Ten tips to combat the cold on the bike

If you are one of those bikers who do not miss the winter concentrations as the Festival of Valladolid Moto do not miss these tricks to keep warm and avoid accidents. Especially you ridding at night without reflective vest.

 

Valladolid will host from 8 to 10 January at the Moto Festival, a winter concentration aims to keep alive the spirit of penguins and reaffirm the city as European Capital of bike in winter. Although this year is expected a somewhat softer than the usual weather, we must not forget that the fog, frost and cold are common elements in the city at this time. If you’re going to be one of the brave people who attend this event on two wheels are some tips to combat the weather and avoid mishaps.

 

  1. Before getting in the way, check the drawing of the wheels. It is important to good adhesion in case of ice or snow.

 

  1. Make sure the battery is fully charged and in case carries tweezers. It is very common to encounter problems to boot after a good frost. Not more than cover your bike with a holster, either purchased or homemade, especially if you camp.

 

  1. Bring a reflective element to be seen despite the typical mists. Do not forget that bikes are less visible than their smaller cars and generally do not carry fog lights.

 

  1. Not only matter to be seen, but also see. If your helmet does not have a screen anti-fogging can hit a special foil or apply a spray to prevent fogging. Do not forget to close the air inlets.

 

  1. Use and thermal socks. Hands and feet are the body parts most chilling on the bike and can be dangerous to lose sensitivity. One trick is to get some emergency thin plastic bags on their feet and gloves of the same material in his hands. You can even stop at a gas station and pick up the gloves that provide for gas. Incidentally, if you’re en route and has gotten into you cold in the body, go to the bathroom and hand dryers used to heat the inside of the helmet and windbreaker gloves. It will help a lot to get warm.

 

  1. Ideally hand guards or thermal wear for the hand cuffs not the worst of the wind takes. If this is not your case, you can fabricate a hand guards cutting some plastic bottles in half and adjusting the bike with electrical tape.

 

  1. If you still do not enter your hands warm hand warmers or you can use instant heat bags, some cheap and small devices that are instantly heated when pressed or bent.

 

  1. Apply a good layer of moisturizer (better the more unctuous) in the hands, feet and face. It helps isolate cold skin and prevents from cracking. You can also do some warm up exercises just before getting on the bike, as if you were to play sports. The body will be prepared and accumulate some heat for the road.

 

  1. Do not forget to bring a good neck and shirt and thermal pants under clothing with reflective material. If you do not have time to buy a home remedy is to line the chest with newspaper. You can also use the mono or rain pants but not going to rain because it will fulfill two functions: windbreaks and will protect you from moisture from the fog.

 

10. If you go camping, remember that the cold will come mainly from the ground. a good insulation is essential. The sleeping bag is also very important and, although it seems a contradiction, it is better to wear skimpy clothes to get into it. The sack fulfill its function, and accumulating layers of clothing will only get you sweat and then just stand cold moisture

Reflective element bicycle

Nike, which is headquartered in Portland (United States), for 40 years, has decided to give the city he calls ‘home’ a gift.

 

Partnering with the Portland Office of Transportation, Nike will make an investment of $ 10 million over five years for the new system Bike Portland: BIKETOWN. In addition it will increase the number of bicycles with reflective elements, of the 600 initially raised to 1,000 (for a city that has more than 600,000 inhabitants).

 

“We are proud of our long history of collaboration with the City of Portland and we believe the program participation bike, BIKETOWN, is another example of how we can work together to help make the community of Portland even more active, vibrant and innovative “said Vice President of Global Community Impact Nike, Jorge.

 

Bicycles, which will have the logo of Nike, will be orange. This is one of the classic colors of the brand since 1971, when its founder, Phil Knight, decided to put his famous logo on this tone shoes in boxes, according ensures the company.

 

In fact, in 1989 this color became the official brand, “today there is no one that does not relate a shoebox with orange Nike” says the company. It is precisely the design of their boxes sport that has inspired the baskets that will incorporate into the front of the bikes for users to store their bikes things during the journey.

 

In addition, the safety of users has been very present during the design of bicycles through reflective tape gray strategically placed in different parts of the bikes.

 

Another city ‘bicycle-friendly’

This program, which will be released next July, makes Portland become a little greener city and joins the list of cities in the world who have decided to bet on two wheels as transportation for its inhabitants such as Barcelona or Madrid.

 

Although, the truth is that Portland was known as a city ‘bike-friendly’. Bicycle with some reflective accessory can enhance the visibility. With nearly 500 kilometers of bike lanes and passable roads on two wheels, it is considered among the top 10 cities for transportation bike United States. In addition, last September it was estimated that Portland received more than $ 130 million in revenue by business bicycles.

