Road | City | Path

Road | City | Path

Warning: These tips are addressing Australian road laws, please also consider that we drive on the left side of the road, therefore if you are in a country that is like the USA, any diagram will have to be mirrored.

1. Tram Tracks: Be very careful to not cross tram tracks on an acute angle, your front wheel may drop into the gap not allowing your to steer and subsequently causing you to fall. This is especially the case if you have narrow tyres. You may also find that actuating a turn on a wet track is very slippery and it could be all over rover before you know what happened. That is why it is always advisable to cross on a very direct angle and/or lift your front wheel a little.

2. Gutters: When riding up a gutter or sharp edge, try to lift or at least de-weight your front wheel then your rear wheel to avoid tyre, tube or rim damage

3. Right Hand Turn: When turning right at an intersection it is much safer to perform a hook turn. To perform a hook turn, when approaching the intersection pull over to the left of the intersection in front of the stopped cars, wait for the lights to turn green and ride off with the traffic. This way you will never be waiting in the middle of the intersection which can be a very dangerous place to wait for a break in the traffic.

4. Looking Dangerous: If your senses tell you there is danger from a vehicle approaching from the rear, especially a truck, it is not always the best idea to hold a perfect clean line or appear too predictable. A bit of body movement or unpredictability while holding a fairly straight line may alert the vehicle to give you a little more room. This does not mean that you make radical sudden moves that may put you in danger. It is advisable to try for a little more room for larger vehicles because if they pass you at higher speed, they will blow you outwards and then suck you inward in their vacuum.

5. Car Doors: Look through the windows of parked cars for somebody who may be opening their car door in your path, claim a bit more lane but be aware of what is coming from behind. Claiming a bit more road lane will restrict traffic passing, making room for a car to pass is giving the car an invitation to come through which may put you or on-coming traffic at risk. If a door opens and you have nowhere to go, an accident is imminient. Restricting traffic also applies to to entering a round-a-bout (tip 14) or if a car is trying to pass over double lines on a blind corner (road tips 10). To let the driver understand why you’re hogging the road, you could hand signal however just getting your speed up helps as the drivers will not be too frustrated if they are not being held up too much.

Click to enlarge

6. Eye Contact: If you see a vehicle or pedestrian about to pull out in your path, expect that they do not see you coming. You can often feel comfortable that you have been acknowledged if you make eye contact but still proceed with caution.

7. Holding a Clean Line: Hold a straight line past cars that are intermittently parked. Don’t weave in and out of the empty spaces, other riders or drivers may not be ready for your unpredictable sudden re-entry into the traffic lane. Also be prepared for vehicles edging out from driveways or side streets that may cause you to have to swerve out into the path of traffic to get past. It is advisable before you make a manoeuvre like that to check that there are no cars coming from behind. If there are, you may be better off stopping or turning left into the side street and going around the back of the car before getting back on the original road. I know it is slower and a bit of a drag but you will be alive to tell the tale.

8. Gaining Ground at Red Lights: For some vehicles, especially trucks, it may take a bit of driver effort to pass a cyclist. And especially a group only to get a red light soon after and the cyclists roll back up around the vehicle. It frustrates the driver to no end, it is always better to evaluate that if a vehicle has made a bit of effort to pass, when you do stop at a red signal behind them, don’t get in front of them again. Plus if you pull up in front of a truck, often they cant see you, if they take off quickly or anticipate a light change, you put yourself in extreme danger. It’s best to wait behind them.

9. Claiming Your Lane at Red Lights: Once you have stopped at a red light, it is best not to stop at the absolute edge if there is not much room or a bike lane because as the cars take off the will squeeze you into the gutter (curb) and make it very difficult to get going. I say claim you lane once you get started and have you balance move over and let them through. They may not understand why your in the middle of the lane but it is just one of those things where it is better to look like a fool and be safe.

10. When Cornering: Avoid potential hazards when cornering like;

Leaves

Gravel

Man holes

Pot holes

Change of surface

Tram tracks

Slimy concrete in gutters

Smooth surfaces like paint or steel in the wet

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11. Resist Making Obscene Gestures: Or profane shouting, you may think you’ve had your say but rarely does any good come of it and it may lead to road rage. A diplomatic approach to the danger as seen by you is often well received. For extremely dangerous road behaviour it is possible to report the number plate to the police for dangerous driving. It is possible that the driver may have a bad driving record and your report may warrant police action.

12. Beware of Sun Glare: rain or drizzle although you can see well enough, the view through a car windscreen may be very difficult especially while the driver is attempting to answer a mobile phone, light a cigarette, adjust the radio etc. Choose an alternate root that avoids these type of situations. Use bike paths where possible.

13. If You Happen to Venture Off the Edge of The Road: onto the shoulder or a gutter (curb), especially if it has a different surface like gravel or slippery wet or mossy concrete, don’t try to get straight back on the road. If your front wheel slips on re-entry, your body will fall outward into the path of the traffic. It is better to keep your line and keep riding off the road, slow down and plan your re-entry when safe. If you find yourself in rough or uncertain terrain, do the above but you may also lean back, have your cranks level and raise your bum off and back behind the seat.

Incorrect Way – Click to enlarge

Correct Way – Click to enlarge

14. When Entering a Round-a-bout: Cars often try to pass you into the intersection or inside the round-a-bout, that can be dangerous. I believe that it is better to keep your speed up into the roundabout and claim a bit of road and enter the intersection as a vehicle not allowing a vehicle to pass, it is only for about 5 seconds and although the driver may be annoyed, you’re riding safer.

Note: Round-a-bouts are an alternative to lights introduced in some countries that hopefully keep traffic moving. The rule is you have to give way to whoever is "in" the round about, so for Australia you have to give way to the traffic on your right.

Correct. Click to enlarge

Incorrect. Click to enlarge

15. Be aware of Cars Turning Right in Front of You, some cars may underestimate your speed while passing, then immediately turning in front of you forcing you into the gutter or to a complete stop. If this happens you should reduce as much speed as possible and turn with the car. The same applies to oncoming vehicles.

Example 1. Click to enlarge
Example 1. Click to enlarge

16. Don’t Freewheel: Toward or through intersections as a driver may anticipate that you are stopping and may pull in front of you. If you keep pedalling toward and through, drivers that are making a turn in your path will see you are committed to enter the intersection and wait.

Incorrect. Click to enlarge

17. Crossing an Exit Lane: Can be very dangerous and should be done with extreme care. If you have a fair amount of speed compared to the traffic you can merge out a little to show the cars coming from behind that you are clearly going straight and they may even move over a little. In some cases the second car is just itching to exit at top speed (usually a ‘P’ plate driver) and a dash under the first car behind you onto the exit lane could be fatal. By moving out a little, the car coming from behind may also move out a little and allow the second car coming from behind to see you sooner (see example 1 below). If you don’t have much speed compared to the traffic it is advisable to turn into the exit lane and wait for a safe space in the traffic to cross the exit lane only and then continue on. (see example 2 below). You can turn your head a little and use some peripheral vision to see if any cars are coming but only if is safe to do so.

Example 1. Click to enlarge
Example 2. Click to enlarge