There is little in life that compares to a ride along a quiet country road. This surely is the altar of our sport, where all the greatest qualities of cycling are brought into relief by the simple act of propelling yourself along by your own power. Despite being social creatures, the experience is heightened by solitude; when no one else is witness this glorious act, we are allowed to slip further into the simplicity of the act. Our arms reaching out to the bars, the rhythm as our legs spin the pedals, the feel of the machine as it glides along effortlessly, the feeling of power as we stand to accelerate over a hill, the wind in our face, knowing it’s generated by our own speed. There is only the road, the machine, and ourselves.
Alas, for most of us, this experience is reserved for special rides when circumstance finds us within reach of such a place. Indeed, many of us spend the majority of our time riding the busy roads found in our urban lifestyles, not deserted country lanes. This reality has us facing a choice between not riding or riding amongst traffic that threatens a significant negative impact on our well-being should something go sideways – like, for example, your bicycle.
While it is inherently more dangerous than riding on quiet roads, the risk of urban riding can be managed somewhat through vigilance and discipline. We must constantly be aware of our surroundings and understand not only the risks traffic poses to us, but also the unpredictability we ourselves bring to a driver who doesn’t understand the way a cyclist thinks, and what we might do next. The bicycle and the traffic together form two parts of a dangerous equation where we control few of the variables and stand to lose a great deal should something go wrong. In light of this, we should focus on maximizing the elements we can control, and marginalize those we can’t.
Ride predictably. When out training in town, consider yourself to be riding in the bunch, except the other riders are cars that can kill you. Just like riding in a group, when in traffic, hold your line, signal when there’s a hazard or when turning, and generally ride as predictably possible.
Ride on the sunny side of the street. If there is a shoulder, ride in it, but if not, stay as far to the side as you safely are able to. Don’t ride so far to the side that it means you might hit something that might cause you to move erratically; there’s nothing safe about suddenly flying out into traffic because you hit something at the side of the road.
Only ride through puddles you can see the bottom of. Water tends to accumulate along the side of the road, and has a nasty habit of being smooth on the surface regardless of what the bottom looks like. If you can’t see the bottom of the puddle, it’s safer to ride around it than it is to ride through it and risk getting launched by a hidden pothole.
Ride aggressively defensive. If there’s a narrow section of road coming up where it will be dangerous for a car to pass, signal to the cars behind and swing out into the middle of the lane until it’s safe for them to pass.
It’s helpful to be able to accelerate quickly to move with traffic if necessary. In the event that you’re riding in a lane in order to discourage cars from passing, it’s good to move at the same speed as the traffic in order to piss them off slightly less and reduce the chance that they go all gansta on your ass and hit or shoot you out of spite.
Be gracious. If a car does the right thing, wave at them in thanks. If you know you are holding them up because you’re obstructing their path, move the side as soon as it’s safe and gesture your appreciation of their patience.
Don’t escalate. You will invariably be placed into a dangerous situation by a driver who is either ignorant of the danger they caused you or is simply an ass. In both of these cases, screaming obscenities at them will only serve to put them on the defensive and make them hate cyclists even more than they already do. If you absolutely must say something, do your best to let them know why what they did was dangerous; if you’re polite and assertive, the message is much more likely to find it’s way home.
Details matter; pay attention to the cars around you. Take note of the subtle signals the drivers are sending you. Are they overly fond of the brake pedal? Are they speeding? Are they swerving, texting, or otherwise distracted? Or do they drive predictably and use their turn signals properly? These things will tell you a lot about how safe you’ll be when they’re close to you.
Avoid overly dangerous routes. Ride on the roads you need to in order to train properly, but also avoid unnecessarily dangerous areas or only ride them when traffic is at it’s lightest. Roads with good shoulders are preferable and, counter-intuitively, bike paths are not always safer places to ride; these are often filled with people of a variety of skill levels who may not be paying attention.
Lastly, cycling is easier to enjoy if you’re alive and in one piece; always ride to proactively avoid placing yourself in risky situations when possible and have a plan if you find yourself needing to take a risk.
Some fantastic riding can be had on urban roads. Always be careful to understand your risks; be agressive when safety requires it, and defensive when it doesn’t.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
frank
The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking.
As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it.
Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen.
Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.
All good points. I bike commute a lot, so I'm out there almost daily. Watch for car doors - look inside the parked cars as you cruise by. If someone is sitting in there, assume the door will fly open any second. I ride Eastlake in Seattle on my commute. If I hit it when street parking opens, 9:00 AM or 6:00 PM - really gotta watch.
Good point on the bike path info, though that's the majority of my commute (Burke-Gilman Trail) - but also makes it a damn nice ride to work and home. I was once however, taken out by another cyclist on the trail. Yard sale crash with black eye as the result.
