Bicycle Safety

At all times cyclists must abide by the instructions and directives of Metrorail Station Managers, Metro Train Operators, Metrobus Operators, Metro Transit Police or city/county police and fire officials.

Riding Safety

Protect your head. Always wear a helmet. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommend that bicyclists wear a helmet that complies with the CPSC standard. Studies show that bicycle helmets can reduce head injuries by 85 percent. Select a helmet that fits snugly and sits flat on the head. For children, use the extra padding that comes with the helmet to ensure a proper fit. This padding can be removed as the child's head grows.
Make sure your bicycle is adjusted and working properly. Make sure you can stand over the top tube of your bicycle. Adjust your bicycle to fit you (see owner's manual). Before using your bicycle, check to make sure all parts are secure and working well. The handlebars should be firmly in place and turn easily. Your wheels must be straight and secure. Add a carrier to the back of your bicycle if you need to carry things.
Regularly check your brakes. You control your speed by using your brakes. If your bicycle has hand brakes, apply the rear brake slightly before the front brake. Always keep your brakes adjusted. If you cannot stop quickly, you may need to adjust your brakes. Ride slowly in wet weather and apply your brakes earlier; it takes more distance to stop.
See and be seen. Wear clothes that make you more visible. Retroreflective clothing or material, especially on your ankles, wrists, back, and helmet, make it easier for motorists, pedestrians, and other cyclists to see you.
Avoid bicycling at night. It is far more dangerous to bicycle at night than during the day. Most bicycles are equipped for daylight use and need to be adapted for nighttime use. If you must ride at night, you should ride with reflectors that meet CPSC requirements, add the brightest lights you can find to the front and rear of your bicycle, and wear retroreflective clothing or material, especially on your ankles, wrists, back, and helmet. Young children should not ride at night.
Stay alert. Always keep a lookout for obstacles in your path. Watch out for potholes, cracks, expansion joints, railroad tracks, wet leaves, drainage grates or anything that could make you fall. Be especially careful in wet weather and when there could be ice or frost on your path.
Go with the flow of traffic. Ride on the right side in a straight, predictable path. Always go single file in the same direction as other vehicles. Riding against traffic puts you where motorists don't expect you. They may not see you, and may pull across your path or turn into you.
Supervise your children. Young children, typically under the age of nine, are not able to identify and adjust to many dangerous traffic situations, and therefore should not be allowed to ride in the street unsupervised. Children over the age of nine who are permitted to ride in the street without supervision should have the necessary skills to safely follow the rules of the road.
Always be aware of the traffic around you. Over 70 percent of car-bicycle crashes occur at driveways or other intersections. Before you enter any street or intersection, check for traffic. Always look left-right-left and walk your bicycle into the street to begin your ride. If you are already in the street, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before going left or right. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.
Learn the rules of the road and obey traffic laws. Bicycles are considered vehicles and cyclists must obey the same rules as motorists. Read your State drivers handbook and learn and follow all the traffic signs, laws, and rules for operating a vehicle on the road. Always signal your moves. Be courteous to pedestrians and other vehicle operators.
Never wear headphones while riding. Headphones impair your ability to hear traffic.
Know the area around you. Become familiar with the accommodations that are available for cyclists in your area. These include bicycle lanes and routes as well as off-road paths. Take advantage of these whenever possible. Join your local cycling groups to stay up-to-date.
Don't flip over your bicycle. If your bicycle has quick release wheels, it is your responsibility to make sure they are firmly closed at all times and to use the safety retainer if there is one. Check your wheels before every ride, after any fall or after transporting your bicycle. Read your owner's manual for instructions and follow them. If you are even slightly confused about what "firmly closed" means, talk to your bicycle dealer before you ride your bicycle.

Rack Safety

Correctly using the bicycle racks provided reduces the risk of theft or damage related to bicycles in station areas. Most Metro racks are Inverted U Type Rack but Rally Rack III is also available.

When using the the Inverted U Type:

Detach the front wheel.
Using a cable lock, fasten the front wheel, back wheel, and bicycle frame together.

When using the Rally Rack III:

Use a standard, medium-sized key padlock.
Place your bicycle between the side bars.
Close the bars so that the prongs go through your frame.
Insert the lock through the hole in the center of the basket.
Close the lock.

Locker Safety

Bicycle lockers provide a more secure bicycle parking option by protecting bicycles from theft, vandalism, and inclement weather. The lockers are designed to hold one bicycle each as well as bicycle gear such as panniers, locks, lights, etc. Users will receive one key that will only open one locker. Each locker has a unique lock and key to provide maximum security.

The space inside of a locker is approximately: 1.2m (4 feet) high x 1.9m (6 feet, 5 inches) deep x 0.9m (3 feet) wide at the door and narrows toward the back of the locker. Most standard bicycles will fit inside. Longer bicycles such as tandem bikes or some recumbent bikes will not fit into the lockers.

To rent a locker call 24 hours a day 202-962-1116. You need to provide your name, address, contact phone number, email address, and station of interest. All locker rentals are subject to availability.