Health, Safety, and Wellness

If you won’t be purchasing a car while in the U.S., cycling may be a good alternative for traveling from home to your host employer. Keep in mind, though, that cycling isn’t as big a part of U.S. culture as it may be in your own country. Not all cities and states have protected bike lanes, and cycling laws will vary from city to city. Check the cycling laws and regulations for your U.S. host city to ensure you can get to and from you host company easily and safely.

If you need to bike to your host company, or if you ride in your free time, please follow these safety guidelines. Note that in some cities or states the following guidelines may actually be required by law:

• Always wear a helmet.
• If you ride at night, make sure your bike has reflectors and lights on the front and back.
• Wear white or bright colors when walking or biking at night.
• Make sure your bicycle is adjusted properly and that the tires are full.
• Scan for traffic and use hand signals when changing lanes and making turns.
• Obey all traffic laws.
• Never wear headphones while biking.
• Cars drive on the right side of the road.
• Always ride with the flow of traffic and follow all traffic signals.
• Secure your bike with a lock when not in use.
• Do not ride your bike on busy highways or freeways. In many cities, this is illegal.
• Ride in single file to ensure you are not obstructing traffic. Bicycling two abreast can be dangerous.

For more tips, watch this helpful bike and traffic safety videos.