Conditions That Can Pose Serious Risks to Cyclists
Road conditions that don't present significant dangers to motorists or pedestrians can be extremely dangerous for cyclists. These include:- Potholes or broken pavement—Because of the skinny tires on most road bikes, if your front wheel falls into a pothole, or a crack in the road, you can easily lose control of your bike, causing you to fall to the pavement or worse, into the path of a motor vehicle operator. In addition, even if you are traveling at a rate of 10 to 15 miles an hour, the evasive action necessary to miss a pothole can cause you to wipe out.
- Water, gravel, sand or other substances on the roadway—The skinny tires on a road bike are not meant to provide traction or grip. The presence of construction materials, water, gravel, sand, oil or other potentially slippery substances can cause a road biker to lose control in a split second.
- Broken traffic signals or poorly marked intersections—Unfortunately, many motor vehicle operators look only for other cars or trucks. If an intersection does not have clear markings, or if a traffic light is malfunctioning, the chances are good that a driver will not pay enough attention to see you on the road.
- Inadequate shoulders on roads—Many new roads are being built with no shoulders whatsoever, forcing cyclists to ride on the road.