Biking on the street

assume they don't see you. make yourself visible.

I use hand signals for turning. I don't tend to think motorists recognize the signal for "stop", although I'll flash it sometimes.

I also wear high vis clothing (generally a construction worker vest over whatever else I'm wearing, though I have some expensive running/biking wear too) and run head/taillights when I think appropriate. I've actually had someone stop me when I was walking into the gym in my dark morning bike gear and thank me for being so visible to her as a driver. So it's at least helpful to drivers who are paying attention (although it's generally the distracted ones who are the problem).

If the road is one lane in each direction and there is not enough room for you and a car to be comfortably side-by-side (and insufficient shoulder), TAKE THE LANE. Ride in the middle. Yes, you'll make the cars behind you grumpy. But hugging the outer line in a case like this is an invitation to get accidentally sideswiped. Remember, the people who are going to try to pass you in a case like that, are exactly the drivers aggressive/rushed enough to misjudge the distance and, honestly, care more about getting where they're going than YOUR safety.

Wear bright colors.

Ride on the sidewalk if you don't feel safe.

Bicycle Street Smarts:
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/

How to ride on the street:
http://antranik.org/how-to-ride-your-bicycle-safely-on-the-street/

Obey all traffic laws. That means stay in your lane, stop for red lights and stop signs.

Realize that you are operating a street legal vehicle with all the same rights and responsibilities of other vehicle operators.

While you have all the same rights as larger vehicles, in a collision, you will lose!

Use a mirror, use hand signals, have lights front and rear.

Wear a helmet.

Riding on sidewalks is far more dangerous than riding in the street. People normally pull across sidewalks and cross walks before looking for cross traffic. If you are traveling the sidewalk at 15 mph when that car exits their drive, you will get seriously injured and the driver will profess they never saw you.

do NOT ride on the sidewalk. That is actually against the law in most places (although enforcement obviously varies a LOT).

I hope it goes without saying, but ride WITH traffic....wear a helment....do NOT wear headphones, do NOT use your cellphone/ipod/etc (biking while texting/talking - I've seen it...very dangerous).

If there is a shoulder or bike lane to ride in, use that. If you need to take the lane, look behind you before doing so. If you need to take the lane, TAKE the lane - don't try to hug the white line. Make left turns from the left most lane (look behind you before changing lanes, and signal your lane change). Use hand signals (bearing in mind that most motorists don't remember the CORRECT ones - left arm out with hand up or down, most take for "stopping" - for right turns, I actually point to the right with my right hand...it's a clearer signal to the motorists behind me or stopped at the intersection that I'm turning at than the correct signal).

Try to maintain your line and not swerve around (ie to avoid holes/grates). Look out ahead of you to try and spot hazards early, so you can deliberately ride around them, rather than swerve at the last minute.

Get a mirror. I prefer a handlebar mounted one, but they also make helmet mounted ones (I tried it and couldn't see as well).

Get high intensity LED lights - front and rear. Use them night (on steady) AND day (flashing) to make you more visible.

Wear hi-vis clothing with reflective accents.

Hope that helps!

I would check the rules in PA. In CA you can ride in the crosswalk to make left turns. When I am on a slower bike on fast streets, I do this.

I don't use the DMV hand signals because 1) drivers often seem confused by them and 2) they were developed for use from cars before turn signals existed. I will point right or left for turns.

threedogswc wrote: »

where I live is not very bike friendly. I really want to ride more into town. Now I'm riding on bike specific trails but have to travel to get to them. Anyone have any tips for riding in a suburban area?

-- Obey the rules of the road. You are a vehicle of the road, therefore the road rules apply to you. Look up the rules of the road in your area. Try the highway traffic act for your area as a place to start, and especially look for the rules pertaining to cyclists and bicycles.

-- Ride close to the curb ... in my country, that would be, stay to the left. But yours might be stay to the right. Ride with the flow of traffic, not against it. You are not a pedestrian.

-- In saying ride close to the curb, don't ride right up against it. Ride about a foot or so out from the curb to give yourself room to dodge debris.

-- Do not ride on sidewalks unless you are sure it is legal to do so, and then ride carefully at pedestrian pace. When you are up on the sidewalk, you are a pedestrian.

-- Be predictable. Signal your intentions. Ride in a straight line - no weaving or wobbling. Ride intentionally - no weaving or wobbling. Keeping up a decent speed and looking like you know what you're doing helps.

-- You are invisible. Cyclists don a "cloaking device" when they hop on a bicycle. This, of course, poses problems when a car wants to occupy the spot where you, the invisible cyclist, are located. Assume no one sees you and act accordingly ... in other words, it is up to you to get out of the way.

-- Use lights, reflectors, hi-vis clothing, mirror, bell ... all the little safety things which might make you less invisible. And do not use earbuds or headphones or whatever. Don't block your hearing. Listening for worrying traffic noises behind you is important.

-- Explore and find cyclist-friendly routes. New cyclists often think of the routes they use while driving ... the direct but busy routes. However, there are often quieter routes available. Study maps and have a good explore.

I always say that I ride as far to the right of the road as is safe. Which sometimes is the middle of the road but sometimes is also near the shoulder. For example on a deserted road, sure I ride very close to the edge. Someone passing from behind is not likely to buzz me.

If it is a 2-lane road (one lane each way) and there is a decent amount of oncoming traffic I *will* move well into the road to discourage people from trying to pass with no room. I'll move back over when *I* decide the people behind me can safely pass.