Biking Security!

Street Security

Bike defensively! (Assume the worst of everybody round you till disproven: that pedestrian will soar into the bike lane with out trying, that automobile will flip with out signaling…)
Be careful for vehicles turning proper (particularly if you’re going straight via the intersection) 
Look ahead to vehicles 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 sometimes flip quick to shoot a spot
Keep away from being straight behind or alongside vehicles, particularly vehicles. That is their blind spot and probably the most harmful place to be. Since they will brake quicker than you, you may 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 night time, put on hi-vis clothes
Keep alert in bike lanes with parked vehicles between you and visitors. Pedestrians will overlook that there’s a bike lane and soar out from between vehicles or out of vehicles. Usually keep as far-off from the automobile facet as you possibly can. The intersections in a lot of these bike lanes could be harmful. You might be hidden by the parked vehicles, so that you and the turning vehicles have much less time to react. Go gradual into the intersections.
If in a motorcycle lane between parked vehicles and visitors, keep on the facet with visitors. Counter-intuitive, however a lot safer. The vehicles are developing behind you and see you. They’re unlikely to hit you. In the meantime, folks opening doorways from their automobile into the bike lane or strolling out between two parked vehicles don’t see you and aren’t searching for you. That is way more harmful.

If a automobile has lights on, give it an additional vast 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 vehicles further area 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
Be certain that your brakes work properly and take a look at braking as onerous as you possibly can at completely different speeds (and when it’s moist) so that you get a really feel to 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 chances of encountering anybody are low, however meaning vehicles typically roll shortly via 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 means you possibly can comfortably and safely keep away from conditions by taking early evasive motion

In case you have hassle 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 verify over your shoulder

Get snug taking the complete highway when obligatory. If it’s a good highway and also you’d really feel unsafe with a automobile passing you, trip within the center in order that they gained’t. Be certain that to look that it’s protected to take the complete highway and sign that you’re shifting laterally. You usually have the correct to do that, therefore the entire “bicycles might use full lane” indicators. Nevertheless, if there’s a wider part, pull over to allow them to cross so that you don’t anger the drivers
Supply vehicles shall be within the bike lanes. If you’re trying forward, you will notice them with loads of time to sign and simply take the complete highway and go round them
Identical with common vehicles (Ubers, DoorDash, and so forth). 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. Folks will virtually at all times be leaping out of those vehicles, typically with out trying as a result of they’re careworn
If you understand an intersection properly, go on the pedestrian mild when you possibly can (look ahead to vehicles operating pink lights, they virtually at all times do). It’s typically most secure to cross an intersection earlier than the vehicles do.
Rightfilter stopped visitors when protected to take action. You might be allowed to trip on the correct of stopped vehicles at an intersection and it’s safer so that you can be seen on the entrance of the road of vehicles then subsequent to them of their blind spots. Nevertheless, bear in mind that the sunshine might flip they usually may begin shifting at any time. Moreover, there isn’t at all times area, so you could have to discover a spot in line. If you do, you possibly can take the complete lane to securely cross the intersection
Give blind driveways a berth. Vehicles backing out actually don’t have any hope of seeing you.
The truth is, give all blind turns a large berth, be they on the bike path or vehicles turning into your highway at a pointy angle and so forth. If you happen to at all times assume there may be somebody coming round that nook at you, then you’ll by no means be unpleasantly stunned
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 other nook and await the sunshine to show for perpendicular visitors. Typically there’s a devoted area for bikes to take a seat by the nook to make this kind of flip.
Don’t brake onerous with solely the entrance brakes – except you need 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 possibly can, keep away from deep potholes and sharp edges. However if you’re in visitors, maintain your line and trip the pothole reasonably than swerving into visitors.
Get up out of the saddle when using over tough highway or potholes and use your legs and arms as shock absorbers
When going round a nook, maintain your outdoors foot down (don’t pedal via sharp corners)
As a lot as you possibly can, keep away from biking via damaged glass and nails

Bike Upkeep

How typically do you have to 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. If you happen to discover diminished braking energy and the brake pads look skinny it might be time to switch them (if the brakes don’t look skinny attempt cleansing your rims or growing the stress within the brake cable)