Do you really feel safe when riding your bike in the city? Safety should not be an issue for cyclists in the city because the distances are short, streetlights are everywhere, and cars are only allowed to drive at a maximum of 50 km/h. Additionally, most German cities now offer more or less well-developed bike paths. But does that really provide enough safety for people on bicycles?
Many cyclists do not feel safe in the city. But why is that?
Traffic is not as fast as on country roads, there is almost always enough light to see obstacles, and there are more and more bike paths. However, bicycle accidents still occur daily in cities. One reason for the lack of safety is the dense traffic. Urban streets are usually crowded, and the mix of cars, pedestrians, trams, bicycles, strollers, dogs, and so on makes the situation often confusing and complex. When poor visibility and wet or slippery conditions are added to the mix, safety for cyclists suffers even more. According to statistics, more than 80,000 cyclists were involved in accidents in 2021 alone; children, teenagers, and seniors are particularly at risk.
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Safety and bicycles are therefore a sensitive topic, especially in the city where it quickly becomes dangerous. Here are our 6 best tips to make cycling in the city safer. |
1. More safety on the bike through lateral visibility
Unfortunately, some cyclists still rely on street lighting and ride without any bike lights through the city. This is not only illegal but also negligent! Many bicycles today have very good lighting, and that's a good thing. But when it comes to bicycle lighting most bikers only think of the headlight in front and a red light at the back. For rural rides, this may make sense, but at intersections – and cities have plenty of those – you often get hit from the side by pedestrians, other cyclists, or cars to do and the lamps are hard to see if they only shine forward and backward.
That's why your bike should definitely have the prescribed reflectors in the spokes or the also approved luminous strips around the tire.
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For even more safety, everyone who is frequently in the city should ensure that their bicycle lights shine sideways. |
Also daytime running lights, parking lights, and brake lights are no longer uncommon on bicycles today and are highly recommended even during the day, as they significantly increase safety.
Bicycle lamps that are visible from the side significantly increase safety for cyclists in the city! Image © Sigma Sport
💡Bicycle Lighting for More Safety in the City💡
Front Bicycle Lamp | Bicycle Rear Light | Bicycle Lamps Battery | Reflectors
2. Clarity Ensures Safety on the Bicycle!
When you're on the bicycle, you should absolutely not miss anything happening in the dense city traffic. And that's especially difficult due to the changing lighting conditions! Imagine you're riding down a street: it's shady between the buildings, the bright sunlight dazzles you on the cross street, under a tree it suddenly gets darker, and for a moment you see nothing at all... Constantly fumbling with glasses on the bicycle distracts you from the road traffic. Especially if there are tram tracks in your city, you should always see what's ahead of you! How can you ensure more safety?
We have three safe solutions ready for you:
- Choose a bicycle glasses with lightly tinted lenses out. A slight tint compensates for changing light conditions and thus protects your eyes.
- With some cycling glasses, you can change the lenses. This way, you can look through darker lenses on sunny days, while lightly tinted lenses are optimal for less bright days.
- Wear a city helmet with a foldable visor, so you can adjust your field of vision to the light with a single hand movement.
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Our tip: Clear cycling glasses also help if your eyes tear up while biking. With teary eyes, you can't see anything, but clear glasses block the wind and ensure good visibility. Even in the rain, clear glasses improve your view. |
A cycling helmet with a visor is a great thing! The lightly tinted visor compensates for changing light, so you don't overlook anything, and it makes cycling in the city much safer! Image © Lumos
3. A heavy bag becomes a safety risk on the bike
Many people who ride their bikes through the city carry a lot with them. You can, of course, transport work documents or groceries on your bike, but there is one thing you should keep in mind: Your luggage must always be well secured!
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In the city, you need your full attention for the road, so you should absolutely avoid distractions. This also includes ensuring your luggage is securely stowed. |
You must not lose anything, because what falls off is usually run over by the next car in seconds! On the other hand, you also don't want anything to be stolen from you. Everything should be theft-proof packaged!
Good bike bags, a bike basket plus tension strap or a backpack are safe transport options. Many city bikes also have a stylish front basket, but it should be used with caution! The heavier you load it, the more it can change the handling of the bike and even influence the riding path!
