How to Transport Items on Your Bicycle

Cycling for Transportation

For many who cycle, they adopt it as their primary means of transportation. As such, there may come a time when you need to transport items on your bicycle. While not technically illegal in some regard, the best rule of thumb is that you can carry anything as long as it doesn’t impede traffic and allows you to keep both hands on the handlebars.

For example, you wouldn’t be able to get away with hauling a 12 foot cut of lumber on the back of your bike as it would be a danger to anyone else on the road. Furthermore, if you were cycling with a box under your arm, you would probably be pulled over as it impaired your ability to steer a bicycle.

Best Ways to Transport Items on Your Bicycle

Your best option for carrying most items is either the classic basket on the front or a rack on the back. Anything from a bag of tacos to groceries from the store will fit on these two spots without issue. Of course, you may need to use your imagination. If you make unexpected stops for stuff, it may be worthwhile to carry a few bungee cords or even shoes laces with you to secure items. Even in a pinch, your own bike lock may be helpful.

For the bigger loads, you may want to look into wagons that can be attached to bikes. As these don’t really impede traffic or your ability to ride, they can be helpful when hauling larger items on your bicycle.

While hauling things on a bicycle is generally pretty safe to do, it doesn’t change the fact that bicycle accidents will still happen. If you have been in a bicycle accident, contact us today to see what the Law Office of Gary Brustin can do to help you get the compensation that you deserve.

Texting and Cycling: Can You Use Your Cell Phone While Riding?

Texting Laws

By now, everyone should be fully informed of the dangers that come with texting and driving. So much so, that many states have now made it illegal to drive a car and use your cell phone. However, does that law extend to cycling? Surprisingly, not always.

While some states have put in place laws that make cell phone use on bicycles illegal, it isn’t so in California. There are no laws against it. So technically, if you wanted to, you could use your cell phone while riding. However, the real truth is that you probably shouldn’t. The issue with using a phone while driving a car is that you take your eyes off the road, and when going at a decent speed, this is dangerous.

Texting and Cycling

However, cell phone use on a bicycle is dangerous for a different reason. Not only does it distract your eyes from the road, but it takes up one of your hands as well. You need both hands for steering, and if you need to make a split-second maneuver, you will likely spend that split-second deciding to drop the phone or grab the handlebars.

A large part of the share the road laws that cyclists fight for in order to make their rides safer comes from a desire to truly share the road. If you are on your cell phone, you aren’t being fair to motorists or anyone else on or near the road. It is one matter if you use a hands-free device and a phone holder for your bike, but if you dare to use the phone the traditional way, you are asking for an accident.

If you have been in a cycling accident due to the negligence of another, contact us today to see what the Law Office of Gary Brustin can do for you.

5 Reasons Why You Should Always Trust Your Bicycle Mechanic

 

A good bicycle mechanic is a cyclist’s best friend. Certain things need to be serviced and looked over by a professional. Not only are they in the know, but they will also better ensure your bicycle safety. Here are five good reasons why you should find a good bike shop and trust your bicycle mechanic:

1. Warranty

Most bikes have a warranty on them, which is excellent for anyone who rides and depends on their bike for their health or transportation. Yet, almost all bikes warranty will be voided if they are not serviced or maintained by a certified mechanic.

2. Hidden Issues

Bikes have issues that aren’t noticeable by looking at the bike or lightly riding the bike, such as a crack in the frame, a cross-threaded bottom bracket, or even a tire that is starting to separate from the bead. A mechanic that specializes in the manufacturer of the bike that you own should be able to spot these and other issues that your bike may have, as well as be able to fix these issues in a way that complies with the manufacturer’s requirements to not void your warranty. Some of the issues that you could have might seem to be more annoying than really a problem, such as a slight shifting misalignment, or a rubbing of the brake, or even a creaking with every pedal stroke, but these issues can be signs of bigger issues that could be detrimental to your bicycle and checkbook, or even your health.

3. Specialized Parts and Specialized tools

There are parts on all bikes that need specialty tools, and usually, the nicer your bike, the more specialty components, and more specialty tools your bike will require to repair successfully. Whether it’s a cassette or bottom bracket tool, chain whip, bearing press, spoke wrench, reaming or facing tool, or even a brake bleeding kit, most bike shops will know which tool to use, have that tool in their possession, and be able to effectively use that tool to successfully fix your bike’s specific issue.

4. Newer and changing technology

Newer bikes have advanced mechanical parts like complex shifting and brake systems. These must need a higher level of experienced skill and practice to ensure correct function. Professional mechanics are always being introduced and trained for the bike systems as they are released.

5. Bike Parts / Equipment have lifespans

Along with a warranty, certain things need to be serviced and looked over by a professional. Even if the bike or parts function like new, beyond a shelf life they may no longer hold up to the abuse cyclists put on them. Brake pads and tires dry rot, grease in shifters will harden. A professional will know when to re-grease an item, can tell when your brake pads need to be replaced etc… before it becomes an issue you experience while riding.

For bike safety tips, cycling laws, and more contact us anytime.

Do Law Enforcement Have a Biased in Cycling Accidents?

Cycling Accidents

Everyone likes to think that when an officer arrives on the scene of an accident, they look at the whole situation with an objective eye to best gather the facts of an accident. While there are certainly some officers that do this, when it comes to cycling accidents, it is no secret that there is a certain level of bias against the cyclist by law enforcement officers.

What’s the Difference?

This bias comes from the same place that cycling accidents often come from – a lack of information. When it comes to car accidents, the whole scene is a familiar one for law enforcement officers. However, like other motorists, many law enforcement officers aren’t exactly well-versed in the laws, common practices, or even the behavior of cyclists. To some, cyclists on the road are an unknown factor that makes them uncomfortable. It is easier for a law enforcement officer to believe a cyclist caused an accident over a motorist that has a clear-cut sort of behavior on the road.

Unfortunately, what this means for the cyclist is a poorly documented crash scene. Law Enforcement will state the facts as best they can, but lacking the knowledge of cyclist behavior, sometimes they don’t capture the whole picture. This can make receiving compensation for an accident difficult for the cyclist. It is something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later as more cyclists take to the road and laws are constantly constructed to protect them. However, until then, the cyclist will need to be responsible for documenting their own accidents if possible.

Legal Help

If you have been in a cycling accident and need legal representation that understands, contact us today. As a cyclist himself, Gary Brustin and his law office understand what cyclists go through. If you were badly hurt, let him help you recover the compensation that you require.