How To Safely Ride a Bicycle in a Dangerous and Busy Highway

I have written about my experience in biking to work in Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. This highway, according to news reports, is considered to be one of the most dangerous roads in the Philippines. With this kind of report, riding a bicycle to work on Commonwealth Avenue may not be a good idea. However, His Guidance and Protection coupled with these tips will make you safer and hopefully more confident in biking to work even on a reputedly dangerous highway like Commonwealth Avenue. 

1. Have a Good Night Sleep. Sleep is very important to ensure that you remain alert on the road while riding a bicycle. A good night's sleep will also give you the energy and stamina to pedal your way to your office or any destination. 

In any endeavor, inadequate or the lack of a good night sleep has a bad effect on on your performance in cycling and even in playing chess. Sleep gives the body the time to repair itself and strengthen the body. 

2. Stop, look and listen. When riding a bicycle, it is necessary that you are always aware of your surroundings. You got to give your full attention to whatever is happening around you. When you are riding a bicycle, you got to be extra careful. In either situation, whether you hit a vehicle or you got hit by a vehicle - you as a cyclist will always sustain damages. 

3. Use a bicycle that fits you. On busy roads like Commonwealth Avenue, it is very important that you use a bicycle that you can easily control and handle. A bicycle that fits you well means that you can safely stop and dismount depending on the situation. This is one reason why I prefer using a folding bike. A folding bike is light and very easy to maneuver. It is very small for it to pass between cars and other small spaces. 

4. Wear a Helmet. Wearing a helmet is for safety. You can also be penalized if you are caught not wearing a helmet when biking along Commonwealth Avenue. 

5. Stay in the Bike Lane. One of the notable improvements made along Commonwealth Avenue and in other roads in Metro Manila is the setting up of bicycle lanes.  The importance of bike lanes for the safety of cyclists cannot be ignored. In Commonwealth Avenue, there are bike lanes on both sides of the highway. The bike lanes are huge enough and are very visible on the road. Thanks to the City Government of Quezon City.  However, biking on Commonwealth Avenue, I noticed that there are several obstructions on the bike lanes. Hopefully, these obstructions are removed and the rules and regulations for the use of these bike lanes are strictly implemented.