Children’s safety when back to School: school van and reflective material

A percentage of school accidents are occurring on the outside of the educational establishment, according to the Mutual Security. However, considering that “out of business” understands the way to school and therefore transport, will understand that these accidents are the most dangerous. And children will not wearing safety vest all the time.

 

Choose the safest school van for our children is therefore one of the key tasks of February before the return to school.

 

LOOK WHAT?

  1. Needless to say, never opt for a “pirate” vehicle.
  2. Verify that the patent is registered in the National Register of Public Transport School. In this same form you can check the list of people who are disabled to work with minors.
  3. Require the driver ID card bearing is registered correctly on the previous database and have its license in force and all documents in order. In addition, establishments must have a copy of the certificate of registration.
  4. The vehicle must be yellow , have strobe light or reflective band on both sides and carry a sign triangular on the roof with the “school” legend (the buses are excepted). All documentation must be in order.
  5. The vehicle seats should go to the front and a back less than 35 cm. Since 2007 all seats should have seat belts.
  6. The travel time to and from school cannot exceed one hour.
  7. If you go more than five preschool children, the driver must be accompanied by an adult.
  8. The Ministry of Transport recommends that parents sign a contract in writing, upon request a busing.

 

STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN

The self – care and an example is the best advice that experts give risk prevention. Parents need to teach road safety to children (and not cross behind a car) to prevent future accidents. And also can buy some bags with reflective fabric for children. But it also has to lead by example, always putting on her seat belt.

Explain to your child that should not take arms, legs or head through the windows. Nor should it distract the driver.

And be on time, so that the carrier cannot try to make up time increasing speed.

Reflective tape to run at night

Gone are the days, the lazy days at the beach and chilled cocktails, winter approaches and the days get shorter. For fans of running, it’s time to cover up and protect her skin from the cold , but also to equip themselves to be clearly visible, as the nightlife are likely to multiply. From feet to head, running with headlamps, we have compiled for you eight accessories that allow you to shine brightly to run safely after dark.

Focus on fluorescent and reflective strips

 

Two things help make a night of jogging without fear of accident: the fluorescent (or light colors) and reflective tape. The first is rather recommended in fog or rain, the seconds are essential on a clear night. The combination of the two makes it possible to be seen over 100 meters against 30 meters with dark clothing, or the scope of the headlights of a car. For smaller budgets, it is possible to purchase reflective material to stick to his usual clothes.

 

For the head, there are many facilities, such as caps equipped with LED or headlamps. These two accessories allow not only to be seen, but also to see where you walk. It would be stupid to hurt you tripping over a pothole!

 

For the body, we recommend light colored clothing, and even fluorescent, but especially equipped impressions or reflective tape. It is also prudent to invest in a cuff LED, which can further increase visibility. Some models can even host your Smartphone to be able to listen to music without the slightest concern.

With all that, still try not dazzling motorists!

Do not leave children in the dark: Use reflective material to Stay Bright

Driving in the dark without reflective clothing is inherently dangerous. If we cannot see clearly where we are going, we will have risk going to crash, an event whose consequences are often fatal. But there are those who still run more dangers and infinitely more serious people who are in a vehicle: the pedestrians. Even more are the children. A campaign promoted by the FIA, the International Automobile Federation, seeks to remind young users the correct way to move around in the street when the light is poor.

The dark is difficult to see not only the limits of the road but also what lies in between. The street lighting is often insufficient, even in residential areas; because public authorities are fast to save money on useful things, almost as much as they are rapid into wasting money in questionable loans. In the face of the duty, imposed by the Highway Code, provide for the safety of the streets of their property. So when we find ourselves suddenly on a collision course a dark figure, small size and moving, tragedy is always lurking. Sometimes only the case ensures that nothing happens.

In addition there is added at times unsafe behavior of children themselves, and here are the parents having to make an examination of conscience. Apart from the fact that it is foolish to send out children alone in the dark; in addition, to make matters worse, they often do not even let them wear the reflective vest. Moreover, they do not even many adults. Similarly when they are not wearing a seat belt or traveling holding babies in their arms. There is still much to be done to put into people’s minds the culture of safety in the street.

E ‘it was even coined a hash tag for social media, of course #Stay Bright.

The campaign is geared specifically to children, who have a tendency to figure out things on the fly, when adults deign to explain them properly and clearly. A fundamental fact: the dark a child by bicycle or on foot is only seen at the distance of 10 meters. But at 50 Km / h, by urban speed limit, they walk almost 14 meters per second. Then the driver would have less than a second time to prevent the baby in the dark. Let alone at a higher speed. Instead with a reflective vest approved the visibility rises to 50 meters, a distance more than sufficient to avoid risks.

It is not enough. The campaign Stay Bright summarizes these tips for children. If you travel by bike : wear a reflective vest and a white helmet or other clear and bright color; always have a light-functioning white or yellow and red front lagging behind; Also the pedals and the inside of the circles should have reflective parts.

