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Bicycling.com: Riding Safely During the Shutdown
By Ralph Banasiak
Posted: 2020-07-04T21:45:00Z

In a Bicycling.com's June 30 online article,   https://www.bicycling.com/news/a31469228/cycling-during-coronavirus/ ,
several public heath and biology scientists around the US gave their best advice about "How to Ride Safely Amid Coronavirus Concerns."  Bottom line:  Continue cycling solo.

The article covers a number of topics including the safety of riding outdoors, use of ride-share bikes, touching traffic buttons, spitting and a number of others.  It also links to an even more recent article (July 2) on the safety of riding in groups.  For now let's just look at masks and group riding.



Wear a Mask?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as several state health guidelines recommend wearing masks when out in public.  It may not be necessary if no one else is around - mowing the backyard, cleaning roof gutters, weeding the tomato patch.  But what about bike riding?

These health guidelines strongly suggest that the risk of coronavirus spread is still very serious.   Mask wearing contains the spread from those who have it and helps the healthy from getting it.  Penn State assistant biology professor, Matt Ferrari, suggests bringing a mask along just in case.  You may have an accident or need to fill your water bottle at a store.

Even if no emergency occurs, anyone riding in the city or suburbs will encounter people jogging and walking their dogs as well as other riders, all throughout the day. Ever have a silent rider overtake you with no warning?  As soon as that rider slips in front of you, you are inhaling that rider's water droplets and any organisms attached to that vapor wafting in his/her slipstream.  One solution: wear a "chin" mask and slide it over your nose/mouth when needed.

Cycle in groups?
This question concerns riding with people not in your household.  Cycling with 2-3 partners is taking a chance but you can minimize risk by minding the following:

o level of community spread in your area
o your own exposure to the coronavirus
o familiarity with your riding partners
o safety precautions that your partners have taken to stay healthy

Know who your riding partners are and what they have done to avoid the virus.  Of course, if you are sick, don't ride and expose your buddies; expect them to do the same for you. 

For more on group riding, check out the July 2 Bicycling.com article:  https://www.bicycling.com/news/a32896818/is-it-safe-to-ride-in-groups/ .


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