Category Archives: Tips

Cycling Safety, Road, Tips

Cycling Safety!

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Road Safety

  • Bike defensively! (Assume the worst of everyone around you until disproven: that pedestrian will jump into the bike lane without looking, that car will turn without signaling…)
  • Watch out for cars turning right (especially if you are going straight through the intersection) 
  • Watch for cars turning left from oncoming traffic. These are often the most dangerous because they are the least likely to see you in the bike lane and often turn fast to shoot a gap
  • Avoid being directly behind or alongside cars, especially trucks. This is their blind spot and the most dangerous place to be. Since they can brake faster than you, you might run into the back of them, or they could turn into you since they can’t see you
  • Wear a helmet, use lights/reflectors at night, wear hi-vis clothing
  • Stay alert in bike lanes with parked cars between you and traffic. Pedestrians will forget that there is a bike lane and jump out from between cars or out of cars. Generally stay as far away from the car side as you can. The intersections in these types of bike lanes can be dangerous. You are hidden by the parked cars, so you and the turning cars have less time to react. Go slow into the intersections.
  • If in a bike lane between parked cars and traffic, stay on the side with traffic. Counter-intuitive, but much safer. The cars are coming up behind you and see you. They are unlikely to hit you. Meanwhile, people opening doors from their car into the bike lane or walking out between two parked cars don’t see you and aren’t looking for you. This is much more dangerous.
    • If a car has lights on, give it an extra wide berth because the odds that someone is getting in or out are high
    • side note: advocate for safer infrastructure – https://www.cambridgebikesafety.org/
  • Give trucks extra space when they are turning because they often end up in the bike lane and even over the sidewalks during a sharp turn
  • Make sure your brakes work well and try braking as hard as you can at different speeds (and when it is wet) so you get a feel for your stopping distance
  • Look for eye contact with drivers. Don’t assume they see you until you have locked eyes with them
  • Watch out for intersections on quiet roads. The odds of encountering anyone are low, but that means cars often roll quickly through stops since they assume no one is around
  • Look ahead and behind you often. You’ll have a feeling for what’s ahead and the traffic behind you. That way you can comfortably and safely avoid situations by taking early evasive action
    • If you have trouble looking behind you, try taking your left hand and grabbing the back of your seat. This allows your chest to turn with you as you do a check over your shoulder
  • Get comfortable taking the full road when necessary. If it’s a tight road and you’d feel unsafe with a car passing you, ride in the middle so they won’t. Make sure to look that it is safe to take the full road and signal that you are moving laterally. You generally have the right to do this, hence all of the “bicycles may use full lane” signs. However, if there is a wider section, pull over to let them pass so you don’t anger the drivers
  • Delivery trucks will be in the bike lanes. If you are looking ahead, you will see them with plenty of time to signal and just take the full road and go around them
  • Same with regular cars (Ubers, DoorDash, etc). They will pull over into the bike lane or just randomly stop in the street. Go around them with caution and give their doors a wide berth. People will almost always be jumping out of these cars, often without looking because they are stressed
  • If you know an intersection well, go on the pedestrian light when you can (watch for cars running red lights, they almost always do). It is often safest to cross an intersection before the cars do.
  • Rightfilter stopped traffic when safe to do so. You are allowed to ride on the right of stopped cars at an intersection and it is safer for you to be visible at the front of the line of cars then next to them in their blind spots. However, be aware that the light may turn and they might start moving at any time. Additionally, there isn’t always space, so you may have to find a spot in line. When you do, you can take the full lane to safely cross the intersection
  • Give blind driveways a berth. Cars backing out really have no hope of seeing you.
  • In fact, give all blind turns a wide berth, be they on the bike path or cars turning into your road at a sharp angle etc. If you always assume there is someone coming around that corner at you, then you will never be unpleasantly surprised
  • Pass on the left
  • Signal your intentions (e.g. left arm out if merging into left lane or turning left)
  • When making a left turn in an intersection with a left turn lane, either use the left turn lane (taking the lane fully) or do a two part left turn, where you continue straight to the opposite corner and wait for the light to turn for perpendicular traffic. Sometimes there is a dedicated space for bikes to sit by the corner to make this sort of turn.
  • Don’t brake hard with only the front brakes – unless you want to do a cartwheel 😉
  • Be careful of slinging a bag on one shoulder or putting bags on your handlebars – they could slid into/get caught in your front spokes (a backpack, cross-body bag, or panniers are better alternatives)
  • As much as you can, avoid deep potholes and sharp edges. But if you are in traffic, hold your line and ride the pothole rather than swerving into traffic.
  • Stand up out of the saddle when riding over rough road or potholes and use your arms and legs as shock absorbers
  • When going around a corner, keep your outside foot down (don’t pedal through sharp corners)
  • As much as you can, avoid biking through broken glass and nails

Bike Maintenance

  • How often should you clean and lubricate your chain? While there’s no one right answer, some suggest every 150 mi or once a month
  • Check your brakes: brakes wear away over time. If you notice reduced braking power and the brake pads look thin it may be time to replace them (if the brakes don’t look thin try cleaning your rims or increasing the tension in the brake cable)
Cycling Safety, Road, Tips, Uncategorized

Safe Cycling in the City

We get it! You want to ride your bike, but heavy traffic and seemingly careless drivers make you choose to use dreadfully crowded and slow public transit, pay for a cab, or even drive a car yourself.

