Whether you ride a bicycle to work or cruise the roads for leisure, you may face several hazards along the way. Not only do you need to watch for opening doors and distracted drivers, but you must also be aware of unsafe road conditions.
Knowing these common road hazards may help you avoid getting injured in a crash.
Cracked pavement and potholes
Road surfaces decline over time due to weather and heavy use. When road surfaces wear, they crack and break apart, leaving unsafe gaps and potholes. You may suddenly get thrown from your bike if you hit a pothole or large crack.
Metal storm grates
Grates along the side of roadways allow water to drain after storms. These metal grates may have several inches of open space between bars and might run in the same direction as the bike lane. These are hazardous because the width of the grate is large enough for some bike tires to fall through, causing you to crash.
Debris
When broken glass, discarded trash or debris from a vehicle collision liters the ground, these items are hazardous to bike riders. These obstacles may cause:
- flat tires
- loss of traction, causing you to fall onto the debris
- you to veer into traffic to avoid the hazard, possibly resulting in you getting hit by a car
Watching the pathway farther ahead may give you enough room to safely maneuver around the debris without putting yourself in more danger.
Since you may not be able to prevent these road hazards, being observant of them is an excellent approach to your safety.
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