More than two thirds of all bike/car crashes happen at intersections. As a bicyclist, it’s critical to know what you can do to stay visible, predictable and safe when approaching, navigating and leaving an intersection, whether you turn or go straight through.

1. When approaching an intersection, ride in the center of the rightmost lane that will take you the direction you want to go—right lane for turning right, left lane for turning left, etc.

2. Check behind you, then use hand signals to indicate that you are changing lanes or turning.

3. Make eye contact with drivers around you to ensure that they have noticed you—communication is key!

4. When stopped at an intersection, do so in the center of the lane—either in front of or behind a car—to ensure that you are seen by the driver. Don’t wait off to the side, where they may not be looking.

5. Drivers are often unable to estimate the speed of bikes and think they have enough time to make a turn. Keep an eye on drivers traveling in the opposite lane and turning left across your path.

This is just one tip for safer cycling, but the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) is a wellspring of more useful information. Make them your go-to resource for safety tips, bike classes, events and more at waba.org.

Flattery will get you absolutely everywhere with Capital Bikeshare! That’s why when casual CaBi user Jefferson S. asked us to hook him up with a Capital Bikeshare bicycle to participate in the Nation’s Triathlon, we just had to make him our next Member of the Month. Because seriously? A triathlon? What was he thinking? We’ll let Jefferson tell you himself what he loves about the Capital Bikeshare program and what possessed him to choose one of our solid little red bikes for a race.

(Washington, D.C.) Today, Capital Bikeshare celebrates its second birthday, marking the end of a very successful year that saw the addition of more stations in the District and Arlington, and most recently, the City of Alexandria. Alexandria kicked off the birthday celebration with an official Launch Party on Wednesday, and today it is Capital Bikeshare Day, by proclamation, in both DC and Arlington.