Yesterday was a great day. I was wearing my favorite new outfit. Good hair day.  Altogether, it was a pretty good confidence day. I’m biking my way to the dining hall for lunch, my hair flowing in the wind like a model.That’s when it happened.  I’m pulling up to the bike rack just as a group of kids are leaving the building unaware of the spectacle I was about to give them. Just as I attempt to dismount my metal steed, my foot gets caught sending me on a grand crash onto the surrounding bikes, which created an almost picture-perfect domino effect.

My moral of the story?

Even the coolest, most experienced, confident bikers fall sometimes. Biking takes a lot of balance, coordination, and focus. And that’s just to stay upright! Next, you have to switch your attention to the road.  Between the Sunday strollers, longboarders, and passing cars, you really have to be ready for anything.

So remember these safety tips on your next ride to class:

• First and foremost, wear a helmet. I was too concerned with great hair to have one on. This time I was lucky. Next time, I may not be.
• Don’t ride with headphones in. You need to listen for cars coming up behind you or warnings from those around you.
• Don’t ride against traffic. Not only is it unsafe for you and passing cars, but it’s against the law.
• Follow the rules of the road just like you would in a car. Stop at stop signs, cross at crosswalks and intersections, because bikes are vehicles too.