Author: rnielsen
Why You Should Ride (at Least Sometimes) with a Group
A nice thing about cycling as a sport is that you can do it both by yourself or with a group. Here is how group riding will benefit you: Community – Wherever you are, it’s likely that there are at least a few regular group…
Should Cyclists Be Licensed?
When you are riding your bike, imagine being pulled over and asked for your biking license. Many people are pushing for bike licensing as a way to standardize the learning and training that go into riding a bike in traffic. This makes some sense as…
Pedestrians/Runners Are Like Squirrels
When I’m on my bike and I see a squirrel, I am prepared for that ignorant creature to try to cross in front of me at the very last second. (I’ve hit a few. Had one go into my spokes.) At times, squirrels seem as if…
Bike Light Basics
The need for both front lights and tail lights is obvious at night, but they are a good idea during the day. Lights help you to see, and even more importantly, to be seen. When vehicle-on-bike accidents happen, the most common reaction of the driver…
How Not to Get Hit by a Car
A lot of my practice involves car-on-bike collisions that results in serious injuries. A bike has no chance against a motor vehicle, and many drivers don’t look out for cyclists. When you ride on shared roads, you can only trust your judgment and cannot rely…
Bike Lanes: Sometime Yes, Sometimes No.
Bike lanes are a simple concept; they’re supposed to be a separate lane for bikes that provides cyclists with a bit of safety. They seem like a good idea, and they are if the bike lane provides a clean, safe place to ride. However, this…
Biking on a Sidewalk: Do or Don’t?
The General Answer: Do not ride on the sidewalk. When it comes to biking on a sidewalk, the most important factor to consider is safety, and in general, it’s not a very safe thing to do for an adult cyclist. A cyclist on a sidewalk faces…
Dallas Bike Lanes or a Shift in the Zeitgeist?
Maybe you have noticed these emblems in the roads with a bike and arrows. These are called “sharrows” and they are there to advise motorists that bicyclists use that road. According to the Dallas Morning News, there are now 32 miles of roads with “sharrows.”…
How Your Auto Policy Can Protect You When You Are Riding Your Bike
Too often I handle bike cases where there is just not enough insurance coverage. The minimum required coverage in Texas is $30k, and if you are hit by a car while riding your bike, your losses could be way more than that. More than 15%…
Don’t Own or Drive a Car? Get “Non-Owners Coverage”
If your only form of transportation is a bike and you don’t have auto insurance, it is important that you get either “non-owner’s coverage” from an auto insurer, or some type of cycling specific insurance (“Velosure”) that can protect you if you are involved in an accident. What Is…