How to ride safely in traffic

[JeffreyPerry]

Hi all, started this thread to get some opinions on how to ride in traffic safely. Basically, I'm tired of narrowly escaping the mirrors of the drivers. If there is no bike lane/ room on the right side of the white line (USA), I tend to position myself farther into the lane instead of hugging the edge of the road. I feel by doing this it prevents drivers from sqeezing by me at a high rate of speed. I'm basically trying to force them to actually "pass" me wide to give me room. Anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[JayKosta]

My views ... (as an 'old guy' who wants to get home without damage!)

First, the quote
"There are old-riders and there are bold-riders,
but there are damn few old, bold-riders"

1) Yes bikes have 'rights' when using the roads, and drivers should respect us.
2) In many situations bikes are a nuisance and p-i-t-a to drivers - especially on roads where easy passing is difficult.
3) Most drivers aren't accustomed with watching for bikes (& pedestrians) on the side of the road - they are looking in the center of the lane.

My methods:
1) I Use durable tires so a little dirt or roughness on the side of the road isn't a problem. Don't get into a situation where you are more worried about your tires than your skin.
2) Avoid roads that force me into dangerous traffic.
3) Be aware of approaching traffic and 'make it easy' for them to not hit me.
4) At stop lights with narrow lanes, if possible wait for a gap and avoid being 'pinched in' when the light changes.

Yeah, I don't like to slow down and be defensive, but my rides aren't races, and losing a few seconds or minutes is not really a big deal.

The 2 BIG rules:
1) 2 things can't be in the same place at the same time.
2) rubber DOWN, skin UP

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[brianf7]

I have two main policy isues first try to always make eye contact with a driver
2 make sure they can see you either with flashing red light or at least light and bright colour clothing.

never push for your rights the car is harder than you and it will do more damage to you and your bike than you can do to it.
the cyclist always come off worst.

Always expect the motorist to do the wrong thing regardless if it is legal or not .
just do whatever you can to get out of the way dont be bold just survive.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Here's a link to some ways to avoid accidents. There ARE some funny ones there too... like HONK. Like I'm going to mount a horn on my 18 pounder... riiiiiiiiight. But there are some good pointers.
How to Not Get Hit by Cars

 

[Greyhound Velo]

Another thing that I've found helps to prevent "incidents" with cars is to let drivers know in no uncertain terms what you plan to do. If you need to move over to the left to avoid something in the road (parked car, pot hole, glass) point with your whole left arm to where you plan to move to and hold it out while you move over. Don't just point randomly left, they may think you're going to turn, point to the middle of the lane next to you to show over-taking traffic that you are moving to that part of the lane.

When I need to turn, I do the same thing, point (and hold my arm out) to where I'm going, not just a general "point left-ish for a second".

As someone said above, make eye contact with drivers in your field of view. If they don't (or won't) look you in the eye, assume that they don't see you and prepare accordingly.

Always be aware of anything moving around you, not just cars but pedestrians and other cyclists too. I've almost been killed by kids on skateboards more often than cars .

Most importantly, always be looking for an escape route, even if it means hopping a curb onto the sidewalk. If you aren't comfortable bunny-hopping up a curb at speed, start practicing, it's a simple skill that can save your life.

 

[ElChingon]

Well how to start.

1. Don't be an @$$ ^() ||when you're riding, much like cars must share the road so must cyclist.

2. Always be on alert for cars, pedestrians, dogs, or other rodents, including cyclist who perform crazy Ivan's at random time intervals.

3. Take the lane, if the shoulder or non-existent bike lane is not very good just take the lane so you are seen and don't end up back in front of a car un-announced by a bad patch of road. Move smoothly and efficiently, don't flounder in the lane or they will attempt to pass you or worse.

4. Make your moves in traffic obvious, moving to the right to turn right, moving to the left to turn left, no sudden random turns or talking with your hands in random motion as you ride.

5. Look before you move/turn! No one is your babysitter, which means you have to be your own babysitter and take charge of your riding.

6. Trust no one, even a fellow cyclist who will take you down or into a bad situation by following them blindly. Sure if its a buddy you follow but still don't trust them, you never know when they are going to lose it (mentally) especially if they crash often, exceptions are made but don't let it be your last.

7. Stay away from know crash-ers or riders who behave badly in traffic, as in; yell at people, cuss at cars, spit at cars, etc. they just aggravate the situation and if you're close by you're included in with them, accident or ticket.

8. Don't give attitude, if a car cuts you off or other just wave and smile as if that was a friend. Some drivers end up apologizing because they end up thinking you know them in some way.

9. (USA biased, otherwise left for UK, Aussies) If you're at an intersection and cars want to turn right (behind you) and you're going straight give them room to pass by, if the light is red no one in the right lane is going to have an issue with you waiting in front of them as long as you move to the right when the light does turn green.

10. Look! I said that already but you must look no matter where you're riding, some cars are quieter than you think and you really can't let your guard down.

11. Stay away from buses! If you must pass them make sure to get to the left most so the driver see's you, or hopefully see's you. If you ride that particular street often, don't be a tool and ride in the known bus lane/stop if you don't have to, remember the first part of this one, stay away from buses!

