Biking Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic

28 Jul

It’s easy to feel cooped up during the COVID-19 pandemic and find new ways to exercise and stay active. Thankfully, biking still exists as one of the safer means of staying active and keeping your mind moving during this period of time. Follow these guidelines to stay safe when out for a bike ride:

ALWAYS WEAR A MASK WHEN OUTSIDE BIKING. Unless you are biking in the most remote areas of the world where no one except you lives for miles, there is no excuse why you should not have a mask on your face. Remember to keep your mask on your face at all times and avoid touching your face/spreading germs.
Stay 6 feet apart from people while biking. If you are on a bike lane or trail and there is someone ahead of you, try and give them some space unless you are absolutely certain you can pass them and establish enough distance between the two of you.
If you are unfortunate enough to encounter a self-centered individual on the road who does not respect the 6 feet distancing rule, either stop and wait for them to pass or go around them if there are no cars in the way. Though it is frustrating that grown adults do not adhere to guidelines that will make the pandemic pass faster, it is better to stay safe and protect yourself from potentially contracting the virus.
When stopping at intersections, stop signs or general stoplights, try to give yourself some distance from the crosswalk. In case there are individuals outside without masks, you’ll have enough distance to keep yourself safe and prevent the need to backpedal into a car or bike behind you.
If you are looking to go biking when there are less people around, early mornings and late nights are the best options to do so. However, you should always use caution whenever traveling during those periods of times as well. Be wary of your surroundings and try to avoid listening to music. If you are biking at night, wearing a helmet or clothes with reflective material to make yourself visible.
If you are not accustomed to biking in the city and would prefer a more relaxed biking experience, consider looking into bike trails, side streets or going during early periods of time.
When you return home, remember to toss your mask out if it is disposable as soon as possible. If you have a cloth/fabric mask, toss it in the wash or hamper. Wash your hands.
Have fun! So long as you wear a mask, remember to practice social distancing, you’ve made your ride much safer than before!