Cycling In Traffic
Cycling in traffic can be one of the most daunting things that most cyclists have to attempt. Unless you’re a dedicated off-roader you will at some point have to mix it up a bit with the traffic. Many people are understandably nervous about riding in traffic. However, with a few simple preparations, riding in even the busiest traffic can become a lot less daunting.
Be aware of your surroundings – In order to avoid sudden swerves, braking, and manoeuvres keep an eye out for poor road surface, drain covers, speed humps, general road furniture and parked or slow moving vehicles. Also try to anticipate oncoming road junctions, traffic lights and roundabouts etc. Also keep an eye on anything that is nor on the roads but could be. Pedestrians stepping out, animals, and children could all get in your way.
Watch for car doors – Opening car doors in to the path of cyclists is a major cause of injury every year. If it’s safe to do so
then we would recommend passing motor vehicles widely enough that should a door get opened you’ll still miss it.
Make your intentions clear – Basically, do to other road users as you would have them do to you. Give clear signals of any manoeuvres you are intending to make. Do it early and maintain the signal for as long as you can. It’s also a good idea where you can to make eye contact with other road users. That way you can be almost 100% sure that they’ve seen you and know what you’re going to do.
Keep out of the gutter – Initially this sounds counter-intuitive, but if you ride too close to the gutter not only are you likely to be riding in a whole bunch of road debris you also tempt car drivers in to trying to overtake. The common term for this is ‘taking the primary position’. It is used to describe riding towards the middle of the lane. The middle is not only cleaner, it shows motor vehicles that there isn’t room to pass safely. Of course we wouldn’t encourage you to hog the road. If you can ride in a safe position that allows cars to overtake safely then do so.
Make yourself visible – This probably the best thing you can do when cycling in traffic. There are a myriad of things you can do to make yourself visible from Hi-viz clothing to lights. One of our favourites is to kit your bike out with daytime running lights. Alert other road users to your presence by buying and fitting front and rear LED lights.
Watch out for lorries – Be very, very, careful when passing lorries on the inside. Lorries are notorious for having blind spots on the inside. If you are on the inside of a lorry try not to get caught out in one of those spots. In fact we would advise to never move up the side of a lorry, much better to be a few feet back and safe than injured (or worse).
Keep your hands near the brakes – the busier the traffic, the more likely it is that you will need to make an emergency move or brake suddenly. If your hands are ‘on the drops’ or at the top of the bars you may not get to the brakes in time. Ride with at least a couple of fingers on or hovering over your brake levers.
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