Bikes are back

Although Southern Colorado is graced with abundant sunshine and dry days, there’s something about springtime that awakens our inner enthusiast and makes us want to hit the roads and trails.

And while it’s a lot of fun and relatively inexpensive to do, there are some things that bike riders and the people near them need to know to stay safe this season.

First, consider a tune up. Eli Cashman, of Old Town Bikes in Colorado Springs, says that bicycles should get one at least annually and seasonally if riding year round. The end of winter is an especially important time to check tubes and tires for cracks and bulges.

Attorney Mike McDivitt says that just because someone is on a bike, doesn’t mean that they are free from any liability. He said that riders are considered to be the same as drivers in many cases.

“There’s no difference. You might as well put the image of an automobile around every bicycle rider and then what they’re expected to do, how they are to act, is the same as they would be if they were driving a car,” he said.

McDivitt pointed to stop signs and speed limits as places where riders typically get into trouble legally.

Cashman agreed that although there’s a lot more to it than just throwing on a helmet and hitting the roads or trails, it’s the details that make for a better time.

“All these little things add up to make your ride better, and when your ride’s better, you’re happier, and you want to ride more,” he added.

The city of Colorado Springs has declared Wednesday June 22nd, Bike to Work Day this year.