*A guest post by Bruce Hagen with Bike Law Georgia. 

Bike Law Georgia is a long time supporter of Atlanta Streets Alive, and actively works every day to protect cyclist’s rights in and around Atlanta. During Atlanta Streets Alive, we enjoy the luxury of riding our bikes on streets that are free from the hazards presented by cars and trucks. It’s a wonderful feeling!

In our day to day riding, however, we don’t have that same luxury and instead are asked to share the road with motorists. While we believe that bicycling is a safe and fun activity, like anything, there are some inherent risks involved. Here are a few things that you can keep in mind before you get on your bike.

1. Riding with an ID card that includes emergency contacts. Don’t just assume that emergency personnel will know who you are and who they should call. If you have any specific medical needs, such as medications that you are currently taking or allergies to medication, include that too. Sometimes you’re not able to speak to emergency personnel and any information you can provide in advance can make a huge difference in your treatment.

2. Ride with GPS. If you are tracking your ride via Strava, Garmin, Map my Ride or some other application, you can record information showing the details of your movements that can be very helpful if there’s a dispute as to how a crash occurred.

3. Video cameras. In the event of a crash, video evidence showing the actions of the driver who hit you can be invaluable, especially in the case of a Hit & Run, conflicting accounts of the details or where the rider suffers a head injury. If possible cameras that face front and rear which peripherally capture activity from your left side are the ideal configuration.

4. Keep in mind, however, that the evidence that you capture on video may end up being used against you if you are the person responsible for causing a crash or are riding recklessly and putting other people in harm’s way. a. More Info: http://bit.ly/bikingwithgopro

5. If you are in the unfortunate position of having a wreck that’s caused by someone else’s negligence, know in advance what you should do. Here’s a short primer that gives you a comprehensive overview of the things that you should do when you’re in a crash: http://bit.ly/afterbikecrash

 Click here to learn more about Georgia Bike Law