Cycling Safety!

Street Security

Bike defensively! (Assume the worst of everybody round you till disproven: that pedestrian will leap into the bike lane with out trying, that automotive will flip with out signaling…)
Be careful for automobiles turning proper (particularly in case you are going straight by means of the intersection) 
Look ahead to automobiles turning left from oncoming visitors. These are sometimes probably the most harmful as a result of they’re the least more likely to see you within the bike lane and infrequently flip quick to shoot a niche
Keep away from being immediately behind or alongside automobiles, particularly vans. That is their blind spot and probably the most harmful place to be. Since they will brake quicker than you, you would possibly run into the again of them, or they may flip into you since they will’t see you
Put on a helmet, use lights/reflectors at evening, put on hi-vis clothes
Keep alert in bike lanes with parked automobiles between you and visitors. Pedestrians will overlook that there’s a bike lane and leap out from between automobiles or out of automobiles. Usually keep as distant from the automotive facet as you’ll be able to. The intersections in some of these bike lanes may be harmful. You’re hidden by the parked automobiles, so that you and the turning automobiles have much less time to react. Go gradual into the intersections.
If in a motorbike lane between parked automobiles and visitors, keep on the facet with visitors. Counter-intuitive, however a lot safer. The automobiles are developing behind you and see you. They’re unlikely to hit you. In the meantime, folks opening doorways from their automotive into the bike lane or strolling out between two parked automobiles don’t see you and aren’t on the lookout for you. That is far more harmful.

If a automotive has lights on, give it an additional broad berth as a result of the percentages that somebody is getting in or out are excessive
facet notice: advocate for safer infrastructure – https://www.cambridgebikesafety.org/

Give vans additional house when they’re turning as a result of they typically find yourself within the bike lane and even over the sidewalks throughout a pointy flip
Ensure that your brakes work nicely and check out braking as onerous as you’ll be able to at totally different speeds (and when it’s moist) so that you get a really feel in your stopping distance
Search for eye contact with drivers. Don’t assume they see you till you could have locked eyes with them
Be careful for intersections on quiet roads. The percentages of encountering anybody are low, however which means automobiles typically roll rapidly by means of stops since they assume nobody is round
Look forward and behind you typically. You’ll have a sense for what’s forward and the visitors behind you. That method you’ll be able to comfortably and safely keep away from conditions by taking early evasive motion

When you’ve got bother trying behind you, attempt taking your left hand and grabbing the again of your seat. This enables your chest to show with you as you do a test over your shoulder

Get comfy taking the total street when vital. If it’s a decent street and also you’d really feel unsafe with a automotive passing you, experience within the center so that they received’t. Ensure that to look that it’s protected to take the total street and sign that you’re transferring laterally. You typically have the best to do that, therefore the entire “bicycles could use full lane” indicators. Nonetheless, if there’s a wider part, pull over to allow them to go so that you don’t anger the drivers
Supply vans will probably be within the bike lanes. If you’re trying forward, you will notice them with loads of time to sign and simply take the total street and go round them
Identical with common automobiles (Ubers, DoorDash, and many others). They’ll pull over into the bike lane or simply randomly cease on the street. Go round them with warning and provides their doorways a large berth. Individuals will nearly at all times be leaping out of those automobiles, typically with out trying as a result of they’re careworn
If an intersection nicely, go on the pedestrian gentle when you’ll be able to (look ahead to automobiles working crimson lights, they nearly at all times do). It’s typically most secure to cross an intersection earlier than the automobiles do.
Rightfilter stopped visitors when protected to take action. You’re allowed to experience on the best of stopped automobiles at an intersection and it’s safer so that you can be seen on the entrance of the road of automobiles then subsequent to them of their blind spots. Nonetheless, remember that the sunshine could flip they usually would possibly begin transferring at any time. Moreover, there isn’t at all times house, so you could have to discover a spot in line. Once you do, you’ll be able to take the total lane to soundly cross the intersection
Give blind driveways a berth. Automobiles backing out actually don’t have any hope of seeing you.
Actually, give all blind turns a large berth, be they on the bike path or automobiles turning into your street at a pointy angle and many others. Should you at all times assume there’s somebody coming round that nook at you, then you’ll by no means be unpleasantly shocked
Cross on the left
Sign your intentions (e.g. left arm out if merging into left lane or turning left)
When making a left flip in an intersection with a left flip lane, both use the left flip lane (taking the lane absolutely) or do a two half left flip, the place you proceed straight to the alternative nook and await the sunshine to show for perpendicular visitors. Typically there’s a devoted house for bikes to sit down by the nook to make this type of flip.
Don’t brake onerous with solely the entrance brakes – except you wish to do a cartwheel 😉
Watch out of slinging a bag on one shoulder or placing baggage in your handlebars – they may slid into/get caught in your entrance spokes (a backpack, cross-body bag, or panniers are higher options)
As a lot as you’ll be able to, keep away from deep potholes and sharp edges. However in case you are in visitors, maintain your line and experience the pothole fairly than swerving into visitors.
Rise up out of the saddle when using over tough street or potholes and use your legs and arms as shock absorbers
When going round a nook, maintain your outdoors foot down (don’t pedal by means of sharp corners)
As a lot as you’ll be able to, keep away from biking by means of damaged glass and nails

Bike Upkeep

How typically must you clear and lubricate your chain? Whereas there’s nobody proper reply, some counsel each 150 mi or as soon as a month
Verify your brakes: brakes put on away over time. Should you discover decreased braking energy and the brake pads look skinny it might be time to interchange them (if the brakes don’t look skinny attempt cleansing your rims or growing the stress within the brake cable)