If you walk on foot: still wearing the safety vest; walking on the sidewalk on far away as possible from the road and proceed in the opposite direction to the vehicle operating conditions (to see them arrive); when they must cross, always do it on strips in locations where the visibility is good, both for the traffic that comes that for the child.

Polices handed out reflective vests at the roadside

You have a reflective vest in your car and positioned so that you can in case of emergency use even before the car off? So that’s focused police during a security event, which took place in recent days on the outskirts. Officers checked the driver only, but they also handed out vests.
“The aim of this event is to provide a reflective vest and passenger drivers,” explained the spokesman police Marcel. One of the first controlled brakes should vest placed in the trunk of his personal car, moreover, under heavy baggage, which could not be raised. And that’s wrong.

Now these situations want police warn the driver. “Safety vest should be placed inside the vehicle, such as a mailbox. If it is the driver in the trunk, it may happen that the incident will be struck down even before it wears, “warned Marcela.

Other drivers should keep on hand. He was among them Richard. “Vest got in the car more,” said the driver, who is convinced that similar police actions increase the safety of drivers.

Reflective vests police now distributed throughout, in the context of other services. The event focused directly on the high visibility vests will take place several times, and in December and early next year.

True-False against the compulsory high visibility vest

Since 1 January this year the yellow vest is mandatory for motorcyclists and motorists, but the mode of application of this new rule are still a little confused. Let us try to see a little clearer with the answers to questions that you ask about this. Some are obvious to some, but it’s better in the saying…

  1. The yellow color is not imposed: True

Published in the Official Journal of 10 May 2015, speaks exactly a “high visibility vest,” which means that it may be from other equipment reflective as a yellow vest. Your jacket may be of another color (orange for example), but in practice, most equipment sold in the shops are bright yellow.

  1. Wearing a yellow vest must be permanent: False

It is very clear in the texts: it is not a matter for bikers to wear retro-reflective equipment permanently, but to own one “on them or in their vehicle storage (net, safe …) “and they will” wear down when their vehicle after an emergency stop, to improve their visibility.”

  1. The fine can go up to 135 €: True

If you do not have a retro reflective vest during inspection equipment, you can scoop a ticket for € 11 (1st class fine). However, the addition may be more salt if you stop and get off the bike without wearing the compulsory yellow vest: it is then a fine of € 135 (4th class) that hangs in your face!

  1. A simple retro reflective armband may suffice: False

According to a decree dating from 29 September 2008 on which is based, is considered vest” any clothing worn on the upper body such as jacket, parka, vest, shirt or tunic.” It should be limited to those described equipment, in which are not a simple cuff, even if it was a time been considered as mandatory equipment of visibility … However, CE marking is mandatory to certify retro-reflective qualities of your equipment for it to be certified “high visibility”.

  1. It is mandatory to take a second vest for passenger: False

What is not forbidden is allowed, as they say … In the texts, there is no requirement to carry a second high visibility vest, even if common sense recommends: “The Order is to extend the obligation to hold a high visibility vest with reflective tape, already applicable to motorists, drivers of a motor vehicle with two or three wheels” as it is written. Motorists also can be content with a single vest … There is the law and the spirit of the law. Finally, we will add that the triangle is not intended as mandatory equipment for two or three wheels, for obvious practical issues of transportation…

Cyclists’ bad visibility due to lack of reflective jackets

Wednesday morning, Sylvia, cyclist for three years in Paris, was arrested while traveling in the street on his bike by Francis, member of the Association Road Safety. “We will check all your lighting and visibility equipment such as reflective tape, safety vest and helmet etc.,” he offers to the young woman. An awareness campaign for cyclists’ risks night organized simultaneously in 10 cities (Lille, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Rennes, La Rochelle, Besancon, and Gap) by the association and the Road Safety insurer MMA.

Because according to a joint investigation by the insurer and the combination of 2, 000 cyclists between March and June 2013 revealed this Wednesday, three quarters of cyclists riding into town on their own bike poorly lit at night. “Many bikes were originally equipped with inefficient dynamo broke. Others have been degraded and cyclists have not retrofitted provided. In contrast, self-service bikes have less default lighting because they are regularly checked, “says Jean-Yves, general delegate of the association Prevention road.

As for reflective jackets and armbands, they are almost never used by cyclists less than 5% of rental bike users use it and 16% of owners of personal bike. “But the utilization rate increased to Paris, Lille and Rennes (25%), probably because cyclists feel more vulnerable s because the bike paths are less developed than in other cities,” says Jean-Yves. Yet these devices are useful “because they can be visible up to 150 meters against 30 meters without these accessories, he insists. A powerful argument is that 20% of 155 cyclists were killed in an accident road in 2012 at night.

