| There are quite a few myths about bicycles that are | | | | issues associated with using them. |
| simply untrue. Believing in these can make you unsafe | | | | Myth: Taking the lane is an unsafe practice. |
| and even take away some of the advantages to | | | | Taking the lane is when you are riding on the roads |
| cycling for fun or for transportation. Learn what these | | | | and you decide to get into the middle of the lane in |
| myths are and what is not true about them. | | | | certain circumstances versus staying to the side. Many |
| Myth: Helmets increase your change of an accident. | | | | are afraid of being rear ended and hurt. This type of |
| If you compare the statistics behind cyclists in | | | | accident does not happen too much. The reason to |
| accidents with helmets and without helmets it seems | | | | take the lane is because at times cars might not see |
| that those with helmets tend to get into more | | | | you off the to the side at stop lights and end up hitting |
| accidents. Many believe that the helmet must be | | | | you when they turn. Read up on the practice of taking |
| causing the cyclists to have some sort of issues | | | | the lane and in what situations it actually makes you |
| therefore being in more accidents. While the number of | | | | safer. |
| accidents can at times be higher, that's not the way to | | | | Myth: Bicycle commuting takes too much time. |
| evaluate risk. Risk is evaluated as percentage of | | | | This depends on the area you live in. For most |
| accidents per exposure. Cyclists who use helmets are | | | | commuters around the country the average speed of |
| on the roads much more often, therefore it's expected | | | | driving while in a car is around 11 miles per hour. Most |
| that there will be more accidents. Helmets still make | | | | people can easily cycle this fast making the |
| you much safer and there are no vision or accident | | | | differences in time not much different at all. |