Safe urban cycling tips

monument

This topic is been mentioned in more than one thread at the moment, so I'm starting this thread on safe cycling in towns and cities. To give tips and your experience and advice on books which give this advice, such as Cyclecraft.

So, here goes off the top of my head are some of the things I do and watch out of in Dublin...

• keep away from trucks
• be even more careful of where they could be turning
• note that trucks have blind spots
• be careful at corners and junctions
• keep out way from the kerb so you gave space avoid pot holes etc
• 'taking the lane' where needed or where there is not enough room for a motorist to pass safely
• keeping out of unsafe cycle tracks
• keep away from parked cars in case a door will be opened
• watch out for pedestrians when traffic is slow moving or stopped
• be careful at bus doors, even when not at a stop in case somebody gets off
• if a car or bus is parked or stopped I'll move out to pass it before getting right up behind it
• unless you have made eye contact presume motorists can't see you, and even if you do make eye contact be cautious

One of the most important things I've learnt to do and do often is:

• look over my shoulder -- before changing lane, pulling out and just generally to be aware of what's around me

And these should be a given:

• obey traffic lights
• use lights when its dark or getting dark
• use hand signals
• keep breaks in good working order

I'm going to abstain from recommending helmets or high-viz, go ahead and recommend them, but please lets not make this into a debate or start talking about the need for them too much.

witty username

+1 for most of those, especially looking over the shoulder.

Not a fan of hand signals myself though. prefer to be in the right lane, aware of what's around me and keeping both hands on the bars to be in full control in case summat happens...

Hossbox

monument wrote: »

[*]unless you have made eye contact presume motorists can't see you, and even if you do make eye contact be cautious

FYP

monument

witty username wrote: »

Not a fan of hand signals myself though. prefer to be in the right lane, aware of what's around me and keeping both hands on the bars to be in full control in case summat happens...

Like learning to look over your shoulder and keeping in control, learning to do hand signals is important. When cornering, for example, try signalling a bit before the corner then put both hands back on the handle bars.

Hand signals will improve the chances of other road users -- motorists, peds and even other cyclists -- knowing your intent. You should try to use them even when possible.

Sean02

The first four tip might read better by saying. Never stop on the inside of a large vechicle at junctions. This rule applies particuarly to lady cyclists, unfortunatly.
Advising cyclist away from cycle tracks is dubious. Well done for compiling the notes.

Thoie

monument wrote: »

• note that trucks have blind spots

Note that trucks have much bigger blind spots than other vehicles?

Ant

Good list of cycling tips there. I'd suggest incorporating them into the Boards wiki page on safe cycling.

Sean02 wrote: »

Advising cyclist away from cycle tracks is dubious. Well done for compiling the notes.

In fairness to monument, he/she did specify unsafe cycle tracks -- which I fully agree with.

SetOverSet

Courtesy of Moving Target Forum..

Diagrams & Explanations of HGV Blind Spots

monument

monument wrote: »

[*]if a car or bus is parked or stopped I'll move out to pass it before getting right up behind it

Was going to suggest this but see you've covered it - although perhaps it might be good to include that helpful diagram you did before?

cyclopath2001

monument wrote: »

To give tips and your experience and advice on books which give this advice, such as

If cars are coming from side roads to the left, try to move out and keep a sight line. If you hug the kerb, they won't see you.

Always assume vehicles will block any cycle track and traffic lane as they force their way out.

Watch out for lurching/over-geared cyclists.

Safe distance for passing parked vehicles is one and a half-times the widths of a cycle track.

In the city centre, reduce speed to give yourself (and pedestrians) more time to react.

Blowfish

monument wrote: »

Hand signals will improve the chances of other road users -- motorists, peds and even other cyclists -- knowing your intent. You should try to use them even when possible.

I'd definitely agree with this. It eliminates all unpredictability as to what you are about to do. This is especially important if you are new to cycling and still a bit 'wobbly'.

Other stuff:

• Best junction position if you are at the front of the queue. Sitting in front of the cars means you don't get mushed if they are turning left. Do this even if there are no designated cycle wait areas.
• 'Cover' your brakes when going through junctions, passing side roads, performing maneuvers.
• Merging/splitting lanes and forks are other areas that you need to be especially alert/careful.
• Don't go full pelt down hills unless you know the road, in particular where the potholes are.
• If cold, watch out for ice. If wet, watch out for leaves.
• Try not to get distracted by attractive women - or men if that's your preference. This can be suprisingly difficult.

irishmotorist

There are already a lot of tips in the wiki too. It's in the sticky for cycling wiki/faq that can be found at this link:
http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Safe_Cycling

There are some pictures in there too!

