Bicyclists must obey the same traffic laws as any other driver.
Bicyclists and motorists need to share the road.

• Always ride on the right with the flow of traffic. Riding on the left against traffic is one of the biggest causes of car-bike crashes.
• Ride far enough into the lane to avoid drivers’ blind spots and parked cars.
• Ride in a predictable, straight line.
• Before turning or merging, look in all directions. Always make eye contact with drivers and use hand signals. Bicycling hand signals are shown below:

Left Turn	Right Turn	STOP	Right Turn Alternative

 

• At intersections, merge and turn as if you were driving a motor vehicle.
• Use your voice or a bell to alert pedestrians.
• Stay alert for:
  • Vehicles coming out of driveways and side streets.
  • People sitting in parked cars that may open a door.

Teach children safe bicycling habits

• Be sure children know a properly fitted bicycle helmet is required by law.
• Children should not be allowed to ride in traffic until they know the rules of the road.
• Never let children “play” with bicycles in the street.
• Teach children to stop and look before coming out of a driveway, and to walk their bicycles across an intersection.

Ready to Ride?

• Before each ride, check your brakes and make sure your wheels are not loose.
• Loose pant legs can get caught in spokes and gears. Secure them with clips or by tucking the cuffs into your socks.
• Never try to hold something in you hand while biking. Wear a two shoulder backpack or use a secure luggage carrier.
• Do not wear headphones. Riders must be alert to their surroundings.
• For night riding, state law requires bicycles to have a white headlight, a red taillight or rear reflector, reflectors in the pedal area, and side-facing reflectors.

Safety Equipment – Always Wear a Helmet

Lights are required for riding at night.

Bicycle Safety Fact Sheet

Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau’s Bicycle Safety Information

Local maps

Also as part of the Share the Road in the Connecticut River Valley Project, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission created a regional bicycling map. The map is intended to assist experienced bicyclists in the selection of routes in the region that are most useful. The map is available at local bicycle shops.

The Franklin Regional Council of Governments is in the process of creating a map of the Franklin County Bikeway.

Get the map here.

In 2000, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), created the Getting Around Clean & Green in Massachusetts's Pioneer Valley map.

In addition Rubel Bike Maps produces a bicycling map for Western Massachusetts that is available for purchase.