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BIKING
Safety hints
What should I consider while driving?
If your bicycle is in proper operating condition then
you can ride it and go. Now it depends on your
driving behaviour and capacities to avoid hazardous
situations:
- You should first get thoroughly acquainted with
your bicycle.
WARNING
Hold the handlebar in the straight ahead position
before you set off.
Start first with the motor switched off
to practise
and gain acquaintance with the bike. Switch the
motor on only while driving!
- Always comply with the traffic regulations.
- Do never drive on the offside of paved roads.
- Do not drive in the dead angle region of other
vehicles.
- Do give signal early enough about the direction
you intend to take.
- Keep in mind that the manoeuvrability of
bicycles can surprise other road users,
and take into account the potential errors of
the other road users.
- Adopt a defensive driving technique and
adapt it to the circumstances around you.
- Hold the handlebar firmly with both
hands. This
way only you will have the possibility to react
promptly and safely to sudden hazardous situa-
tions like e.g. obstacles.
- When driving on sandy ground, on foliage or
grass and on wet roads, take into consideration
that tyres have less adherence to the ground
than on dry asphalt. Keep this in mind when tak-
ing a curve or braking in order to prevent skid-
ding. Keep also in mind that braking to a stop
will take a longer distance.
- Shift down the gear in time before climbing
slopes.
What should I wear?
Many accidents occur because cyclists are not
recognized at the right moment. It is therefore sen-
sible to wear bright and noticeable garments. Be
careful not to wear loose clothes that can catch and
remain hanged up on the bike chain, on the handle-
bar, on the pedals or on the wheels.
It should be self-evident to you that you always wear
a helmet. Make sure that your helmet complies with
the safety standards SNELL and ANSI, or with the
newer ECE standard. To protect your eyes wear
bicycle glasses.
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