Transport biking etiquette

[Boone]

Hey, as some of you know i am in the market for a bike that i will be using primarily for transportation.

Before i get out on the streets and around campus i was just hoping to learn some of the etiquette that is needed to know by the commuting biker.

Thanks for your help

 

[scottm]

Stay off the sidewalks/multi-use paths if you're going faster than a brisk walk. Keep a finger on the brake levers. Watch for people in parked cars, they're waiting to open the door as you pass. Wear a helmet, and put a mirror on it, and use it a lot. Be aggressive and defensive.

I've collided with cars seven times in my commuting (no, none were parked), it'll happen, be ready.

 

[Stargazer]

That's some great advice. I was only going to tell you a few of those things that scottm just told you. I guess because most of them I do automatically and don't think about telling someone else. But it's good that he did.

 

[Fly Rod]

Don't forget to hold a constant line so cars don't have to guess wher you will be. Communicate with other cyclists before you pass, ringy ding ding.... Wear gloves! A full camelpak or backpack is a great crash pad. Be vocal with inattentive drivers.

Be safe!

 

[2mbb]

If there not bike lane and you are riding on public streets then you should follow all the "rules of the road" that cars do. Essentially a bicycle is considered a vehicle and must obey all traffic laws. Stop at stop signs and red lights, yield to pedestrians, no riding under the influence, etc. Ride in the same direction as traffic, as close to the right shoulder as possible, while still being safe.

As mentioned above, watch parked cars for people inside about to open doors, and ride about a door's width to the left of the parked cars. Do not weave in an out around parked cars but try and maintain a straight consistent line.

While I agree you need to be alert and defensive, remember that a bicycle will always lose a confrontation with a car. Don't be so rude that you piss of the car drivers, etc.

 

[scottm]

Don't forget to hold a constant line so cars don't have to guess wher you will be. Communicate with other cyclists before you pass, ringy ding ding.... Wear gloves! A full camelpak or backpack is a great crash pad. Be vocal with inattentive drivers.

Be safe!

Sneaky trick: wobble as suspicious cars approach from behind. Rednecks trying to skim you lose interest when they may actually hit you and the stakes get too high. I take lots of glances over my shoulder, so approaching cars think I've looked at them. This all assumes you have and use a mirror, I can't ride on the road without one.

If we're talking crash protection, full-finger gloves are a must for me. I came away from too many crashes with bloodied fingers, finally went to motocross gloves before mt-bike gloves came in full-fingered, much better.

 

[Boone]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I just picked up a bike today and made my first commute, it went pretty well.

I ended up with a giant revel 1

 

[jdlcruiser]

dusk to dawn

When riding at less than daylight use lights. They are inexpensive and some can be attached quickly. I use a very small red led that I leave on my helmet all of the time and turn on when I get caught out past dark and no other tail light. That way when I am laying in the road post collision my head, some would argue the important part, is still flashing and the driver of the passing car is not looking at the flashing light on my bike in the ditch and hit me. Always ride like you are invisible even if you make eye contact be ready. For a bike lock, two is better with different mechanisms. Kryptonite Fahgetaboutit is hefty with a cable and possibly an inexpensive combo lock. I keep a saddle cable in my bag to loop through my helmet and extra stuff if needed. Good luck.

 

[haryv]

I was lucky that my last wipeout was a slow speed one and wipped out in front of a large 10 ton industrial truck.. in front of a fire department hall. Truck stopped in time. But the fact that ridding on the road makes me a little nervous. One, The vehicle MUST have more room between you and your bike in the event of a accident. I do not want to get sucked under a car because of a ill cautious driver. In fact, I almost collided with a driver because he was ON HIS PHONE. that is now illegal here.

I feel like wearing a shirt that says "drive careful, your on video" so the drivers are not so distracted in there driving and put that phone down!

 

[mcewan13]

Watching out for drivers exiting their cars is a common piece of advice, but you should really stay out of the door zone altogether. Riding immediately next to parked cars - or along the white line of the shoulder - invites faster drivers to take the lane. By law you have as much right to a lane of traffic as they do so you are much safer traveling in that lane instead of trying to squeeze in between parked cars and moving traffic.

While I was in Cambridge a few years ago, a young woman was 'doored' while riding in the bike lane down Mass Ave. She fell under the wheels of a city bus that was rolling along side her. There's a reason many call the door zone the 'dead zone.'