How To Safely Commute By Bike Actually

Believe it or not, cycling for commuting has been an irresistible trend nowadays. Maybe it is the concern of environment or just want to stay fit, you can’t deny that biking commuting has crossed your mind for many times. As for me, a university student, cycling to class is the indispensable part of my daily life. For the primary purpose of burning a few extra calories, I started cycling to commute. However, until now, biking commuting has not only been a trendy word in my mind, it has been a way to live a happy life for me. Anyway, for various different reasons, a great number of people from all walks of life have chosen cycling as their commuting way. So today, I would like to talk about the safety in terms of biking commuting. How to safely commute by bike? It is actually quite important. Then let’s figure out together.

Safe city cycling
It goes without saying that staying safe while on the road is a top priority. I believe that lots of cyclists all keep in mind safety is of great importance. However, when cycling to commute, few really know how to do exactly.

commute by bikeAbove all, when you are riding on the road, you should always assume car doors will open. The debate between car and bicycle has continued for years about which one is more dangerous on the road. It is hard to say which one is the winner in this issue. But be careful won’t be wrong. Getting doored is a shockingly common occurrence. The only way for you to truly prevent this happen as a cyclist is to keep a good distance between yourself and parked cars.

Secondly, don’t kerb crawl. Keep away from those kerbs! Hanging about in the gutter is not a good look and it is also the place where dirt and debris collect so your tires will likely get a hard time. Don’t want to get into any unexpected incidents? Just stay away from those kerbs.

Last but not least, be particularly careful around large vehicles. Anyway, don’t even think about challenging those large vehicles, believe me, you will be a complete loser ahead of them. Far too many accidents still occur that involve cyclists and large vehicles, and they often have dire consequences. Therefore, no matter it is a lorry, a bus or a truck, the principles are the same. Never be tempted to undertake such a vehicle, huge blind spots mean that drivers can easily be totally unaware of cyclists.

Street smarts
Well, to be a street smart is not easy. The top priority for you is to learn how to ride your bicycle safely in traffic to commute.commute by bike

On the one hand, you should know and obey traffic and bike laws, especially on the crowded roads. In general, for most people, their way to work is pretty crowded. Bicycles are considered vehicles and therefore should obey all of the rules of the road that apply to automobiles, this includes obeying all traffic lights and signals, yielding to pedestrians when required and remaining alerted and observant. On the other hand, you should make sure yourself be seen and heard. Reflective gear and lights are also important, especially if you plan to ride at night. Being heard is also just as important as being seen. Several cyclists also use a bell to alert vehicles, pedestrians and other riders of their presence.

Riding at night
For those who need to ride to commute at night, there is no doubt that safety is an absolute paramount. As the window of daylight shrinks, the vulnerability of cyclists swells and so does the importance of being visible to drivers. Here are some simple tips for cyclists to stay safe and visible.

♥Always wear a helmet

♥Listen for cars approaching

♥Ride in a bike lane or path if available

♥Assume a car cannot see you

♥Make yourself very visible

commute by bike

Dealing with intersections
Well, dealing with intersections while riding to commute is inevitable. Thus, how to stay safe when it comes to intersections is also something you should highly pay attention to.

First of all, right turns are easiest. Just stay in the right lane, look around for traffic and go around the comer. To avoid being squeezed against the kerb, ride in the middle of the right lane if it is narrow, just as you would on a straightway. Remember that the rear end of a car cuts the comet as it makes a right turn.

Secondly, changing your lane position. To prepare for most intersection manoeuvres, you need to change your lane position. Even when between intersections or when making a right turn, you have to move farther toward the left side of the right lane.

Evasive maneuvers
commute by bikeRiding safely on the road requires knowledge and understanding of traffic laws and the principles that determine and govern these laws. The ability to execute an evasive manoeuvre could mean the difference between a close call and a crash. Be sure to practice this often, for any of these manoeuvres to work when you need them, they must come naturally.

Above all, quick stop. When you are riding in traffic and something stops suddenly in front of you, you need to bring your bicycle to a quick stop, under control and in a short distance. If you fail to do this, an accident is inevitable.

Secondly, avoidance weave. The avoidance weave is used when you suddenly encounter a series of hazards like potholes or rocks that could cause a crash.

Critical survival skills
Well, no matter how skilled or prepared you are, some cycling situations will go beyond the normal rules. Thus, to better ensure your safety when cycling to commute, here are some critical survival skills you need to grasp.

The first one is earning respect. There will always be people in cars who yell, “Get off the road!” Don’t let them bother you. Signal clearly and ride in ways that encourage drivers to manoeuvre around you correctly. Be a good representative of cycling and a positive role model for riders in your community.

Many people assume that sidewalks are safe to ride on because they put some distance between cyclists and cars. As a matter of fact, sidewalks are not a good place to ride your bike, and in some cities, it is actually illegal. Try to avoid them unless you have no choice.

To recap

Ok, here our today’s topic has approached its end, I really hope this article could help you on the issue of how to safely commute by bike. If you have any better idea, welcome to leave us your messages.