Riding a bike in a city can feel like a daunting task and, yes, it can be dangerous — but keep in mind: No driver has the  intention to harm you. Out there, it sometimes may feel like your fate is determined by drivers of motorized vehicles, but for the most part it is in your control to minimize any potential hazards. A first step to do so is to read and follow these tips:

  • Be aware! Pay attention to vehicles, pedestrians, and other cyclists around you. Make it a habit to think about what drivers around you may want to do, anticipate their decisions, and react accordingly:
    • Turns and stops. Does a driver want to turn or stop? Are their indicators on? Is he/she checking her mirrors? Is there someone in the passenger (or other) seat who wants to get out of the car?
    • Parked cars.  Many times,  bike lanes are aligned right next to parking spots on the side of the road. Unfortunately, this area is also the so-called door zone where extra caution is key. After all, a parked car may pull out on the road or a driver or passenger may open a door unexpectedly. In doubt, reduce your speed or give these cars extra space by moving to the center of the road — but, before you do so, make sure that nobody is about to pass you! It is also a good idea to pay attention to whether the car’s engine is running, its lights or indicators are on; whether the driver seat is occupied, and whether the  front wheels are turned into road. You don’t necessarily have to focus on all these details all the time, but it is a good idea to train yourself to notice these things as they can help you evaluate how likely it is that a car will pull out or someone will open a door.
    • Traffic lights. Are traffic lights about to turn? Some people may want to catch the last moment of an orange light. Check before you cross an intersection, especially if your light just turned green. Clearly, do NOT run red lights!
    • Speed. Learn to judge the speed of all kinds of vehicles. Is a car too fast to stop before a light? Chances are, they will cross it. Will a runner or pedestrian try to cross the road? Is someone about to run a red light?
  • Communicate! As in many other aspects of life, communication is an important factor on the road. Knowing others’ intentions helps us adjust and react accordingly. Sometimes you will have to  decipher drivers’ and pedestrians’ next steps before they happen based on their behavior; other times you are lucky and they will let you know what they are about to do. Keep in mind, it is your responsibility (and in your best interest!) to communicate your intentions to others! This not only applies to turning and stopping, but also to making others aware of dangers.
    • Use hand signals.  It is easy and takes minimal effort: Signal before you turn or move to the center of the road, to show what you will do. Point to the ground to make other cyclists aware of dangers such as potholes. Signal if you are about to stop. Also,  let hesitant drivers behind you know when it is safe to pass you.
    • Make eye contact. A simple eye contact is often all it takes for another person to know what you want to do and vice versa. This applies to anyone you might encounter on a road: Drivers, pedestrians, other cyclists, etc.
    • Make yourself visible. Keep in mind that drivers might actually not be able to see you. Avoid the dead space of mirrors, the sides and backs of large vehicles such as buses and trucks, and make sure you and/or your bike wear lights in the dark.
  • Be courteous! Say thank you with a gentle nod of your head, or a (friendly) hand signal! Out on the road, you are an ambassador for cyclists and want to leave a good impression to encourage a friendly co-existence!
  • Be assertive! Sometimes you will have to be assertive and just claim your space on the road (e.g. changing lanes in busy city traffic). When you do so, (1) make sure you communicate your intention, (2) confirm that other traffic participants have enough space to react to what you are about to do (right speed? enough distance?), and (3) only then do your thing. As mentioned above, drivers are not out there to harm you. They want to protect your life and your bike as much as they want to protect their lives and their car.
  • Be Prepared! Regularly maintain your equipment. Having a working bicycle can prevent accidents as well. Lend special attention to your brakes, tires, and chain. Here’s a good example for a  maintenance schedule.
  • Abide the law! This should be an obvious one. Don’t run lights, etc. You know the rules (if not, read this); you expect drivers to follow the rules. Follow them too! Again, when you are out on the road on your bike you represent all cyclists. Make sure to leave a good impression!

Josh Zisson, a Cambridge-based lawyer, created Bike Safe Boston, a great blog with many good resources about cycling in the city. Amongst other posts, we recommend you read the MA cyclist’s bill of rights and the 10 commandments of city cycling.  These posts will give you some general pointers (as the above) as well as information about what to do when you are unlucky enough to be involved in an accident (spoiler alert: Don’t forget to get the driver’s information!).

If you are riding in a group, some additional rules apply. We have compiled a safety policy document that we encourage everyone to read who leads or joins a ride with us.