Bike shop Santa Fe Springs: Top ten bike wrecks- #10

Our bike shop Downey exposes the top ten bike wrecks, from Bicyclesafe.com. Find expanded info on their site.
#10 Rear End
A car runs into you from behind. This is what many cyclists fear the most, but it's actually not very common, comprising only 3.8% of collisions. However, it's one of the hardest collisions to avoid, since you're not usually looking behind you.

How to avoid this wreck:

1. Get a rear light. If you're riding at night, you absolutely should use a flashing red rear light. Bruce Mackey (formerly of Florida, now head of bike safety in Nevada) says that 60% of bike collisions in Florida are caused by cyclists riding at night without lights. In 1999, 39% of deaths on bicycles nationwide occurred between 6 p.m. and midnight. [USA Today, 10-22-01, attributed to the Insurance Institute for highway safety]

2. Wear a reflective vest or a safety triangle. High quality reflective gear makes you a lot more visible even in the day time, not just at night. 

3. Choose wide streets. Ride on streets whose outside lane is wide enough for a car and a bike side by side. That way a car may zoom by you and avoid hitting you, even if they didn't see you!

4. Choose slow streets.The slower a car is going, the more time the driver has to see you. Especially on weekends, avoid arterials.

5. Get a mirror. Get a mirror and use it. If it looks like a car doesn't see you, hop off your bike and onto the sidewalk.

6. Don't hug the curb. This is counter-intuitive, but give yourself a little space between yourself and the curb. That gives you some room to move into. This prevents a number of common accidents.

Get the safety gear you need from Pat's 605 Cyclery.