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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEVADA CYCLING ASSOCIATION To bike in traffic you must know how to look back over your shoulder while riding. This simple act helps you move left or right fast--to avoid hazards, change lanes, or make a turn. And looking over your shoulder makes drivers pay attention to your. Even if your have a mirror attached to your handlebar, you should always turn your head to look before you move left or right.
Watch for the car to move slower than it would if you weren't there. Look at where the driver's eyes are. If they're not looking at you, slow down and be ready to get out of the way.
If your bike can change gears, know how to shift without looking down. Learn shifting from a friend or bike shop workers.
Always keep your hands near or over your brake levers--so you can stop fast in a pinch. When you brake, squeeze the front and back brakes at the same time. If you see a dangerous situation coming up, like a car backing out, glance behind you and get ready to brake or swerve if you have to.
Although mirrors attached to the handlebars provide a limited view on one side behind you, there are small ones that attach to either your helmet or eyeglasses. They have three advantages: they weigh less, they have less image jiggle than handlebar mirrors, and by simply turning your head a little, you can quickly scan for conditions behind you. Their disadvantage is that drivers approaching from your rear don't know that you know they're there; however, a quick glance back tells them that you're aware of them.
At night you can't see where drivers are looking, and some are drunk. Slow down from your daylight speed. To make sure drivers see you when you're stopped, flash your lights by twitching your handlebars back and forth. And watch cars closely; be ready to get out of their way.
If you're new at night riding, take streets where you know the potholes and traffic so you can focus on riding in the dark. Also, if you're not sure about nighttime crime in a neighborhood, ask someone who knows the area--or don't ride alone.
Don't bike at night if your visual acuity is worse than 20/40 with glasses or contacts, or you can read a far-away sign or address fine in daylight, but not at night. Check with a doctor if you're unsure.
Ride so drivers can see you and predict your movements. Remember that the rules in the drivers manual apply to bicyclists also.
Always wear a helmet - It's the law for 18 year-olds and younger. Use protective gear and wear visible clothing. |
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Bike Safety
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As you ride you have to avoid two kinds of things: Hazards on the ground right in front of you, and cars and pedestrians ahead and on either side. So you should always know how both the ground and the traffic around you look. To do this, get into the habit of looking first at the ground 20 to 30 feet in front of you, then up at traffic, then back down at the ground. At first this'll seem hard, maybe even strange, but with practice you'll do it without thinking.
In some situations--like a car turning in front of you--it's a wise to pretend the driver doesn't see you. Plan in advance how you'll avoid that driver. Can you stop in time? If not, slow down and figure how you'll steer out of the way.
Just as a car honks its horn when it comes out of an alley, you should make noise when you emerge from places where people can't see you--like when you ride between two stopped trucks to get into an intersection. Yell or use a whistle, bell, or horn.
An orange safety vest or reflective (Illuminate) clothing increases your visibility. Don't wear dark clothes without some light-colored material too. A car's headlights are visible from 3,000 feet and that's what most drivers look for. Since your upper body's at eye level, it's important to wear white, light-colored, or reflective clothing at night.
Big ones are best. Get one at least three inches wide. Only red is legal but amber ones can be 8 times brighter. Reflectors work only if they're clean, so remember to wipe them off. Make sure it's pointed straight back and not up or down.
Attached to the pedals. Because they move when you pedal, they attract more driver attention than fixed reflectors.
These white reflectors attach to spokes and are highly visible to approaching cross traffic.
Many cyclists use the red or amber flashing LED lights. Some can be seen a half mile away.
Not important if you have a good rear reflector. If buying just one light, get a good headlight.
Battery-powered is best. Get the most powerful one you can afford. Use white, not amber or red. Generator lights can be bright, but many go dark when you stop, so they're poor for city riding. If you ride at night a lot, consider rechargeable batteries--you'll save money and our landfills.
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Practice looking back
Here's how to learn to look back without swerving or slowing down.
Mirrors Although mirrors attached to the handlebars provide a limited view on one side behind you, there are small ones that attach to either your helmet or eyeglasses. They have three advantages: they weigh less, they have less image jiggle than handlebar mirrors, and by simply turning your head a little, you can quickly scan for conditions behind you. Their disadvantage is that drivers approaching from your rear don't know that you know they're there; however, a quick glance back tells them that you're aware of them. Communicate Bikes are smaller, slower, and quieter than most other vehicles. So you should make drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians notice you, and try to communicate with them. And since a lot of bicyclists don't follow traffic laws, drivers don't always know what you'll do--even if you think it's obvious. Here are some ways to communicate. Riding In Winter We get little real cold and rain in Southern California, but you'll still want to be careful on winter days. Here's what to consider. Start of rain Don't race to beat the rain after it starts. That's when streets are slickest because automotive oil on the road spreads before it washes away. Slow way down on turns and don't lean as much. Wet Streets It's easy to slip when things are wet. Watch out for slick things like metal-grate bridges, temporary construction covers, manhole covers, painted pavement, and leaves. Don't turn or brake on them. On metal bridges, if you have thin or smooth tires don't ride across; put both feet on the road and scooter across, or walk your bike on the sidewalk. Puddles Don't ride through a puddle if you can't see the bottom. It could be a deep pothole that'll throw you. Reduced Vision Remember that in rain, motorists and cyclists can't see as well. And it takes longer for us all to stop. Just go slower. Braking When brake pads and wheel rims are wet, they take up to ten times longer to work. Dry them by applying your brakes far ahead of where you want to slow down, causing your pads to wipe the rims. To dry them faster, pump the brakes by applying them lightly, then letting go, over and over. Reflective Tape Use white or yellow in front, yellow or red in back. Jacket Bright color with reflective piping in back. Reflective Ankle Straps In any color, they attract attention from many angles. Flashlight In a pinch, attach one with rubber bands, a bungee cord or duct tape. Only three percent of bike rides happen at night--but over half of all cyclists killed get hit while riding at night without lights. You need bike lights to be seen by others, not necessarily to see. In darkness, California law requires:
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