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safety & training

Rider safety is our priority!

Our routes are mostly on the open road, so riders share the road with cars and must obey the rules of the road. We have volunteers, law enforcement and fire safety personnel stationed throughout all our routes to ensure our riders have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Gear up for a Safe Ride!

In order to have a safe ride, you have to have the right equipment! The Ride for Roswell’s local bike shop partners generously provide free bike inspections and discounts to our riders. We encourage you to visit a bike shop near you to buy new gear and get your bike tuned up, inspected or upgraded.

TEXT UPDATES!

Text the word “Bike” to 77222 to sign up for last minute text alerts while you ride. Alerts will only be sent during ride week

CYCLING SKILLS & GEAR

Air Pressure

Squeeze your tires to make sure you don’t have a flat or they aren’t under-inflated. Use a tire gauge and a pump or visit one of The Ride’s local bike shop partners for a fix.


B

Brakes

Check to see if they are tight enough. Or are they squeaking and too tight? Your local bike shop can help.


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CHAIN

Look it over and make sure it’s lubricated. If it is rusty or dry, have your local bike shop grease as necessary or it may need replacing.

Resources on Common Riding Situations

If you are not that familiar with the situations when riding a bicycle on public roads, we have provided some helpful links with great information that will keep you safe and knowledgable!

STARTING/STOPPING

SCANNING

TRAFFIC LAWS

LANE CHANGING

BASIC BIKE CHECK

BIKE LANES

SHIFTING GEARS

SIGNALING

INTERSECTION POSITIONING

getting ready

KEEP EARS FREE

You cannot use headphones or cell phones while riding so that you can hear your fellow riders, as well as emergency directions from our law enforcement volunteers, Route Guides and Riding Marshals. Your fully charged cell phone IS an important safety tool, though, so bring your phone to the Ride.

CHILDREN

New York state law prohibits taking a child under 12 months of age on a bicycle ride in a bicycle child seat, trailer, sidecar or any other carrier. Helmets are not available for children under 12 months of age. Children must be accompanied by a supervising adult guardian who agrees to ride with the child on the same route.​

HYDRATE

Be sure your bike has a water bottle cage, and carry a sports water bottle that fits in the cage. Store-bought water bottles will fall out of the cage and trip riders. Drink water before you are thirsty!​

PETS

For the safety of our riders and your pets, any pets other than approved service animals are prohibited on the routes.

Riding
Safe

The Ride is a ride — not a timed or sanctioned race. High-traffic intersections along the Ride’s routes are managed by local fire police or by town, county or state police. In addition, volunteer Route Guides are located at many turns, intersections and gates. Their job is to cheer you on and give directions — they are NOT authorized to control vehicular traffic. For your safety, please maintain a comfortable rate of speed while complying with standard traffic laws and with the instructions that are given.

A “gate” is an intersection chosen to serve as a short cut for riders who do not “make the gate” by a certain time. If you are “late to the gate,” you must take the short cut in order to finish the Ride by a safe time.

Areas where routes converge are neutral zones, where it’s important to adjust speed to traffic congestion. Each route has gates that close at specific times, after which riders will be diverted to a shorter route for safety reasons. All routes starting at the University at Buffalo are round-trip loops, and the shortcuts are marked in large blue and white signs. Feel free to divert and take the shorter route if you become too tired to continue. You do not need special permission to divert to a shorter route.

Ride to the right unless passing a slower cyclist. Always pass on the left, never on the right. Call out “on your left!” and use your bell as you approach and pass.

Don’t ride more than two abreast. Traveling in groups of more than two riders side by side makes it difficult for both cars and other riders to pass safely.

Obey all traffic signals, devices and signs. Follow directions given by law enforcement and fire safety personnel, Route Guides, Riding Marshals and other Ride volunteers. Slow down in neutral zones where routes merge.

Use verbal commands and hand signals. Most bike accidents occur when two or more bikes collide, usually caused when one rider isn’t paying attention. Use loud and clear communication! Declare your intentions by using hand signals to alert drivers and riders when you turn, slow or stop.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT

Do not move the rider. They may have internal injuries. Use your cell phone or flag down a rider who has one and call 911. When your 911 call is completed, call Ride Communications at 716-THE-RIDE (843-7433) to report the incident. There are Roswell Park nurses at rest stops and on the UB campus.

FOR NON-EMERGENCY INCIDENTS

Such as bike repair, requests for a shuttle ride back to UB or requests for information, call Ride Communications at 716-THE-RIDE (843-7433).

All money raised directly impacts Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center