Millions of Americans cycle regularly for recreation or fitness. It's free and can be done just about anywhere. But there are some safety precautions that should be followed:

• Always wear a helmet. More than half of the nation's cycling deaths are due to head injuries. Choose a bright color, and make sure it fits properly -- it should sit horizontally on your head and not move about.
• Wear brightly colored, reflective clothing when cycling at night or when visibility is poor. Also, use your headlight and consider a rear strobe-type light (attached to your bike or your belt) to improve visibility at night.
• Obey traffic rules. Ride with the traffic, obey all signs, and give right of way to cars. Use hand signals to let drivers know your intentions.
• Try to make eye contact with car drivers as you pull into an intersection or make a turn, so they know what you're doing and you know that they've seen you.
• Don't ride side-by-side with another cyclist.
• Watch out for hazards such as storm drains, cattle guards, and railroad tracks. They're slippery when wet. If you don't cross them at a right angle, your front tire may get caught.
• Ride in the lane with the cars in heavy traffic, on a narrow road or on winding downhill roads. If you ride to the side, you're not as visible and may get pushed off the road. Move over to let cars pass if they want to.

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Source:  University of California, Berkeley, Foundations of Wellness. Tips for the best cycling.