Cycling is a great way to lose weight and get healthy. I’ve been a serious cyclist for a few years now, and as I drive around Lawrence, I’m often appalled at how cyclists behave. Cyclists are inherently vulnerable, and an accident that you get in on a bicycle is always a BAD accident. I’m going to give you a few fundamental safety tips you’ll need to avoid becoming road kill.

• Behave like a car. First, stay off the sidewalk. Bicycles are too fast to be ridden on sidewalks. In business districts it is illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk. But you shouldn’t ride on the sidewalk in any district. Bicycles have a right to the road. Ride on it.

• Follow the traffic laws. Second, if you’re going to ride on the road, you have to follow all traffic laws. No running stop signs or traffic lights. When you do dumb stuff like that, you will eventually get hit by a car. Don’t be dumb. Be smart and follow the traffic laws.

• Don’t squeeze into the lane. Third, at a stop light or stop sign, never pull up alongside a car. Instead, act exactly like a car. Pull up behind the other cars at the stop light and proceed in the middle of the lane until you are safely through the intersection. You don’t ever want to be in a situation where you and a car are in a lane at the same time (more on this to follow). If you pull up on the right side of a car at a stop light, you will eventually get hit when that car takes a right hand turn into you. Again, getting hit is something that we’re trying to avoid.

• Ride where they are forced to avoid you. Many new cyclists feel uncomfortable riding out in the lane because they don’t want to slow down traffic. You have to get over that instinct right now. I ride about a third of the way into the lane. Why so far out? Because if you ride too close to the curb, then cars will try to squeeze into the lane with you. When you have cars squeezing into the lane with you, it is only a matter of time until something bad happens. You can get clipped by their mirror, you can hit a pot hole that you don’t have room to avoid, or you can hit the curb and lose control of the bike. Traffic from behind should have to enter the opposing lane in order to get around you. That ensures that they only pass when there is no oncoming traffic, giving you plenty of room to maneuver. If they get mad, don’t worry. Their day is going to get better. Or maybe its not. Either way, you don’t have any control over it. Ride safe and let them complain if they want.

• Wear a helmet. Your noodle is your best asset. Don’t mess it up just so you look cute at work. Wear the helmet and fix your curls when you get there. Don’t be stupid. Wear a helmet. If you choose not to wear a helmet, then you don’t get to complain when you crack your crown.

• Wear some bright clothes. I have cycling gear that I wear, and it tends toward bright and gaudy colors. You don’t need special clothing to ride your bike. However, I do recommend that you get a reflective vest from Wal Mart. If you wear something bright people will be able to see you. Consider for a moment why cyclists get hit by cars. I bet that nearly 100% of the time, the cyclists wasn’t seen by the offending driver. Anything that you do to raise your profile helps.

• Headlights and reflectors are necessary for riding after dusk. This is just common sense. Let the cars see you and you will avoid a future of licking envelops for a living.