Commuting By Bike

The rules of the road for cyclists ……..

Posted on by allterraincycles

 

Whether you’re an experienced rider or a novice, there’s no doubt that you’re more vulnerable on a bike.  Often, motorist are simply not expecting to see a cyclist, and as bikes are narrow, they can be difficult to spot.  Riding safely requires a balance of confidence and caution, as well as common sense and consideration for other road users.

 

Always make sure that you can be seen – wear high vis clothing, particularly in the winter or at dusk, put good quality front and back reflectors on your bike and, of course, have powerful lights on your bike.  Also ensure that your bike well maintained – having brakes in the best working order could be vital should you find yourself in a difficult situation.  Although not a legal requirement, we also believe that EVERY rider should wear a high quality, correctly fitting helmet.

The key to city and town riding, like driving, is to be aware and read situations quickly and accurately before they happen so you can take action if necessary.  You should be constantly on the lookout for obstacles, cars and pedestrians – be extra cautious if the weather conditions are poor, particularly if it’s wet or icy.  Always keep a steady pace and maintain a safe distance between you and vehicles.  Make sure you clearly signal your movements so that other road users know exactly what you’re planning.   Always take advantage of cycle routes, advanced stop lines and cycle boxes.

 

While some cyclists feel safer by sticking close to the gutter, this actually isn’t a good idea – you need to be assertive and make sure motorists know you’re there.  If you ride too close to the kerb, you risk having to suddenly swerve out into the road to avoid a pothole or a car door opening.

Be extra vigilant at junctions – keep an eye out for vehicles in front of you turning without indicating; if you’re coming up to a left turn and  you see the vehicle in front slowing, you should slow down too rather than risk cycling past on the inside in case it turns. When turning right, you should check the traffic for a space, then signal and move into the middle of the road. Remain there until there is a safe gap and take a final look before completing the turn. In some situations if there’s heavy traffic, it may be better to wait on the left for a safe gap, or to get off your bike and push it across the road if necessary.

One of the most thorny areas of debate between cyclists and motorists is the issue of how to ride safely as a group without causing disruption to other road users.  Riding as a pack is much more energy efficient for cyclists, but many motorist strongly object.  In fact, Rule 66 of the Highway Code simply advises that cyclists ‘should not ride more than two abreast’ – this is not a legal requirement and neither does it mean the same as ‘must ride single file’ as many motorists’ seem to believe.  In fact, it could be argued that it is safer to ride side by side in order to be easily seen; and by riding next to each other, the length of the obstruction is reduced for vehicles passing large groups.

However, the Highway Code also states that you should ride single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.  Again, this comes down to common sense and courtesy – as a cyclist, you should factor in the road conditions and drop back into single file if necessary.

It’s also worth being aware that when using cycling tracks, you’re sharing them with pedestrians; so keep a look out for people (and their dogs!) and make sure you give them plenty of warning when manoeuvring around them.

Taking to the road can be daunting, but following some simple rules means that you can confidently navigate even busy traffic safely – always remember the rules of the road, use common sense and be considerate to other road users.

Commuting – on a bike!

Posted on by allterraincycles

 

With more and more people taking to two wheels at the weekend, increasing numbers are also getting on their bike as a healthy and stress free way to get to work or school. All Terrain Cycles gives some tips on staying safe on the roads

Be seen stay safe

Be seen stay safe

If you’ve caught cycling fever over the summer and are keen to keep on pedalling through the winter, riding your bike on a regular school or work run, could be the answer. As well as being more environmentally-friendly, cheaper and time efficient as you’ll spend less time stuck in traffic, you’ll also be fitter and probably arrive at your destination in a better frame of mind.

Unfortunately, many people are put off commuting by bike because of the amount of traffic on the roads and the attitude of some motorists, but for cyclists with a little experience, road sense and confidence, this shouldn’t be a problem. Start by picking the safest route you can, use cycle lanes and back streets wherever possible; and make sure you do a test run over the weekend when the roads are relatively quiet.

It might be better not to get overwhelmed by trying to cycle every day, but instead set yourself a goal of once a week and then build up from there. It is also worth having all your gear and bike ready the night before so that you’re not under time pressure in the morning.  Always be prepared for all weather conditions and make sure you have a waterproof with you, as well as a puncture repair kit!

The more confident you are, the safer you are, so make sure you get lots of practice to improve you bike handling skills, even if it’s on trails before you venture onto the road. You need to feel comfortable looking over your right shoulder, signalling and moving out – a common error is for riders to lose control of the steering as soon as they take one hand off the handle bars and look behind them; make sure you don’t swerve when you signal!

Also, think about your position on the road – it’s actually safer to ride further out from the kerb. If you ride too close, you risk colliding with the edge of the pavement or having to veer out to avoid highway drains and potholes.  Riding a good 3ft from the kerb also deters drivers from trying to get past you when there really isn’t room.  According to the Highway Code, motorists are actually meant to give bikes at least as much room as they would a car when overtaking.  Don’t be frightened of traffic, hold your position on the road and only give way when it is safe for you to do so.  Parked cars are another potential hazard – if you can see someone in a parked vehicle as you approach, give it a wide berth in case the driver hasn’t seen you and opens the door into your path.

You should also be particularly careful of lorries and buses – with large blind spots both in front of the vehicle and down its sides, cyclists trying to sneak through the traffic are particularly vulnerable. So stay behind them! Beware of left-turning lorries and cars turning onto the main carriageway from side roads, particularly on the left, as it’s easy for drivers not to see a cyclist.

While this may all sound a little scary, we are talking about worst case scenarios and for most people doing a short commute around town, as long as they’re aware of the potential hazards, their journeys should be pleasant and incident free. In fact, cycle to school initiatives mean that that there are more children riding to school – it’s certainly sensible for a parent to initially cycle with their child to make sure they’re competent on the road and comfortable with the route.  Remember that as children are only passengers in a car, they often have little appreciation or understanding of protocol on the roads, so make sure you teach them.

A final word of advice – do all you can to make sure that, as a cyclist, you can be seen. There’s a huge range of special high visibility cycle gear available incorporating fluorescent fabrics and reflective strips.  Bike lights have also come a long way in the last few years with powerful rechargeable LED lights giving great visibility – don’t just use them at night, they’re essential for commuters at dusk, early in the morning or in poor weather conditions.  And, of course, don’t even think about getting on a bike without a good quality, well-fitted cycle helmet!