Gear up
Fit your helmet
A helmet only protects you if it fits. Three quick checks, then shake your head: a good fit stays put.
- Replace any helmet after a crash, even if it looks fine. The foam inside only works once.
Bike Safety Quick Guide
Ride smart.
Ride Sidney.
Everything you need to ride safely around town and on the Deadwood Trail, from helmet fit to hand signals. Every lesson is hands-on: tap, toggle and try it.
- 13 quick lessons
- 10 hands-on demos
- 6 quiz questions
Gear up
Dress for the ride
Everyday clothes work fine for most rides. A few smart extras make long rides, wet days and prairie wind a lot more comfortable.
Everyday
Around town
- Whatever you're comfortable in
- Closed-toe shoes
- Roll up your right pant leg or use a strap to keep it off the greasy chain
Special bike gear isn’t required, but it makes longer rides more comfortable and safer at night, in rain and in cold.
Be seen
Light up the night
After dark, run a white light up front and a red light out back. A red rear reflector is the bare minimum, and reflective gear helps even more.
Visibility
Nearly invisible
Flip all three on. A red rear reflector is the legal bare minimum in most places, but a blinking red light does far more.
Before every ride
The ABC Quick Check
Sixty seconds before you roll out catches most problems. Tap each spot on the bike as you check it.
0/5
Something off? Fix what you can, then bring it to the Corner. A regular tune-up keeps everything running right. Book a tune-up →
AirPark smart
Lock it right
Use a U-lock, a heavy cable, or both. Secure the frame and both wheels to something that can't be moved or cut easily.
Best
U-lock + cable
U-lock through the frame and rear wheel to the rack, plus a cable looped through the front wheel. Everything's secured.
- Frame
- Rear wheel
- Front wheel
Lock up somewhere busy and well lit, and lock to something solid that can’t be lifted over.
Talk with your hands
Hand signals
Let everyone around you know when you're turning, changing lanes or stopping. Tap a signal to see it.
Signal for a few seconds before you turn, then put both hands back on the bars to brake and steer.
Look first
Scan, signal, go
Before you change lanes or turn, look over your shoulder and up ahead, signal, then make your move.
Practice looking back in an empty parking lot until you can do it without drifting.
On the Deadwood Trail
Sharing the trail
Sidney's trail is for walkers, joggers, kids and dogs too. A friendly heads-up goes a long way.
- 1Be courteousSmile, wave, slow down. The trail is a shared space.
- 2Know the posted rulesCheck signs at trailheads for hours, speed and dog rules.
- 3Announce your passRing a bell or call “On your left!” well before you pass.
- 4Slow at crossingsWhere the trail meets a road or another path, yield to cross traffic.
- 5Ride predictablyHold a straight line and signal before you turn or stop.
- 6Keep rightStay on your side, ride single file when others are coming.
- 7Lights after darkUse your lights on the trail too. Walkers need to see you.
Riding on sidewalks
Sidewalk riding isn’t recommended for adults. Drivers pulling out of driveways aren’t looking for you, and local rules may not allow it. If you must for a short stretch: ride at walking pace, yield to people on foot, and treat every driveway like an intersection.
On the street
Rules of the road
On a bike you have the same rights and responsibilities as anyone driving. Tap a card to flip it.
Sidney note: Union Pacific tracks cross town in several places. Slow down and cross them square-on, especially when they’re wet.
On the street
Owning the intersection
Most of the work happens before you reach the corner. Pick your spot in the lane based on where you're headed.
Lane position
Going straight
Ride in the middle of the lane so drivers can't squeeze past and turn across you.
Multi-lane roadsUse the right-most lane that goes where you’re headed. With two left-turn lanes, take the right one of the two.
Big trucks & busesStay behind them. They have huge blind spots and swing wide on turns; never get caught between one and the curb.
One-way streetsOn wider one-ways, turning left is usually easiest from the left side of the road.
On the street
Bike lanes & the door zone
Treat a bike lane like any other travel lane, and stay well clear of parked car doors.
Try it
How close is too close?
Set your distance, then open the door.
Leave 3 feet or moreGive parked cars at least three feet, more when you can. Watch for people inside cars about to open a door.
It’s OK to leave the bike laneTo pass another rider, steer around a hazard, or set up for a left turn. Signal and scan first.
Dashed lines = merge zoneWhere the bike lane stripe turns dashed, cars may cross your path to turn. Be ready.
Just in case
If a crash happens
Stay calm and work through these steps. Check them off as you go.
- Move out of traffic if you can do so safely.
- If anyone is hurt, call 911. Accept medical help; don't brush it off as “I'm fine.”
- Ask for an officer to make a report, and give your own statement.
- Don't try to settle things with the driver on the spot.
- Make sure the report is accurate before it's filed.
- Get names, phone numbers, license plates, insurance and vehicle details.
- Ask witnesses for their contact info.
- Photograph the scene, vehicles, your bike, your gear and any injuries.
- Note where everything ended up if anything was moved.
- See a doctor, even for minor aches. Some injuries show up later.
- Keep a simple journal of symptoms and treatment.
- Save your damaged bike, helmet and clothes, plus every receipt.
- Have a mechanic inspect the bike before you ride it again. We're glad to take a look.
- Comments on social media can affect an insurance claim.
- Talk to an attorney before giving a recorded statement to an insurer.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Reporting rules vary, so check Nebraska and local requirements.
Ride ready?
Test your smarts
Six quick questions. Ace it and you're Corner-certified.
Question 1 of 6