is chilly so you can take clothes off when you warm up.
- Carry a cell phone and I.D. in case of injury or an emergency.
- Be alert; to avoid collision with people and/or traffic and to protect yourself from assault.
- If you are driving, pay extra attention to your surroundings. Give the pedestrian and cyclist the courtesy that you would want extended to you!
