May is National Bike Month, and with warmer temperatures starting this weekend we'll see more bicyclists out and about. The Wisconsin Bike Federation says now is the perfect time to remind drivers, riders, and pedestrians about bike safety.
Starting with the bike bell - it's not like a car horn, but Fyxation Bike Company Co-founder Nick Ginster says depending on a cyclist's route, they'll need a bell.
"You're sharing the bike lanes, the bike paths, with pedestrians. To give them a little ding with the bell is more than a novelty, it actually keeps pedestrians feeling safer and someone from walking into your path," explains Ginster.
Obviously a bell does not have the same effect on the roads, so other silent precautions should be taken instead. Bikers need to have bright gear: a helmet, clothing, bike accessories, as well as, lights and reflectors so they're always able to be seen while riding on the pavement.
Ginster says, "As bicyclists we have to be very safe on the streets and as motorists, which we all are as well, we have to be conscious that there's going to be more bikes out there."
Bikes are legal road vehicles, so just like motorists, cyclist must follow traffic laws. So not riding on the sidewalks, following all traffic signs, and making sure to signal says Tony Grion, are what bikers must follow. As a Wisconsin Bike Federation employee and avid biker, Grion says following those traffic laws are especially important at heavily traveled intersections like Humboldt and Locust.
"One lane coming from Locust, that turns into two lanes when you go over the bridge and then back into one lane. Cars travel much faster along the bridge and puts people walking and riding at risk of getting hit," describes Grion.
Cyclists can further impact their safety by riding predictably, versus weaving in and out of parked cars, and being aware of approaching traffic from behind. But i's not all up to bikers to help with their safety, motorists have to do their part too.
"Milwaukee has already seen eight pedestrian fatalities since the start of the new year, and that's just unacceptable," says Grion. The National Bike to Work Week starts next week, but the Wisconsin Bike Federation has moved this state's week to June 3rd. Grion adds that May's weather isn't always the best, so shifting the week could potentially guarantee better weather.
To learn more safety tips, visit the Wisconsin Bike Federation's website.
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