Riding Safety and Etiquette

If you have to ride on the road, ride with the traffic, not against it. Use the proper universal bicycling turn signals when turning and stopping to let motorists know your intentions. Obey all traffic signals, as bicycles are legally classified as vehicles.Once you venture in the woods, stay on the trail to avoid erosion. Stay off wet trails: The deep ruts you’ll leave create permanent damage. Yield to all pedestrians; slow down and let them know you are approaching by verbalizing your presence. If you are riding with a large group of people, it is common courtesy to let hikers and other cyclists know how many in your group are behind you. Most important: if you see horses on the trail, get off the bike immediately, communicate with the horseback riders for any special instructions, and walk past the horses with caution, speaking softly in a reassuring way to let the horse know that it is not in danger. Horses can get spooked very easily by bright colors, certain noises, and shiny objects. The last thing you want is a scared one-ton animal barreling out of control toward you.