Be Careful When Riding Your Bike this Spring

The entire state of Wisconsin is currently under a shelter-in-place order through 8 a.m. on April 24, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses are currently closed, limiting where residents can go and the activities they can participate in. However, residents are still allowed to leave their homes to obtain essential items, such as groceries and medications, and to exercise. That includes walking, running, and biking.

Thankfully, the shelter-in-place order coincides with warming temperatures, especially as we get further into the month of April. That makes riding a bike a great way to get out of the house and to get some exercise. But while roads may have much less traffic than usual due to most people staying at home, you should still be extremely cautious while riding your bike.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind to reduce your risks this spring:

• Ride with the flow of traffic—Unless you’re on a major highway or interstate, you have the same rights as any motorist on Wisconsin’s roadways. That means you should ride as if you’re driving your vehicle, including riding with the flow of traffic.
• Use bike lanes when available—Bike lanes make riding on public roadways significantly safer for bicyclists. Plan your route to take advantage of bike lanes, and stay within them for the duration of your ride to reduce your risks.
• Wear a helmet—Wearing a helmet is the single most important thing you can do to protect your safety when riding a bike. Head injuries from bike crashes can result in permanent brain trauma or life-threatening complications, and a helmet can significantly reduce your risks.

The Green Bay personal injury attorneys at Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers support the rights of bicyclists to share Wisconsin’s roadways, but we also know that they face many risks that drivers and passengers in vehicles don’t. If you or someone you love gets hurt in a bicycle accident, we want to help you get full compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.