Taking the lane is good advice. Leave enough room for a car and someone will buzz by with no room to spare. A few weeks ago, I was hit in Seattle for the first time - in one of those shared "Shoal" lanes - where bikes have the right of way. Thinking I was safe in the "bike lane" I wandered to the left a bit, then a woman buzzed past and hit me. I didn't go down, but it was close enough to get road rash on my elbow from the truck. She knew she hit me and kept going - but returned later. if interested, more details here: http://yoeddy.blogspot.com/2011/05/bike-to-work-day-hit-and-run-included.html
Anyway, if you keep your wits and watch your ass, riding in urban areas is pretty safe and can actually be fun. Much better then not riding at all, or waiting for "nice days in nice areas".
And whistle. If you want someone to know you're there, it'll get their attention, mostly pedestrians, but also people getting out of cars. They've come from their insulated little bubble of AC and ipod, and don't always become aware of their environment straight away.
Our cities are much too small to do a lot of cycling in.
Anyway, I prefer the country roads, like this one, this one, this one, this one, or this one. (It's not me on pic #2. I was already on top, watching my friends suffering :))
Except for the first pic, all places are in after-work-ride distance from my home.
@grumbledook
Not fair. Not fair. Not fair. Not fair. Not fair.
@Jeff
You could think of spending your next holidays in Switzerland ...
Which reminds me:#13: Observe traffic laws. Nothing pisses drivers off more than to see cyclists run stop lights/signs and disobeying other traffic laws.
Absolutely, drivers are much more likely to treat you with respect if they don't see you as taking the piss by flouting the laws that constrain them.
I'm fortunate enough to live in the countryside so my serious riding is done on country roads and it's not all a bed of roses out there, plenty of people will pass within a foot of you on a two lane road at 60mph.
I also work in London so cycle from the station to my office on one of the city's hire scheme bikes. Most often it's those cyclists who'd probably consider themselves proper cyclists, as opposed to simple commuters, riding road or single speed/fixed bikes that you see runing lights, pedestrian crossing and the like.
Absolutely agree with #13.
Assertiveness in lane position is a given. Often I get a rude reminder of this early in my rides not concentrating on where I am on the road. Only takes one d***head to fly by trying to "share" the lane. Once moving out the 1-1.5 m from curb to ensure cars are forced to change lanes to overtake does it cease to be a problem.
Bloody hell, a surprisingly helpful and practical article. Like all the additions too.. particularly obey road traffic rules and laws... In London, 30,000 cyclists get killed by trucks each year because they undertake on the inside, or run red lights (I may be exaggerating the number, but it happens too often)... I'd add another rule along the lines of "Expect the worst: ride defensively" i.e. look 50m ahead, and think 'what's the worst that that driver could do? could that parked car pull out / open their door unexpectedly? oooh, a stop sign that's green at the moment, but it's raining and my brakes don't work'
Also, for anyone riding in rural areas, I've found it really helpful when coming up behind horses to announce my arrival so as not to startle beast / rider "Cyclist behind"... as we obey the principle of silence, we otherwise arrive unnannounced, which apparently is not a good thing. Since starting this, I've had very positive response from riders: smiles, waves, chats, etc. Which is great, as they are invariably pretty girls in jodpurs and boots, and it gives me at least another 50W or so for the next hour or so.
I'd meant to say: I'd add another rule along the lines of "Expect the worst: ride defensively" i.e. look 50m ahead, and think 'what's the worst that that driver could do? could that parked car pull out / open their door unexpectedly? oooh, a stop sign that's green at the moment, but it's raining and my brakes don't work'... it invariably happens, so prepare for it. As Hoogerland and Flecha will attest, getting hit by a car ain't fun. Healthy dose of paranoia also helps (if the CIA can kill Kennedy, noone is safe, etc.)
@all
a fine list of cycling must do's. #8 or scanning as I like to call it is something I always do whilst on the bike. Be constantly aware of everything around you, using as many senses as you can, (though touching and licking cars, pedestrians etc can freak some people/animals out!) not just your eyes, but ears and even smell can work to save your arse at times.
Agreed re "using as many senses as you can".
At the risk of stating the obvious, I therefore propose #14: Don't ride in traffic with headphones. Aural perception is vital when riding in the city.
Living in Sydney where it is almost impossible to avoid riding in traffic and where motorists are particularly unsympatico towards cyclists, I am always amazed at how often I see cyclists (especially commuters) with headphones in their ears. And some of these clowns also decline to wear helmets. Foolishness of the most extreme kind that can only be interpreted as a fervent death wish.
