We're counting on you!
The Empire State Ride is counting on everyone, regardless of cycling experience, to ride safely. We ride in all types of traffic conditions – big city streets, mixed use recreational paths, rural roads, village streets and everything in between. Along the way, you’ll encounter pedestrians, other cyclists and all types of vehicles, including cars and horses and wagons. To avoid accidents and injuries, it’s vital to pay attention to your surroundings and follow safety procedures.
Here is a list of all required safety gear:
A properly fitted CPSC-certified bicycle helmet. Consider MIPS or WaveCel for added protection. If your helmet doesn’t fit, is older or has cracks in it, replace it.
Front and rear lights, specifically a front white headlight and rear red tailgate. Bring extra batteries!
Bike repair kit and extra tube. Though Empire State Ride provides professional bike safety checks and repairs at camp each day, it’s always important to have a bike repair kit with a pump or CO2 and extra tube, just in case.
A bike mirror to see behind you.
An ESR-issued safety triangle (right).
Here are safety highlights that we must follow.
Follow the rules of the road.
Learn and use hand signals.
Make your intentions known well in advance to avoid causing an accident from behind.
Call out your passes.
Ensure cars are not coming up from behind before you make any passes.
Use your head and taillights each day (charge them overnight).
Wear bright clothing and your ESR-issued safety triangle.
Obey all traffic signs and lights. There are no closed courses on ESR.
Ride right – safely out of automobile traffic, on the shoulder, to the right on paths.
Take the lane with care to make turns against traffic.
Ride no more than two abreast, where safely possible, otherwise ride single file. NEVER ride 3-4-5 abreast. Do NOT hog the road to chit-chat.
Do NOT ride left of the center yellow line.
Do NOT impede traffic. Let cars safely pass.
If you must stop, pull off to the right, out of traffic.
Pacelines are dangerous in mixed groups of cyclists and on mixed use paths.
On trails, look both ways when crossing a road.
Beware of trail gates and/or bollards at intersections and trailheads.
Be courteous to other trail users and alert them to your approach.
Stay well hydrated.
Use sunscreen and/or protective clothing
Earbuds and personal audio are dangerous if you can’t hear hazards. Use one bud only or use bone buds that do not go in the ears. Adjust your volume so you can hear vehicles and other people.
Check out this safety video, courtesy of the League of American Cyclists.
Safe Cycling Video Resources
https://www.bikeleague.org/ridesmartvideos
New York State Bicycling Laws
https://www.dot.ny.gov/display/programs/bicycle/safety_laws/laws