Bags & baskets for safe transport on the bike
Bike bags | Backpacks | Bike Baskets
Choose the RIGHT shoulder bag for cycling!
The more sporty your position on the bike, the more problematic it becomes to wear a shoulder bag. If you ride completely upright on a city bike or Dutch bike, there's nothing to worry about, but messenger bags are not suitable for a bent seating position. The heavier the bag, the greater the force with which it eventually slides from your back to the side. The sliding bag is annoying, distracts you, and can even lead you off the straight path.
If you want to cycle with a messenger bag, it should definitely be one designed for cyclists. These bags have an additional strap that prevents slipping, so your bag won't lead you off the path!
A bike bag/messenger bag is a safe solution for transport on the bike. Image © Chrome Industries
4. The safety check for the bike
We don't want to imply that you neglect your bike. But from experience, performance bikes like racing bikes, trekking bikes, or MTBs are more likely to be well-maintained than the old clunker for the 4km ride through the city to the office. And that eventually takes its toll!
- Poorly functioning brakes are really dangerous! You should keep an eye on the wear of brake pads or brake rubbers and replace them in time! Also, brake discs wear out and need to be replaced eventually.
- Equally important are fit tires. Worn-out tires have no grip. You can't take corners safely, it becomes slippery on wet roads, and you can't brake reliably. There are all-weather tires you can use year-round in cities with moderate climates. For cities where a lot of ice and snow is expected, we recommend equipping the bike with winter tires for the winter.
- You should also regularly check the tire pressure. Many cyclists struggle with nearly flat tires, which unnecessarily costs energy! But not only that – if the tires have very little air, the bike may become unstable at worst.
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We strongly recommend an annual comprehensive safety check for you! |
↪Bicycle parts for more safety on the city bike ↩
Brake pads | Brake rubbers | Tires | Winter tires | Pumps
5. High-Vis is in!
An urban Look in muted colors is nice and good, but unfortunately, you are not safe with it. If you want to ride your bike through the city, you can fully indulge your love for bright colors because the flashier the outfit, the better you will be seen. Red, yellow, or bright green, the more colorful, the better! Neon colors are particularly noticeable, but at least your outerwear should be bright.
Our tip: Today there is bicycle clothing that visually does not differ from normal casual wear or even office outfits. However, it is cut for cyclists and therefore particularly comfortable in the saddle. Bicycle jackets and -pants are often equipped with reflective elements. This makes you particularly visible at night, at dusk, or in bad weather, which is important for your safety!
Play it safe and wear a jacket that lights up completely in the headlights! Image © Assos
6. Traffic safety is key!
If you are riding your bike in the city, a traffic-safe bicycle is the absolute prerequisite! The required equipment includes not only the bicycle lights described above, but your bike should also have other safety-relevant attachments!
This makes your bicycle traffic-safe:
- Bicycle lighting, approved according to StVZO
- Front reflector white, rear red
- Side-visible reflectors on the wheels
- A bicycle bell
- Two brakes
- Non-slip, securely fastened pedals with yellow reflectors
In the Bike Blog, there is a post that explains the necessary equipment in detail. It is really worth reading this article and upgrading the bike accordingly because without these bike parts, not only does safety suffer, but you also risk facing trouble up to fines!
Bike Safety for Advanced Riders
We won't elaborate on one tip at this point because it goes without saying that "going without" is not an option! The bicycle helmet is and remains the most important safety measure.
However, there are some situations where a few simple measures can significantly improve safety.
How to get to work well with the bicycle can be found in our post "Cycling to Work".
"Better to Work by Bicycle" – read now.
The winter is a special challenge for both bike and rider. How to get through the cold season safely can be learned in various posts. We explore the sense of winter tires, explain which accessories make winter cycling safer and also "Winter Clothing for Cycling" is an important point.
- Winter Clothing for Cycling
- Does your bike need winter tires?
- Cycling through Winter
- Cleaning the Bike in Winter
Also important: More safety for your beloved bike! Find out how in our article "Properly Locking the Bike".
Cover image © Metehan Demirkaya on Pexels
