Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bicycle and safety

Pimp My Bike!

Juliet Banana — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:11:38 -0800

I'm about to go on a bike accessory spending spree, and I wanted input on the most impenetrable locks, the most stylish helmets, and on everything from baskets to bells to headlights. I also would welcome any input on the best way to light a bike frame using electroluminescent wire. HELMET: After considering Nutcase Helmets and this hilarious derby hat helmet and wishing the Yakkay helmets were available in the US, I'm almost decided on the Bern Watts. I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something really cool in the thousands of helmets out there, though; have you ever seen a helmet that looks so cool you actually want to wear it?

LOCK: U-locks are still the gold standard, right? Does it matter if it's actually a Kryptonite?

HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT: These are required by law and safety, but I still want them to look good, you know? Am I going to regret not getting some crazy expensive bulky high powered light when I'm squinting into the pitch or getting run over from behind? Chicago is pretty well-lit; do I really need a eye-scorching headlight if I never ride trails?

BASKETS, BELLS, HELL, MAYBE EVEN STREAMERS: These are just for fun, so if you've found anything particularly awesome or cute, hook it up.

EL WIRE: It seems like most people trot this out only for Burning Man, but I honestly would like to keep something like this wrapped around my frame 24/7 and turn it on for night rides. Does anyone have any ideas of how to keep an inverter attached, dry, and preferably unpilfered? I would need to be able to detach it to replace the batteries and in case it started pouring. The best idea I've had so far is to velcro the inverter underneath my hollow banana seat, but I'm not sure how to keep it safe from the spray from my un-fendered back wheel; maybe a velcro-attached piece of vinyl? Shrink-wrap?

THE BASIC BACKGROUND: The most important things to me are one, safety, and two, style. I want things that will help me not get killed and look really slick while doing it. I am not athletic and the most competitive event I'm going to take part in on my bike are Eat, Drink, and Ride Bikes pub crawls. If I cared about speed or mileage or whatever people like Matt Haughey worry about, I would not be riding a single speed knock-off Schwinn Stingray from the 1960s with a cruiser brake. I ride my bike to have fun and get from Point A to Point B.

Wheel you help me?

pised — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:04:19 -0800

I just bought a bicycle. The drivers in this city are terrifying. What do I need to know to stay safe? I haven't been on a bike in 10+ years and I've never ridden on busy roads before. I bought this used bike on the cheap to go to and from school in the mornings (it takes about 10 minutes to drive to campus), but I'm really anxious about riding it. I don't like to DRIVE in this town because the drivers are unbelievably bad (my partner was hit on foot once and other friends have been hit - multiple times! - on their bikes; I can't even count how many times I've seen accidents or almost-accidents right in front of me) and I'm afraid the combination of my very shaky bike skills, plus nerves, plus awful drivers will be very dangerous for me.

So, what should I know about bike safety? The most basic advice is useful because I really know NOTHING about bikes: how to buy a proper helmet, do I need those pant-leg band things, do I need a bell or a light (I will likely not be biking at night or in the rain), etc. How do I become a respectful cyclist and how do I stop be so anxious about crazy drivers?

I'm in Ontario, if that matters for bike laws and such.

new to biking

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:29:10 -0800

I got a bike. Now what do I do? I bought a hybrid and a lock for it; it seem like a good bike and I feel comfortable on it. However, I did not really have a childhood filled with biking and only really had a bike that I rode briefly five years ago or so. Thus, I do not really know how to get into using the bike for fun and transportation.

How do I get to feel more comfortable riding the bike? Is there anything that I need to know that seems obvious? Do I actually need a helmet? (if so, how do I fix helmet hair? also, any tips for riding in a skirt?) What else do I need to know?

I don't have a car so aside from walking, this would be my only real mode of transportation other than bumming rides from friends.

Biking to work in the city

leotrotsky — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 12:46:53 -0800

How dangerous is riding a bicycle to work in a major city relative to driving or taking public transit?

Accibump on road bike. New helmet required?

netsirk — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 12:00:52 -0800

I had a minor accident on my road bike this weekend, and fell over whilst moving at a very low speed. Do I need a new helmet? I was not seriously injured, just gathered a smattering of road rash and some bruises because I wasn't able to clip my feet out of the pedals quickly enough. I was wearing a helmet, and when I fell, the main point of impact was my elbow. The side of my helmet did also hit the road, but I didn't land on my head or anything like that.

There does not appear to be any damage at all to the helmet - no visible dents or scrapes - but I've heard that the structural integrity of a helmet can be compromised by even a relatively minor bump. It's a Giro helmet, something like this model, and it is about 10 months old. Is it still safe to use? Or am I better of springing for a new one?