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All good points. I bike commute a lot, so I'm out there almost daily. Watch for car doors - look inside the parked cars as you cruise by. If someone is sitting in there, assume the door will fly open any second. I ride Eastlake in Seattle on my commute. If I hit it when street parking opens, 9:00 AM or 6:00 PM - really gotta watch.
Good point on the bike path info, though that's the majority of my commute (Burke-Gilman Trail) - but also makes it a damn nice ride to work and home. I was once however, taken out by another cyclist on the trail. Yard sale crash with black eye as the result.
Taking the lane is good advice. Leave enough room for a car and someone will buzz by with no room to spare. A few weeks ago, I was hit in Seattle for the first time - in one of those shared "Shoal" lanes - where bikes have the right of way. Thinking I was safe in the "bike lane" I wandered to the left a bit, then a woman buzzed past and hit me. I didn't go down, but it was close enough to get road rash on my elbow from the truck. She knew she hit me and kept going - but returned later. if interested, more details here:
http://yoeddy.blogspot.com/2011/05/bike-to-work-day-hit-and-run-included.html
Anyway, if you keep your wits and watch your ass, riding in urban areas is pretty safe and can actually be fun. Much better then not riding at all, or waiting for "nice days in nice areas".
And whistle. If you want someone to know you're there, it'll get their attention, mostly pedestrians, but also people getting out of cars. They've come from their insulated little bubble of AC and ipod, and don't always become aware of their environment straight away.
Our cities are much too small to do a lot of cycling in.
Anyway, I prefer the country roads, like this one, this one, this one, this one, or this one. (It's not me on pic #2. I was already on top, watching my friends suffering :))
Except for the first pic, all places are in after-work-ride distance from my home.
@grumbledook
Not fair. Not fair. Not fair. Not fair. Not fair.
@Jeff
You could think of spending your next holidays in Switzerland ...
@frank
Absolutely, drivers are much more likely to treat you with respect if they don't see you as taking the piss by flouting the laws that constrain them.
I'm fortunate enough to live in the countryside so my serious riding is done on country roads and it's not all a bed of roses out there, plenty of people will pass within a foot of you on a two lane road at 60mph.
I also work in London so cycle from the station to my office on one of the city's hire scheme bikes. Most often it's those cyclists who'd probably consider themselves proper cyclists, as opposed to simple commuters, riding road or single speed/fixed bikes that you see runing lights, pedestrian crossing and the like.
Absolutely agree with #13.
Assertiveness in lane position is a given. Often I get a rude reminder of this early in my rides not concentrating on where I am on the road. Only takes one d***head to fly by trying to "share" the lane. Once moving out the 1-1.5 m from curb to ensure cars are forced to change lanes to overtake does it cease to be a problem.
Bloody hell, a surprisingly helpful and practical article. Like all the additions too.. particularly obey road traffic rules and laws... In London, 30,000 cyclists get killed by trucks each year because they undertake on the inside, or run red lights (I may be exaggerating the number, but it happens too often)... I'd add another rule along the lines of "Expect the worst: ride defensively" i.e. look 50m ahead, and think 'what's the worst that that driver could do? could that parked car pull out / open their door unexpectedly? oooh, a stop sign that's green at the moment, but it's raining and my brakes don't work'
Also, for anyone riding in rural areas, I've found it really helpful when coming up behind horses to announce my arrival so as not to startle beast / rider "Cyclist behind"... as we obey the principle of silence, we otherwise arrive unnannounced, which apparently is not a good thing. Since starting this, I've had very positive response from riders: smiles, waves, chats, etc. Which is great, as they are invariably pretty girls in jodpurs and boots, and it gives me at least another 50W or so for the next hour or so.
I'd meant to say: I'd add another rule along the lines of "Expect the worst: ride defensively" i.e. look 50m ahead, and think 'what's the worst that that driver could do? could that parked car pull out / open their door unexpectedly? oooh, a stop sign that's green at the moment, but it's raining and my brakes don't work'... it invariably happens, so prepare for it. As Hoogerland and Flecha will attest, getting hit by a car ain't fun. Healthy dose of paranoia also helps (if the CIA can kill Kennedy, noone is safe, etc.)
@il ciclista medio
Agreed re "using as many senses as you can".
At the risk of stating the obvious, I therefore propose #14: Don't ride in traffic with headphones. Aural perception is vital when riding in the city.
Living in Sydney where it is almost impossible to avoid riding in traffic and where motorists are particularly unsympatico towards cyclists, I am always amazed at how often I see cyclists (especially commuters) with headphones in their ears. And some of these clowns also decline to wear helmets. Foolishness of the most extreme kind that can only be interpreted as a fervent death wish.