More Bicyclists Are Sharing The Road With Drivers

By Nancy K. Crevier

 

Thanks to the surge in gasoline prices, not only wallets have been getting thinner, but residents have been getting thinner, too, as they dust off bicycles and get back in shape. In a effort to combat rising prices and increasing waistlines, the popularity of bicycling appears to be on the rise, say area bicycle shops.

Rob Simone, who works at The World of Bikes on South Main Street in the Botsford section of town, said that this spring the shop is seeing a lot more people dropping off bikes for repairs and service. “People want to get back in shape, mostly,” he said, “but we have had a couple of people in looking for bikes that they can commute to work with.”

It is not so much sales as service for bicycles that has increased this spring, agreed Linda Villafano, the owner of the Bicycle Goodie Shop, located just over the Newtown line on Route 6 in Bethel. “We have had a number of customers this spring who brought in their bikes that they’ve dragged out of the garage. We are seeing more people who are becoming health conscious and want to stay in shape with biking, and more who are attempting to commute with their bikes this spring,” said Ms Villafano.

It also seems to her, she said, that families are tuning up bikes in anticipation of vacations closer to home that involve using the bike. “Rather than flying somewhere on vacation, they are choosing somewhere nearby where they can bring their bikes, and then when they are there, instead of driving around, they want to use their bicycles,” she said.

But no matter how many more bicyclists are out on the roads this spring, they must still compete with the motor vehicles that outnumber them. Drivers and bicyclists need to be aware of the rules of the road that apply to safe bicycling, and common sense, courtesy, and a healthy dose of caution need to be foremost in everyone’s mind.

Terrence Ford is a local bicyclist who puts about 300 miles a week on his bicycle. “I do it for economic reasons, and I do it because I love to bike and I like to stay fit,” said Mr Ford.

 “Biking was my freedom and transport as a child, as it is today. When I was a kid, I taught myself how to repair my bike, and then I kind of became the family bike mechanic for my seven brothers and sisters,” he recalled. He has instilled the love of biking into his present day family life. He is often joined by his wife, Christine, and his two sons, Aidan, age 8, and John Patrick, who is 6 years old.

Mr Ford, who helps out at The World of Bikes, is a former president of the Connecticut Bicycle Coalition, and served as a mechanic on the World Cup Circuit for professional bikers for six years in the 1990s; he also shares his knowledge and love of bicycling with others beyond his immediate family. He has taught bike safety at Middle Gate School and to Cub Scouts to help them earn their bicycle safety badges, and has taught bicycle seminars at a bicycle shop in Fairfield.

One of the safety rules that he stresses, he said, is the importance of wearing a helmet. The most common mistake people make with helmets is not in the fitting of one, said Mr Ford. The most common helmet error is, “That they don’t wear it. There is a stigma to wearing a helmet, but once you get used to wearing one, you start to feel ‘naked’ if you get on your bike without one on. Helmets have saved my life in a few cases,” he emphasized.

A properly fitted bicycle can mean the difference between loving or hating the sport, Mr Ford said. It is a person’s skeletal structure that determines the bike’s setup, he said, particularly an individual’s “reach,” the distance to the handle bar from the rider’s seat. “If you’re not set up right, you will have a nagging effect and less bicycling efficiency,” said Mr Ford. “Create a relationship with a local retailer. A good bike shop can check the fit for you.”

Having a bicycle tuned up at least once a year, and more frequently if a person puts on a lot of miles, not only saves wear and tear on the bicycle and rider, but is a good safety measure, as well, Mr Ford said.

If bicycling is a new hobby or a renewed interest, be aware of state laws that apply to riders. The Connecticut State Police website state.ct.us/dps lists laws and tips that apply to bicyclists in Connecticut, among them:

*Bicycles designed for single riders are not allowed more than one person on the bicycle.

*One hand must be kept on the handlebars at all times — forget about the “Look, Ma! No hands!” tricks.

*Bicyclists must yield right of way to pedestrians.

*Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic. For safety purposes, state police suggest that bicyclists obey all road traffic signs and use hand signals to indicate turns and stops.

*A helmet is required by law for any rider under the age of 16. Seasoned bicyclists recommend helmets for all ages.

*The law requires a white light to be displayed on the front of the bike when biking at night.

*A rear reflector is required.

*Bright colored clothing makes a bicyclist more visible.

*Make sure any straps or shoelaces are secured and not flying loose.

*Do not wear headphones while biking.

*Wet leaves, sand, rocks, cracks, puddles, and glass are hazards. Be alert.

*Helmets should have a certification sticker from ASTM, Snell, ANSI, or SPSC inside the helmet or listed on the box.

*Selection of a comfortable helmet makes it more likely that the helmet will be worn. The helmet should fit level, square, and snug on the head.

Whether for pleasure, fitness, or as a money-saving measure, bicyclists are taking to the roads and the word from bicycle shop owners is, “Have fun, but be careful.”