La Vie Velominatus, Part III: Urban Riding
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.
excellent guidelines for safe urban riding, especially #7. all too often i see other riders respond to a honk with a middle finger raised high up, in an effort to tell the already-angry driver of a multi-ton death machine that they should go fuck themselves. i’ve resorted to a thumbs up in such situations, in an effort to tell pissed off drivers ‘it’s ok, everything is fine, the 7 seconds of your life that you just spent slightly tapping the brakes and swerving around me were not worth honking your horn.’
11. Assume that you are invisible, ride accordingly.
A quick glance over your shoulder as a car approaches is the best way to let them know that you know they are there and they will typically give you a bit more room.
Some good stuff here. Though I live in a city of half a million people, I live in a funny interstice between urban and rural interfaces. As a result, I can avoid the urban riding unless I want to ride in the city. Nevertheless, these are good guidelines, many of which apply just as appropriately for the country backroads as they do for more trafficked spaces.
@michael
+1
As someone who’s been commuting from Brooklyn into Manhattan and back year round for over 5 years now, I agree that these are all excellent suggestions.
@michael
This effect can be further enhanced by both dressing and riding like a ninja.
Another good point is that the stronger rider you are, fitness and bike handling-wise, the safer you can make yourself. You just give yourself more options to deal with slightly more risky situations that may arise.
Strive for eye contact when you can. Once you have it, assume it’s worthless.
@michael
Exactly right. I commute everyday a total of about 30mi RT in LA. Hands down the most powerful thing drivers respond to is a good solid stare over the left shoulder at them before you move over. 99% of the time they stay put until you make your move. Just be careful of what is in front of you before you look backwards!
12. Educate other riders* – When you see someone do something either dangerous or stupid, pull them up on it. With the popularity of cycling growing (especially as a mode of commuting), there’s a better than half chance that they didn’t realise they were doing something wrong.
*Don’t waste your breath with bike couriers, they do know much better but simply don’t give a shit.
Happily I now live in a small town, and most of my riding is on quiet country roads – though even the quietest roads carry cars, and require vigilance.
Reading this article brings back not-so-fond memories of mixing it up with the traffic. A-Merckx to points 6 and 7 in particular – I cringe when I think back to what an asshole I could be when a driver did what I judged to be the wrong thing. A bit of respect on both sides goes a long way.
Numbah nine. Numbah nine. Numbah nine. Numbah nine. Numbah nine…
That picture is a slightly lighter version of the view that greeted me on my ride last night…heading up in to the hills the border Adelaide all you could see was this thick dark cloud, as it got darker I was left riding on some beautiful country roads in this odd and enchanting misty setting.
It wasn’t thick and foggy, just dark, misty and perfect conditions for a winter ride.
@Blah
YES. Super-important. If drivers can see your face, you become a person rather than an impediment to wherever they are trying to go. It undoes some of the unconscious dehumanization that the powerful (in the 4000 lb steel juggernaut) inevitably color their view of the powerless (clad in 40 oz of lycra) with.
Also worth mentioning is that when it gets dim out, you can never run too much light – red, white, flashing, steady, have at least one of each!
I tend to find that the friendly wave when the driver has done something right is worth a 100 times more than the ranting and raving when they do something wrong. A wave costs next to nothing, but can make a persons day.
@all
Great points!
@michael
Which is exactly why the V-Kit is Spinal Tap Black.
@thejerseykid
Yeah, again – just like riding in the bunch – you need to be very careful with looking back. You also don’t want to look over your shoulder in a way that has you swerving into traffic.
@Mikael Liddy
I’ve had some success with that one as well; there was one time where a lady really put me in a bad position and when we got to the stoplight, I tapped on the window and we chatted about it. She didn’t mean to do it and she may have gotten the message. I started with, “I understand you didn’t mean any harm, but what you did back there put me in a really dangerous position, and that could have been really bad for both of us.”
It works the other way, too. I rolled through a stop sign somewhere and a guy called me on it – he came up alongside me, rolled down his window and yelled at me, “HEY ASSHOLE – STOP AT THOSE FUCKING STOP SIGNS!” I looked at him and said, “You’re absolutely right; I should have stopped. My mistake.” His jaw unhinged and we chatted about it for a few seconds before he moved on. I could easily have yelled back at him, but this way worked out much better for everyone.
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.
@blaireau
Same goes for rainy weather.
In fact, in bad weather, you have even less awareness of how to deal with a cyclist…they really don’t expect you to be there when it’s pouring and don’t understand that you can’t stop easily. Be extra careful in those conditions.
When riding next to parked cars, look through them to the driver’s seat and make sure you don’t get doored.
@frank
#14. None of the above apply when you are competing in the Commuter World Championships where only one rule applies. WIN!
That tip about taking a lane probably saved my life more than once while riding around Sicily. It really came into play when I would descend down some of the bigger hills along the coast and around there they haven’t invented shoulders yet. its Dirt, white line and the road.
