12
Safety
Night riding
Bicycle refl ectors are designed to pick
up and refl ect car lights and street lights
in a way that may help you to be seen and
recognized as a moving bicyclist.
Check refl ectors and their mounting
brackets regularly to make sure that
they are clean, straight, unbroken
and securely mounted. Have your
dealer replace damaged refl ectors and
straighten or tighten any that are bent
or loose.
The mounting brackets of front and rear
refl ectors are often designed as brake
straddle cable safety catches which pre-
vent the straddle cable from catching on
the tire tread if the cable jumps out of its
yoke or breaks.
Do not remove the front or rear refl ectors
or refl ector brackets from your bicycle.
They are an integral part of the bicycle’s
safety system.
Removing the refl ectors reduces your
visibility to others using the roadway.
Being struck by other vehicles may
result in serious injury or death.
The refl ector brackets may protect you
from a brake straddle cable catching on
the tire in the event of brake cable fail-
ure. If a brake straddle cable catches on
the tire, it can cause the wheel to stop
suddenly, causing you to lose control
and fall.
If you choose to ride under conditions of
poor visibility, check and be sure you com-
ply with all local laws about night riding, and
take the following strongly recommended
additional precautions:
Purchase and install battery or generator
powered head and tail lights which meet
all regulatory requirements and provide
adequate visibility.
Wear light colored, refl ective clothing
and accessories, such as a refl ective
vest, refl ective arm and leg bands, refl ec-
tive stripes on your helmet, fl ashing lights
attached to your body and/or your bicy-
cle... any refl ective device or light source
that moves will help you get the attention
of approaching motorists, pedestrians
and other traffi c.
Make sure your clothing or anything you
may be carrying on the bicycle does not
obstruct a refl ector or light.
Make sure that your bicycle is equipped
with correctly positioned and securely
mounted refl ectors.
While riding at dawn, at dusk or at night:
• Ride slowly.
• Avoid dark areas and areas of heavy
or fast-moving traffi c.
• Avoid road hazards.
• If possible, ride on familiar routes.
If riding in traffi c:
• Be predictable. Ride so that drivers can
see you and predict your movements.
• Be alert. Ride defensively and expect
the unexpected.
• If you plan to ride in traffi c often, ask
your dealer about traffi c safety classes
or a good book on bicycle traffi c safety
