Today I want to share with you some important tips on road safety, a topic that is very close to my heart and should be a priority for all of us cyclists. Safety is critical not only for my personal peace of mind, but also for the safety of all participants in my events, bike tours and all cyclists in general. It is an issue that I always put first in my events, such as at Unpaved Roads, and I want to give you some tips on how to deal with the challenges of the urban jungle.

The Problem of Road Safety

Before going into the details of the tips, it is important to note that the issue of road safety is becoming increasingly alarming. From my personal experience, I have noticed that a significant percentage of motorists, about 70 percent (if not more), use their cell phones while driving, not only for calls, but often to take videos or posts on social networks. This situation requires action at the national level by institutions, but unfortunately we know how slow changes in this field can be in our country.

If we could compare cities to a jungle, I think motorists could be likened to dinosaurs, an endangered species attached to an old pattern, the one imposed by car ownership. The reality is that, in most cases, urban trips could easily be made without the use of a car. These often occur within the urban radius, making them feasible with a bicycle and the proper equipment. We cyclists, on the other hand, are like birds or monkeys, hopping from branch to branch, with our lives suspended by a very thin thread that is liable to snap at any moment. It is exactly like a bird that has to survive in the jungle made up of cars and distracted drivers.

The urban cyclist, and not, is an animal that needs to make itself very visible in order to survive…