12. Learn to look back without moving in that direction as well, takes time but you must do it. Or end up getting hit when you look over your shoulder to see if there's a car and yes there's one there coming fast right next to you and you just ended up in front of it.

13. Don't do anything dumb or stupid, or it maybe the last thing you do. If you see a friend there is no need to over wave hello or look at them till they vanish from the horizon, big smile and a wave no need to make eye contact for an hour. If you see some quality eye candy, well then stop, its worth it, but no need to die for it by ogling too much and doing something dumb, I know its hard not to.

14. If you break the law, expect the consequences and don't whine about it if you get the consequences of it. Who cares if so and so do it, or got away with it, or a warning, you got a ticket, suck it up. Don't want a ticket, don't break the law or learn to work with its fine nuances.

15. Lastly, have fun, you're out riding a bike instead of caged up somewhere.

 

[Archibald]

do a search for the user Ninety5rpm - he's put up links galore for text and videos on this

 

[online-rider]

My basic Idea is: The faster you ride the more you will be in front of the cars. That means 1. They've less chance of not seeing you. 2. Theyll be less of them overtaking you, and 3. Having a comparable velocity may prevent them actually running you over in a crash. Also regarding jumping over furniture, its easier and safer at high speed. Serioulsy recommend all this, the moment you start to doubt yourself is when youll get hit by a car. (But thats not to say Idiots won't hit you at other times but thats simply the chance of life - I was a 600km/week cyclist for about 4 years and only got knocked off once by a car)

 

[flyor64]

do a search for the user Ninety5rpm - he's put up links galore for text and videos on this

I second this. Ninety5 has lots of good information and links on this. A subject, I daresay, that is quite important to him.

Additionally, Bicycling Times has just started a recurring series looking at this very topic. It seems to be set up looking at "vehicular cyclists" vs. those that use bike lanes/dual use paths.

It's not a us vs them kind of thing, but rather a "here's the positives and negatives for both styles, make an informed decision from here" sort of thing...

One caveat I'll throw in is Augusta is likely more "rural riding" than "metro riding" so I'm not sure what amount of bike paths you'd see outside of the city proper.

 

[fatandfast]

Bicycling magazine has a small article on the subject in this months issue. I was taught this in a motorcycle safety class..ride in the drivers primary mirror views when you are behind them..so in the US that means ride from the driver's side,side view mirror to the inner cabin rear view mirror. If you ride or drive anything expecting the driver to see you through the passengers side view mirror you end up on the grouind more often

 

[Hmmmmm]

There are some good points in the previous posts. Personally, I try to keep things very simple. I ride a lot, and have for many years, on both urban roads, rural roads, and bike paths. I prefer to ride on the road and basically I just pay attention. I don't listen to music while I ride as I like to hear what is going on around me. Riding is my time to leave my world of chaos, technology, and bull**** behind. I look ahead and keep my ears open to what is behind. I NEVER expect anyone else to see me so I ride defensively, and I ride to the right of the lane, either right at the edge of the road or at the beginning of the shoulder if the shoulder is clear of debris and rideable. Have learned a lot by participating in some group rides. Now, people do see me and I give them a wave or extend a courtesy when drivers are cool and give me the right of way when it is mine. To me, riding on the road is just common sense.

 

[barn yard]

there is no way to ride safely in traffic

eventually some punter will run you over no matter how safe/predictable/visible you are

the only way to ride completely safely in traffic is to not ride in traffic

 

[runninboy]

lots of good ideas so far. i remember being told once to never signal i thought
"WHAT????"
then the person told me i should wait for traffic to clear enough that signaling would be pointless.
As an example you are on a fairly busy street and need to turn left, but there is no easing of the traffic, even if u signal u r really taking your life in your hands when you merge over.
So you make what they refer to in Denmark as a "wide left turn"
you stay in the right hand lane. cross the interesection, stop on the opposite side and now turn your bike to face the way you wanted to go and wait for the light to change.

I find avoidance to be extremly handy, as someone pointed out get heavier tires. I do this as well, when i ride in rural areas instead of trying to squeeze my bike on the narrow patch of asphalt that pretends to be a shoulder i simply pull off onto the dirt/gravel shoulder and ride there until the cars pass.A little cyclocross practice. As most areas i ride have minimal cars it is nt bad.
Also start thinking like a cyclist. sometimes there are routes that arent used by cars because the rode deadends and has a staircase which you can walk up with your bike and proceed on your way.
Friends of mine prefer smaller residential roads to wider roads with bike lanes as the traffic speed is usually less. However i have found using residential roads the drivers are not accustomed to looking for riders and it is much more dangerous, albeit at a lower speed. However i f u do ride those roads make sure to stay further left so u dont get squeezed into the parked cars. make them pass on the other side of the road.

 

[usedtobefast]

many years ago, many...i was taught to ride like you are a big truck, as in be
visible to everyone and take your space in the lane. i like to let cars go around me when it is safe. if they are in front of you they can't flatten you. be nice and
be aware.

 

[Hmmmmm]

there is no way to ride safely in traffic

eventually some punter will run you over no matter how safe/predictable/visible you are

the only way to ride completely safely in traffic is to not ride in traffic

But if you don't ride in traffic, then how can you ride completely safely in traffic? You can't ride safely or unsafely because you are not there.