Still, the majorities of cyclists is still poorly informed on the subject and are unaware of the risks they face. “Do you know what the mandatory equipment for riding is?” Francis Gael asked. “The front and rear lights,” replied the young woman. “Not only wearing a retro reflective vest is mandatory open road. A retro reflective device on the pedals is also indispensable, “explains François-Gael. To help Sylvia no longer seem unnoticed, he offers a kit containing a vest, armbands and protection for fluorescent bag back. “I put the now when I will cross the Place de la Bastille at night,” Sylvia advance. Olivier, another seasoned cyclist, also gets his kit: “The safety vest does not look like the Karl Lagerfeld, but I’ll make an effort and put it on as often as possible,” he promises, before straddling his bike.

Five advices to ride bike in the city and stay safe

Road safety associations and insurers Prevention launched Friday a communication campaign on cyclist safety in the city. The associations have identified five dangerous situations in which bicycles are frequently found and give advice detailed as below.

  1. Dangerous situation # 1: pass a truck or bus

This happens frequently at red lights. Problem: the blind spots of trucks are wider than the cars and the “time to move beyond” the longest vehicle. Therefore is more dangerous. Another trap: to turn right, heavyweights such as buses are forced to veer more to the left to get their rear axle. So cyclists think they have space. But the vehicle pass may pinch or crush very quickly.

The Board of Prevention: stay behind the truck when he was arrested.

  1. Dangerous situation # 2: cross an intersection when one takes priority without looking

When it is a priority at an intersection, the cyclist is overconfident and do not pay attention to other vehicles. “Yet it is very visible,” do you remember the Road Safety.

The Board of Prevention: slow down and try to meet the eyes of the driver who arrives from a side street

  1. Dangerous situation number 3: ride at night without being visible

Many bike rides at night without the reflective tape and safety vest, mandatory, are fixed on the bike. It must however oranges on wheels and pedals, white in front of the bike, red at the rear. It also requires that the bike has a white or yellow light in front, red at the rear.

The Board of Prevention: although it may seem like a detail, to ensure that the bike has these protective elements. Wear yellow reflective vest is also recommended.

  1. Dangerous situation number 4: ignore red lights

A number of cyclists often turn red, especially when they want to turn right. This is possible since 2010, but only when the triangular panel reports. Otherwise refrain.

The Board of Prevention: Follow the rules!

  1. Dangerous situation Number 5: drive along parked cars

The risk for the cyclist is obviously to knock on a door opens suddenly. Or, best of all, a car that, without warning, enter the roadway.

The Board of Prevention: Finding the balance between rides too close to parked cars and driving on left. Do as well attention to clues: Does there’s people in the vehicle? Are the wheels turned? Does the motor run?

Should the helmet and reflective vest be mandatory?

The helmet does not make a lot of followers among the cyclists; they would be only 29% to bring in during the day against 41% nationally, according to the study by Opinion way for the insurer MMA.

“I see myself badly disheveled get to work”

“I bike every day and I do not want to burden myself with a helmet. I do not feel at all threatened. How awful if it became a requirement,” Said Michel, 65 years old. He wears a reflective tape on each ankle but is above all not to mess down her pants.

Reza, 41 and Perrine, 37, make a lot of two-wheelers. Her motorcycle and bicycle road, two activities for which they consider the essential helmet, but the city is not the same. “We ride quietly on the sidewalks or on the waterfront. And I see myself badly disheveled get to work. No, the helmet is for our children, “says Perrine.”It is useless and it is really ridiculous aesthetic side, I’m anti-bicycle helmet and I’ll stay,” adds Reza strongly.

“I do not understand that the helmet is not compulsory”

Fanny, 26, is part of the minority of Bordeaux who have become accustomed to bring a helmet. “I had a bike fall that earned me a fracture, my wheels were stuck on the tram tracks,” she says. It will take about one year to the student nurse to get back on track after this traumatic experience. “And now, if I do the headset without bike, it’s like I had no flying belt,” she explains.

Her friend Gwen, 23, prefers to ride with the wind. “The helmet and safety vest, it keeps you warm, it’s not nice and not very aesthetic,” she says. “It is true that it is not glamorous but I do not care!” retorted Fanny. That teams also lights and a reflective vest at night. “I do not understand that wearing a helmet is not mandatory,” says the young woman.

“One obvious constraint”

“The helmet and reflective vest should not be mandatory, can be worn if desired but this is an obvious constraint! Behind this obligation there is the automobile lobby that sees that the bike takes to drive market share. In cities that have mandatory helmet and safety vest, practice has declined significantly, “says Alain, president of the association Bike City in Bordeaux.

For the association, it seems more interesting to focus on the bicycle lights and wearing reflective clothing to improve the safety of cyclists.