Sure the driver might get a bit upset that you slowed em down but in the end your alive.
another tip would be to learn how to unclip with both feet. I get lazy from time to time and automatically unclip my left foot first but its good to know that in a pinch you can unclip the other foot first if needs be.
no no no. We must foresake the urban. We are of nature, we are of the land, we are of the REAL world. No to urban riding, no to conformity, no to petrol fumes, road signs and regualtion. Head out, head for peace, head for freedom, surely that is what the Velominati stands for. No comprimise, no acceptance. FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!
@frank
#13.1: Use hand signals if riding around other cars or cyclists. Showing intent before you switch lanes/turn gets you more respect from drivers.
@aleco
But I can’t show off my sweet trackstand skills to horses and cows in the country. They just don’t appreciate the art of hardcore fixed urban riding.
@mcsqueak
Refer to Rule #63
@RedRanger
Yeah I take the lane most anytime I’m going downhill. On most of my routes the speed limit is something like 40-50 kph and it’s very easy to meet or exceed that going downhill, so to prevent drivers from trying to pass dangerously I take the lane. No issues yet.
Velominaiti hav etwo choices.
1) Ride in the country where freedom lives. No moving between lanes, no dodging cars, no TRAFFIC LIGHTS, NO PEDESTRIANS CROSSINGS.
2) RIDE IN THE CITY AS IF IT IS THE LAST DAY OF THE …… No cars allowed . so ride like no cars exist. no pedestrians crossing the road, so ride like no pedestrians exist. No rules on which lane you ride in , so these rules do not exist.
Via freedom, via le velominati!!!!
@aleco
Easy to say. Harder to do. I live downtown Portland. I’m not willing to get in a car and drive 30 minutes to ride my bike.
It is interesting that the law applies equally to bicycles and they have as much right to the road. If they are NOT impeding the flow of traffic a bicycle can be in a lane. Therefor when I am going down 5th Ave to lower Manhattan my favorite place is the middle lane @ 50kph – no doors, easy evasive action for peds, open view for pot holes. Acting like a car is not only legal it often is a visible and safe tactic.
My approach to city riding is like going to war. Never let your attention waiver, always assume the worst and expect the unexpected at all times. Go in like a paratrooper jumping into Normandy and if you are lucky you’ll live to 80 but one wrong move and you will fall to the average life expectancy of 40 minutes.
Good points all.
I can add perhaps, when approaching an intersection alongside a car that could left/right hook you, keep an eye on their front wheel.
Use the left side of a one-way street, if you can, because passenger doors are less often opened.
Taxis hate you but you can work with them in the big urban dance if you are decisive.
People on bikes (they do not dignify the word “cyclist”) are among the biggest idiots on the road here, but it pains me when a roadie in kit runs a red. We must be a light unto others or some such crap. I take it seriously.
For the occasional indignities of the urban commute, it can be exhilarating to traverse the park early in the morning or cross the river into the city center, and always beats being cooped up in a metal car or train box even on the coldest or hottest day.
And finally, in many big cities, one is alone among millions of people.
@Rob
This too. And it’s part of the fun.
@Dashiell
Guilty as charged. I’m sure it’s not the smartest thing to do, but I will proudly offer a one finger salute to any driver practicing the brush by with accompanying horn.
Great post Frank; made me appreciate that the vast majority of my riding is on relatively quiet rural roads. Of course, I tend to blot out memories of white-knuckle rides on busy highways.
@xyxax
Well done sunshine, I was about to contribute the very same thing. Good lessons learned form the courier days.
Woah…, wait, Frank!
Is Rule #5 a Rule V allusion?
Here is my read of it:
“Take the lane if you see the need, but see Rule V if you think it’s okay, as in, won’t be bad for your health, to just coast along keeping a line of cars behind you as you sip water.”
Take the lane, but no matter how your legs feel, close that wheel and pass and move the hell back over, lest you threaten your already threatened chances.
I grew up road riding in a very populated area. I now live in a less populated area and it is sweet as for my cycling passion.
Great stuff, Frank! Good to see you using your site as a forum for some seriously good advice among all the comedic banter and style advice.
@troydog
This is vital too. Too many of my friends have been collected by opening doors or cars suddenly pulling out, so gaining an awareness of what’s going on with parked vehicles is almost as vital as awareness of the wacky antics of the moving ones.
Right on, Oli! Great to point that out. Amongst all the fun and VSPin’…a great heads up on riding with your head up. Nice one, Frank!
And hell yes, parked cars are danger-as. Be careful. Give a wide birth and if drives don’t like that, so be it. You’ll likely see them at the next light; ain’t goin’ nowhere in city traffic. Bike beats car, don’t ya know?
@mouse
This is another situation where I’ll take the lane to prevent the right hook. Oftentimes in city traffic it’s easy enough to keep up that there is no “not” taking the lane. You just take it and are part of traffic, no muss no fuss.
@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.
Heh heh, you said “arse”…
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.