Visibility: How to be seen

Unlike that Monty Python sketch on 'How to Not Be Seen', when you're riding a bike anywhere, the safest thing to do is make yourself visible.

Making sure that you are visible on a bike is extremely important for safety. Being visible means that other people can see you. But rather than assuming that people will be looking out for you, making sure you are visible is something you can actively do:

Bicyclists riding in the street can be more visible by spacing themselves appropriately on the road. The law states that a bicycle must ride as far to the right as practical, not as far to the right as possible! Read more on how your position on the road can make you safer (and saner).

Similarly, it's important to be a predictable rider by riding in a straight line, rather than weaving in and out of cars. Don't hide from cars, they need to see you in order to avoid you. Many car-bicycle accidents happen when cyclists leave the sidewalk (where they are not visible to motorists) to go onto the street or into a crosswalk.

When riding from dusk to dawn, wearing lights is essential to being visible. White in front and red in back. Blinking lights help motorists (and other cyclists) know you're there. Reflectors and wearing bright colors can provide added visibility, but are not enough without lights. You know those reflectors you got with your bike, keep them on.

Bike lights can be as cheap as $12, and you can even make one out of a flashlight (however you would still need a red light for the back of your bike).

Remember, when bike crashes happen, one of the most common phrases you hear is "I couldn't see them".

Of course, these are all ways for bicyclists to actively make themselves more visible. Motorists also have a responsibility to look out for cyclists, which is made clear in this entertaining Public Service Awareness Test.