-Chris-

monument wrote: »

• 'taking the lane' where needed or where there is not enough room for a motorist to pass safely

I think this one is vitally important and often seperates the "professional" commuters from the freds.
It's only the confident cyclists that consider themselves a legitimate road vehicle.
It's amazing the difference between an experienced and an inexperienced cyclist when faced with a major roundabout...

Civilian_Target

Good article here on Road Positioning for cyclists... don't put yourself in the kerb!

petethedrummer

* Always remember someone may be video taping you, so brush your hair.
* Do not cycle into cars what have run out of petrol and parked in the bus/cycle lane.

tomasrojo

I'd add: "Keep gears well adjusted". You don't want to end up unable to pedal in the middle of a junction.

(Also, small typo in monument's post: break->brake)

tomasrojo

I wasn't aware before this minute that this wiki page was available:
http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Safe_Cycling

Just in case anyone who is following this thread thirsts for more information.

===

Just noticed, someone already mentioned it. Silly me.

fixieboy

Assume that you are completely invisible to everyone around....ALWAYS..I've seen three pedestrians taken out in the last week by cyclists who insist on lashing through lights at full steam.

monument

• Ignore cycle lanes. Cycle in the position which is safest as outlined above.

• Remember that motorists will also ignore cycle lane -- expect them to pull into, drive across or park on cycle tracks.

• Keep in mind that motorists and pedestrians often underestimate how fas cyclists can travel, thus these motorists and pedestrians will cross your path even when they see you coming

quenching

fixieboy wrote: »

Assume that you are completely invisible to everyone around....ALWAYS..I've seen three pedestrians taken out in the last week by cyclists who insist on lashing through lights at full steam.

+1
And the ones who can actually see you have already decided to hit you, step out in front of you, or otherwise see you dead or injured!

In fact, on several occasions in the last few weeks other cyclist have looked me square in the eye as I was cycling towards them and pulled out in front of me, so its not only pedestrians and motorists who can be as thick as 2 short planks - other cyclists are sometimes a bigger danger.

BostonB

quenching wrote: »

+1
And the ones who can actually see you have already decided to hit you, step out in front of you, or otherwise see you dead or injured!

In fact, on several occasions in the last few weeks other cyclist have looked me square in the eye as I was cycling towards them and pulled out in front of me, so its not only pedestrians and motorists who can be as thick as 2 short planks - other cyclists are sometimes a bigger danger.

They do this a lot on the canal. Either head on across the lights or breaking a red light and out across your path. Or just pull out from the kerb and cycle slowly out across you.

cyclopath2001

quenching wrote: »

other cyclists are sometimes a bigger danger.

+1, especially the lugs with straight-bars and high-vis jackets who, while you're stopped at the lights, come up the outside of traffic and, as the lights change, slowly, hideously over-geared cross back towards the kerb, not looking up their inside, cutting off faster riders moving away from the traffic lights.

Taltos

quenching wrote: »

- other cyclists are sometimes a bigger danger.

+1 or the "expert" cyclists who coast onto a roundabout from the footpath into the path of another cyclist about to come off. Have you tried looking around mate???

Aidan1

As a relatively recent arrival to cycling in Dublin, the main things that struck me are as follows;

'Taking the lane' is particularly important when dealing with drivers like the dude in an Audi Q7 who nearly creased me last week. No side indicator visible - it's on the front of the mirror, so it's impossible to tell what they're going to do (presuming they've actually bothered to indicate). If I didn't let him have the room to creep alongside and in front of me, he couldn't have pulled across me.

The other thing is, when you're going to use hand signals, you have to assume that (a) most drivers are not paying attention, (b) those that are paying attention are just looking for an excuse to kill you. There's no point just sticking out your arm for a second - you have to put it out and leave it there for long enough that even the most distracted of motorist will notice it.

The other thing is observation - it never ceases to amaze me just how many cyclists have no idea of what's going on around them. You end up having to clear your throat politely when trying to pass them as they wobble along a cycle lane, for example. At least if you can see a faster cyclist approaching from behind, you can pretend to be taking a break and freewheel while they zip past. Much less embarrassing.

tomasrojo

I agree, Aidan1: taking the lane is one of the most important arts to learn.

As for hand signals, I wear LEDs on my wrists to draw attention to them when it's dusky or dark, and home-made hi-viz cuffs during the day (the only hi-viz I use during the day). Makes a big difference, I've found. Overkill for many scenarios, obviously.

