With bike to work month upon us it’s good to remember the rules of the road to stay safe out there. Below are our best tips compiled over the years and miles.
- Good gear
- Make sure your bike is in proper working order (especially the brakes)
- Make sure you have a helmet and that it fits properly – middle of the brow, chin strap snug
- Be Seen
- Bike lights are a must. Use a rear strobe and a good rechargeable front headlight (CygoLight and NightRider are the best)
- Do not use a front strobe at night time it blinds oncoming cars, peds, and bikes. But do use a front strobe in the daytime.
- Try lights on your wheels or in other fun places
- Wear bright clothes
- Don’t bike in a cars blind spot.
- Eye contact with drivers is always a good idea.
- Traction
- Get good grippy (not super skinny) tires
- Slow around corners in wet or icy conditions (no joke, this is one of the main accidents you could have. Don’t lean into those corners when things are sketchy out there)
- Metal plates, sidewalk ramp yellow rumble strips, grates, vault lids, I have seen bikes go down on all of these. Avoid them, if you have to go over one do so in a straight fashion, no braking, no pedaling, no turning, just coast on over, easy peasy
- Wet brakes don’t work so good. Lightly ride your brakes every now and then to keep them dry when biking in the rain.
- Traffic
- Try riding the same route each day if you are commuting. That way things are more predictable.
- Be alert! 95% of your hazards are up ahead of you. Keep your eyes up ahead. Pay special attention at intersections.
- Ride in the right third of the lane when there is no bike lane. Don’t pin yourself to the curb by riding right next to it.
- Ride out of the door zone unless you are moving very slowly. Watch mirrors and drivers seats to see if the cars are occupied. If someone is in the driver’s seat assume they will be opening their door and stay away.
- Watch out for the “right hook”. Be very careful passing slow traffic on the right, especially near intersections where they frequently turn without checking mirrors
- Don’t bike on the sidewalk unless you are going very slow. There are tons of conflict points and blind corners on the sidewalk.
- Potpourri
- Yield to pedestrians
- Watch out for dogs. They are unpredictable and tend to be smelly.
- Don’t be mean. It can be stressful biking in traffic. Deep breaths. You’re on a bike, wind in your hair, it ain’t all that bad!
- Don’t tailgate other cyclists, they are also unpredictable and tend to be smelly
- Streetcar rails are treacherous. Don’t bike along roads with them (Westlake) and if you have to cross them only do it orthogonally. Herrera has seen multiple injuries related to tires slipping into rails, they are no bueno.
- Speed kills, slow your roll