Country roads are being turned into city streets and city streets are going from two lanes to four, five and six. Spring is here and summer is fast approaching. As more of us turn to bicycling for transportation, fun, exercise, and family events knowing the rules of the road and maintaining safety is important. Race season is fast approaching and individual and group riders are training on these same city streets. Bike routes remain the safest place to ride, however they aren't always available. I found a great article on perfect for both the novice, seasoned and professional rider.
Riding Your Bike in
Traffic
Sharing the road with cars, SUVs and trucks is a fact of cycling life. Legally, bicycles
have all of the same rights
and responsibilities that automobiles
do, yet too often cyclists are viewed as the second-class citizens of the road.
Cyclists are expected to follow all of the
sametraffic laws as motorists, yet must mingle with
larger, faster vehicles (and the sometimes impatient people who steer them).
Here are our street-smart guidelines for becoming a wiser, safer cyclist.
Bike Safety Fundamentals
·
Wear a helmet on every
ride.
·
Wear bright, highly
visible clothing, preferably with reflective tape or
patches.
·
Obey the rules of the
road. Stop at stop signs and lights.
·
Ride with the flow of
traffic, not against it.
·
Ride in control at all
times. Proceed at a safe speed that permits you to react quickly to unexpected
circumstances.
·
Yield to pedestrians
and other vehicles.
·
Never ride in
low-light or dark conditions without front and rear bike lights and reflectors.
Riding Technique
·
Keep a safe distance
between yourself and other riders or vehicles. What qualifies as safe? Enough
space to allow you to react to something unexpected. In general, aim for 1 bike
length (or more) per each 5 miles per hour you're
traveling. Keep at least 4 feet between you and a vehicle.
·
Don't hug the curb too
closely. Maintain a comfortable distance from thepavement edge.
·
Ride in single file. This is required by law in most states. (Note: Some states
allow cyclists to travel 2 abreast. Do this only on less-traveled roads that
are free of traffic. Riding 3 abreast is usually illegal.)
·
Don't ride on
sidewalks unless no other safe option exists. Motorists at intersections or
when leaving or entering driveways often do not see swift-moving cyclists traveling on sidewalks.
·
Likewise, watch for cars coming out of alleys. They may not see you.
·
Don't pass other
cyclists on the right.
·
When needed, make noise—use
a horn, a bell, whistle or just yell.
·
In heavy, slow-moving
traffic, it's often safer to ride in the middle of a traffic lane so that
everyone can see you and cars won't try to squeeze around you.
·
On busy streets, don't
swerve back and forth around parked cars or other obstacles.
Maintain a straight course and watch out for opening car doors.
·
Be ready to brake.
Keep your hands on or near the brake levers so you can stop quickly.
·
Pedal strongly when
going through intersections.
·
If 5 or more cars are
behind you, pull over and let them pass.
·
Be predictable.
Road Awareness
·
Stay alert to changes
in your surroundings at all times.
·
Communicate your
intentions to drivers and other cyclists as much as possible.
Use hand signals whenever you turn or stop, but assume
that those signals might not be understood by every driver. Watch our video on
using hand signals.
·
Make friendly eye contact with drivers. This helps to ensure your intentions are
understood by motorists.
·
Semi-trucks have a blind spot when they turn; avoid riding in the blind spot.
·
Watch out for things
that can add to (or cause) problems between cyclists and automobiles, like
bright sunlight, fatigue, darkness and sharp bends in the
road.
·
Avoid actions that can
cause accidents between bicycles, such as following too closely, poor communication or lapses in
concentration.
·
Be especially cautious
at intersections. Many cycling accidents occur here.
·
Ride with confidence
when you're in traffic. Timid, wobbly riders make drivers nervous. Cyclists or
groups of cyclists who ride in a respectful, self-assured manner are more
likely to be granted extra
room and respect in
return.
Cycling on high-speed roads requires extra
caution. Avoid it if you can, but if you must, follow these rules.
·
Stay as far right as
you can, using the paved shoulder whenever possible.
·
Check behind yourself
frequently and listen for approaching cars. To make this easier, wear a
helmet-mounted or eyeglass-mounted mirror.
·
Brace yourself for
passing vehicles (especially large trucks or other wide vehicles) by gripping
your handlebars firmly, lowering your body to lessen wind resistance and moving
as far to the right as possible.
·
Keep in mind that the
wind from passing vehicles tends to "pull" cyclists forward and
toward the passing vehicle.
Reminder: Just because you're on a bike, it
doesn't mean that you can't be cited for a traffic violation. Follow the rules
of the road. http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/riding-traffic.html
