Road cycling safety and etiquette
How to peacefully coexist on the road By Matt Russ and Frank EastlandFor Active.com August 03, 2005
I live in Atlanta, arguably the worst city in the country to ride a bicycle. Planning (or lack of) Atlanta’s explosive growth has rarely considered the cyclist. Roadside bike paths are for the most part non-existent, as is adequate road shoulder space.
The bike paths that do exist are multi-use. This means cyclists, roller bladers, runners, and walkers all vie for use of this limited resource.
Traffic is terrible even in the suburbs and tempers are short. Motorists have little patience for anything that will impede their already slow progress; especially a cyclist. This doesn’t exactly paint a rosy picture now does it?
The lack of patience with cyclists has led some motorists to resort to terrorist-like tactics such as putting tacks in the roadway in popular cycling areas. They view cyclists as arrogant, rude, and mainly in their way; in some cases they are correct.
This bad blood creates a dangerous situation for cyclists and motorists alike. There are some things cyclists can do to diffuse this situation though, most of which are just plain common sense.
You do have a right to ride your bicycle on the right side of the road; period. This right is protected in the law (check your local ordinances or go to http://bicyclegeorgia.com/galaw.html in Georgia).
Where or when you ride is up to you. I personally value my life so I try to choose routes and times that have lower traffic flow. This may not be practical for everyone but riding on a Sunday morning versus a Saturday makes a big difference in these parts. For safety’s sake, I recommend riding with a partner.
Simple rules
Riding against traffic
Never ride your bike against traffic. Way too often, I see novice cyclists of all ages riding in the left lane as they would as if they were walking or running. Often times they’re not even wearing a helmet (this is illegal if they’re under the age of 16 and a very bad idea if they’re not). They must feel safer seeing the on-coming traffic, but the fact is that 20 percent of all car-bike collisions result from cyclists riding the wrong way in traffic. Motorists just aren’t used to looking for vehicles coming at them in their lane.
Where to ride
Stay as near to the right side of the roadway as is practical, unless making a left hand turn, avoiding hazards in the road, or when the lane is just too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle.
I recently observed a presumably novice rider spinning very slowly up a hill approximately four feet from the roadside, in a lane that had ample room for both him and the motorists. This occurred at 5 p.m. and traffic was backed up about eight cars deep behind him. I was personally amazed that the motorists exhibited as much patience as they did. I watched several pass him in the oncoming lane, creating a serious hazard. I don’t think he realized what a dangerous situation he had created.
Novice riders tend to stay either too far left or too far right. You must stay as far right as practical (preferably six to 18 inches from the left of either the curb or the white line, whichever is safer) while avoiding road hazards. On the other hand, the farther from the curb you ride the better motorists can see you.
So it’s sometimes a balancing act, staying as far right as practical while still staying safe. That’s another reason why I like riding with a partner. It’s easier for a motorist to see two cyclists than one and sometimes there’s just more safety in numbers. There are few occasions when it’s safer to ride in the middle of the road: When you’re riding at the same speed as the traffic around you, or when you’re on a road with no shoulder, frequent pot holes or parked cars. Always give yourself enough room to maneuver safely while avoiding both obstacles in the road and opening car doors. When the traffic becomes faster than you can ride, move back over to the right to avoid obstructing traffic flow.
If you’re new to cycling (or even experienced), and happen to live in Georgia, there is an excellent book recently published by the Georgia Department of Transportation entitled Georgia BIKE SENSE – A guide for Cyclists & Motorists that thoroughly covers all facets of bicycle safety. If you can’t locate one of these 64-page books at your local bike shop, go by Roswell Bicycles (www.roswellbicycles.com) for a complimentary copy. Check your local bike shop for similar resources in your state. If you can’t find such a book, the Georgia book has very good common sense tips that are applicable everywhere.
Riding abreast
While riding two abreast is legal in Georgia and most states, I don’t personally endorse it except for the most rural and least traveled roads. Again, impeding the flow of traffic creates bad blood.
I also find that chatting with your training partner leaves you distracted to what’s occurring around you. By the time you realize there’s a “car back,” it may be right behind you before you’re able to line up single file. Perhaps it’s my experience riding a motorcycle that has left me with an awareness of how diligent you must be in traffic, and I feel I’m a lot more vulnerable on my bicycle.
Dealing with confrontation
I’ve had objects and obscenities hurled at me, been run off the road and harassed by motorists. Although my mere presence on the road could be cause for this, I’ve also observed behaviors by cyclists that could be the root cause of such actions.The bottom line is that in a confrontation with an automobile a cyclist will always lose, and you don’t have eyes in the back of your head. While a motorist may only want to harass you, accidents do happen. Discretion is always the better part of valor, so keep that middle finger in its proper place.
I developed a practice to help diffuse potentially volatile situations with motorists. In response to obscenities or obscene gestures, I wave back, smile and yell, “Hi Pat!” as if I knew the offender. You’d be surprised how well this works!
A few notes on courtesy and etiquette
Pit stops
You’d be aghast if you observed a motorist pulling their vehicle over to the side of the road and urinating out the door of their car. When did this become acceptable behavior for cyclists? If you can’t make it to the nearest convenience store, at least find a place out of the public eye.
Rules of the road
Blowing through red lights and stop signs is not only unsafe, it’s arrogant. Yes you have the right to co-exist on the road, but you have to follow the rules like everyone else. The road rage you vent on a motorist will most likely be projected onto the next cyclist they come upon. Don’t be afraid to point this out to a person in your group who exhibits these behaviors; you’ll be doing your fellow cyclists a huge favor by doing so.
Multi-use paths
If you’re riding on a multi-use path realize that you have to be respectful of everyone using it. Blowing by a family at 25 mph with children on training wheels is dangerous to everyone and inconsiderate. I have found most recreational paths are better for recreational cycling unless you’re prepared, and willing, to stop and start a lot.
Civil disobedience rides
You may have read or observed “civil disobedience” rides that purposely impede traffic. While this definitely does bring cycling out into the public eye, I don’t really know how this helps the situation. I think the best way to reform the system is from within. We have several advocacy groups such as Bike Roswell, www.bikeroswell.com, that are dedicated to making local government aware and sensitive to the needs of cyclists. I’ve seen these groups make real progress.
Please take it upon yourself to learn the rules of the road and practice better cycling safety and etiquette, then get out on your bike and enjoy your ride – but be safe and courteous while doing so.
Matt Russ has coached and trained athletes around the country and internationally. He currently holds licenses by USAT, USATF, and is an Expert level USAC coach. Matt has coached athletes for CTS (Carmichael Training Systems), and has been certified by Joe Friel’s Ultrafit Association. Visit www.thesportfactory.com for more information or e-mail him at info@sportfactory.com.
Frank Eastland started cycling about 10 years ago after having to retire his running shoes. Since then, he has become an avid road cyclist and budding mountain biker. Frank has ridden numerous century and day rides such as “Cross Florida,” 170-mile ride. Frank is an active bike advocate and works for Roswell Bicycles in Roswell, GA.