Cycling is one of the best ways to travel as long as you remember to ride SMART. You will experience places more intimately than someone traveling by car ever could.
Cyclists hear the world around them as they explore, they can feel the subtle temperature changes as they dip into cooler morning valleys and the warmth of the sun peeks out from behind the clouds.
We can easily be lulled into a distant, peaceful state of mind, but we always must remember to ride SMART
ALL CYCLISTS traveling with Great Bike Tours are encouraged to ride SMART.
STAY ALERT
Momentary inattention is the primary cause of incidents. Watch for cars, delivery vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians and other typical hazards. You should not wear ear-buds in both ears (using one is OK) or use cell phones while riding.
MAINTAIN SPACE
Leave sufficient room in the front of your bicycle to avoid other cyclists, vehicles and hazards. Ride outside the “door zone”. For extra safety, move off the road, shared use path or trail when coming to a stop.
ACT SAFELY AND PREDICTABLY
Wear a rated and properly fitted cycling helmet. Wearing bright cycling apparel will help make sure you can see and be seen. Ride a straight line on roadways and only pass slower cyclists or pedestrians on the left. Please be courteous at all times
RESPECT THE RULES OF THE ROAD
Obey all traffic laws. Come to a complete stop at all stop signs on the roadways. Properly use hand signals for turns whenever safe to do so. Please ride single file. Yield the right of way when suitable.
THINK AHEAD AND COMMUNICATE
Scan the traffic ahead and try to anticipate what others around you will do. Be courteous and communicate your intentions as well as upcoming hazards, and always tell others when you are about to pass.
ROAD LAWS APPLY TO CYCLISTS TO
All cyclists have the same rights as well as the same responsibilities as automobile drivers. By law motorists must treat cyclists just the same as drivers of motorized vehicles. Cyclists have a right to safely use the roads and should be traveling on the road in the same direction as motorized traffic. Cyclists must safely and responsibly share the road with other drivers and pedestrians.
A FEW ADDITIONAL SAFE CYCLING TIPS:
When cycling on multi-user paths stay alert. “Multi-user” can mean that you share the path with pedestrians walking or running, skating, etc. All users of multi –user paths should stay to the right while on paths. It is wise to remember that pedestrians do have the right of way on paths, and cyclists must communicate their actions by giving audible warning when passing from behind (e.g., “Passing on your left.”). Also, be alert for motor vehicles that may be crossing paths from adjoining side roads.
Riding on sidewalks is allowed unless otherwise posted, but remember pedestrians have the right of way also on sidewalks.
When cycling on narrow, curvy, rural roads you will find they often have little or even no shoulder for cyclists to safely travel on. Each cyclist should evaluate their own level of comfort and experience when riding in and near motorized traffic that can include large trucks, trailers, and buses.
BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT ON YOUR NEXT RIDE REMEMBER TO DO YOUR PRE-TRIP SAFETY INSPECTION
Safe cycling starts before you even sit on your bike. Always begin your trip with a safety inspection of your bike; the most important checks are as easy as remembering ABC. Check the air pressure in your tires, breaks, & chain. Additional items to look over are seat height adjustment, gears and cranks
When you travel with Great Bike Tours, we’ll offer you great bikes and great service, all included in the price of your tour.
To ensure that you are always super comfortable on your bike tour, we now offer you four types of bike to choose from, including e-bikes. And even better, most of our bikes are brand new models.
Our trained bike tour leaders will expertly fit you to a bike, adjust your helmet for you, and send you safely on your way. And while you are off having worldly adventures on your bike, one of our trusty bike tour guides will be on their bicycle somewhere behind you. They are trying to catch up to you to say hello, though all the while they are looking after their flock of cyclists, trying to account for them all, and ensuring that each and every one of them is having the best time ever.
VISIT GREAT BIKE TOURS ONLINE FOR CURRENT TRIP SCHEDULE
Great Bike Tours is on the cutting edge of bike tour research, seeking out new and novel bike-tour-destinations that the larger companies haven’t even thought of yet. We were the first company to design trips in the Florida Keys, Rhode Island, Georgia’s Golden Isles, Hilton Head Island, the Adirondacks of New York, and New Hampshire! Watch for our next exciting new destinations.
