Bike Safety

Safety is the largest barrier to bicycling in the United States, and that also applies to Watertown. This is a fact that the City of Watertown is well aware of, and through our efforts to increase the number of people choosing sustainable modes of transportation including cycling, the City understands that it is necessary to make it safer to bike.

While the City continues on the path to making cycling safer, it is important to recognize that today, on many corridors in Watertown, cycling is not safe. Therefore, while bicycling it is important to take these steps below to keep yourself safe.

1. Exercise Caution and Anticipate Mistakes

When biking it is important to be aware that anyone can make a mistake or a rash decision and to be prepared for those mistakes to happen in the least convenient way possible. Therefore, always aim to have a way out of a situation.

2. Watch out for Turning Trucks and Buses

Trucks and Buses have many blind spots, and they tend to make wide swinging right turns that can be hard to anticipate. Therefore, be very careful when passing a truck or bus, especially on the right side of the vehicle.

3. Ride Outside of the Door Zone

When riding next to parked cars, give at least three feet of space between your handlebar and the parked cars so to be outside of an opened door’s path.

4. Wearing A Helmet

The City of Watertown recommends that all bike riders wear helmets. While it is not illegal to ride a bike without a helmet, helmets do save lives.

5. Listening Devices

The City of Watertown recommends that all bike riders ride wear no more than one earphone while riding.

6. Signaling

Use your arms as signals when making a turn so that other road users around you can anticipate your movement. Do the same when slowing down.

7. Announce Your Presence

Use your voice or a bell to signal your presence, especially when passing a pedestrian or other bicyclist.

8. Lights

Use a white front light and a rear back light when riding at night.

9. Be Seen When Stopped

When stopped at an intersection, make sure that vehicles can see you, especially trucks and other large vehicles with large amounts of blind spots.

10. Yield to Pedestrians

When riding, always yield to pedestrians and never stop in a crosswalk.