On your last point, it's generally polite and a very good thing to give room for faster moving vehicles to overtake, including other cyclists. When it's safe and convenient to do so.

DirkVoodoo

monument wrote: »

• Remember that motorists will also ignore cycle lane -- expect them to pull into, drive across or park on cycle tracks.

+1 on this. Obviously 90% of drivers are pretty aware and courteous (I say 90, I'm going for majority here, but numbers sound more authoritative) but it only takes one idiot to knock you down. I had some mother in her A2 pull right across me into a loading bay to check on little jimmy in the front seat, no looking, no indicating.

Also, in original post - "Brakes" are for bikes, "Breaks" are for kit-kats...sorry, I'm a spelling nazi I know.

Harrybelafonte

witty username wrote: »

Not a fan of hand signals myself though. prefer to be in the right lane, aware of what's around me and keeping both hands on the bars to be in full control in case summat happens...

How do you get into the correct lane? Do you not hand signal in those cases?

• Avoid manhole covers when possible, especially on corners, wet, cold (my own personal downfall, nearly thrown again this morning)
• Eye contact with mortorists when possible can be helpful? Not sure if everyone agress about that one.

07Lapierre

witty username wrote: »

+1 for most of those, especially looking over the shoulder.

Not a fan of hand signals myself though. prefer to be in the right lane, aware of what's around me and keeping both hands on the bars to be in full control in case summat happens...

An Experienced cyclist should be able to perform hand signals while still maintaining full control. Having said that i hate trying to negotiate certain roundabouts in Dublin while trying to signal a left turn!! not easy with cars passing on both sides!

ludermor

After it rains deep potholes are full of water and if the sun is shining it is almost impossible to see the pothole from the glare, not too bad if you know your route but can be deadly if you get caught.

Jumpy

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Also, in original post - "Brakes" are for bikes, "Breaks" are for kit-kats...sorry, I'm a spelling nazi I know.

I love you man.

Captain Havoc

Instead of LEDs on your arms, halfords have indicator lights for bikes, at first I thought this was mad but the more I think of it the more I think of taking a hand of the bars on a slippy evening.

tomasrojo

I like the lights on the wrists though. They are very visible, because they are so far out from the centre line of the bike when you signal. They also make you more visible to motorists waiting on side streets as you approach (I just leave them on blink for the entire journey). Also, when you are trying to merge in traffic, you can make yourself conspicious to the traffic stream adjacent to you without making a song and dance about it.

They were very cheap too. I just bought a pair of BBB blinkies and hung them off iPod shuffle wrist bands.

Enough about my Blue Peter projects though.

tomasrojo

I found this intriguing reference to the efficacy of lights on arms a while ago. Anyone know what evidence the journalist is referring to?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/oct/09/fitness

But if you want a subsidiary light source to keep you safe, there's evidence that the best place to have it is on your arms, as armlights encourage motorists to give you a wider berth.

Captain Havoc

You're right, I think you need to be lit up like a christmas tree. I remember last year coming home with an led front light and a hi-viz jacket and nearly getting creamed. I'm going to spend a bit on lights this year and I don't care how crazy I look.

tomasrojo

I do feel a bit foolish sometimes though. I have two 1/2 Watt Smarts at the back, a Cateye EL-530 at the front and the BBB lights on the wrists. Still, I have all vantage angles covered, I suppose! (I don't use much hi-viz though.)

Húrin

Look over your shoulder and INDICATE when changing lanes just as cars do, or at least ought to do.

Keep your brakes in good condition because whe indicating you'll often need to brake one-handed.

Don't assume that motorists are out to get you. (sick of meeting hypochondriac cyclists with a victim mentality)


tunney I also disagree that cycling in Dublin is a nightmare. I suspect you are going too fast. It's not a high speed town.

markpb

tomasrojo wrote: »

I do feel a bit foolish sometimes though.

Better foolish than road kill

Aidan1

Don't assume that motorists are out to get you.

Sometimes that's the safest approach to take, at least in a passive sense - there's no need to be a prick about it, but you do need to have much greater situational awareness than when driving - no mirrors for a start. And yes, it also means making eye contact with drivers, and thanking them when appropriate.

When I started cycling, I was surprised at just how considerate and aware the vast majority of motorists were. But it only takes one to kill you.

Trojan

This one is worth bumping re: recent events.

(Please don't let it descend into cyclist vs drivers )