Revolights Bike Safety Guide

[pregalblvd]

Never been that big myself but this is a pretty solid guide to the basics.
Some of it may seem obvious but its a good reminder.

http://revolights.com/pages/bicycle-safety-guide/

 

[avanti]

Never been that big myself but this is a pretty solid guide to the basics.
Some of it may seem obvious but its a good reminder.

http://revolights.com/pages/bicycle-safety-guide/

I wonder if the advice on painted road lines is outdated. In my area of Colorado the painted road lines are a mixture of paint and powdered glass. I ride these lines in the rain because they are grippy.

 

[winkybiker]

The one I have issue with is "make eye contact". I know everyone preaches it, but deliberately do NOT make eye contact. If a car is in a position to move into my path, I simply wait and let them do it. I assume that I am invisible. I see a much greater risk in a misunderstood "eye contact" moment, where I think they have seen me and are giving way, when really all they are doing is staring past me just before they run me down.

 

[winkybiker]

I wonder if the advice on painted road lines is outdated. In my area of Colorado the painted road lines are a mixture of paint and powdered glass. I ride these lines in the rain because they are grippy.

Yep. The lines here in Vancouver don't seem particularly slippery either.

 

[pregalblvd]

I wonder if the advice on painted road lines is outdated. In my area of Colorado the painted road lines are a mixture of paint and powdered glass. I ride these lines in the rain because they are grippy.

Some states are adopting measures to fix the problem of slick lines.

 

[fatsprintking]

The one I have issue with is "make eye contact". I know everyone preaches it, but deliberately do NOT make eye contact. If a car is in a position to move into my path, I simply wait and let them do it. I assume that I am invisible. I see a much greater risk in a misunderstood "eye contact" moment, where I think they have seen me and are giving way, when really all they are doing is staring past me just before they run me down.

So aren't you just reinforcing that cars always have right of way and creating a drama for he next rider that that driver feels will defer to them. I understand what you are saying and agree that we should always make the assumption that we have not been seen, but I personally think you have to encourage all road users to stick to the rules. Being cautious at intersecting and always vigilant to the need to take evasive action is different to just letting the car have right of way simply because they are a car.

 

[winkybiker]

So aren't you just reinforcing that cars always have right of way and creating a drama for he next rider that that driver feels will defer to them. I understand what you are saying and agree that we should always make the assumption that we have not been seen, but I personally think you have to encourage all road users to stick to the rules. Being cautious at intersecting and always vigilant to the need to take evasive action is different to just letting the car have right of way simply because they are a car.

I find the confusion caused by the vague communication of "eye contact" to be unreliable and unsafe. If I make eye contact, how does this translate into a clear understanding of what will happen next? They could simply be thinking, "oh, great that bike rider has seen me so will defer to the might of my massive SUV".

Don't get me wrong, I'll take the right of way of it is mine, but I will always make the same assumption that the driver will try to kill me and therefore I will have an escape route planned. For example, if a car arrives at a stop sign on the side road (and rolls through of course - they always do), I won't waste my time making eye contact, but will ride with the assumption that they have NOT seen me and will pull out into my path. I'll quickly check behind, ready to swerve, cover my brakes, slow if I need to. I'll only give way to avoid a collision if that's the last resort. Eye contact doesn't give me any assurance that the car driver will yield.