IS BIKE COMMUTING SAFE?

Is bike commuting safe? Safer than driving a car?

As a cyclist you are less protected than a modern car with seatbelts and air bags. But are you more likely to get hurt in a car or on a bike?

More people drive cars, cars tend to bunch up together, and drivers tend to become distracted more than cyclists. It's not surprising car-on-car accidents happen frequently.

Many bike-car accidents happen on higher speed roads: a) motorists do not expect to encounter cyclists; b) inexperienced cyclists do not know how to mix with traffic; c) less reaction time is available to avoid accidents.

Many bike-car accidents happen due to motorists passing cyclists. How do you prevent these types of accidents?

1. Bike lights - bright lights at night are essential

2. Lane position - take the lane to encourage safe passing, always maintain a 3 foot buffer between you and everything else

3. Route - avoid bike commutes that include blind corners and high speed limits if possible

4. Time of day - avoid bike commuting when the sun is very low on the horizon, avoid rush hour if possible

5. Be predictable - signal your intentions to change lanes, ride in a straight line, give yourself and others plenty of time to react

Link - North Carolina Bicycle Crash Types (PDF)

Pro tip: Use a mirror remain aware of your surroundings.

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[samreagan]

My advice is to take the long way, the roads with the least number of lanes, also don’t be ashamed of popping off and walking it for a second on any particularly bad intersections. The best benefit of cycling is that you can pop off and become a pedestrian. It only takes one truck to pop you and then it’s game over forever

[DEFKNIGHT]

Most important advice on bike commuting?

1. Never assume the driver sees you. Have your head on a swivel and check your 6 often. I've been hit from behind while taking the whole lane. Around turns you have to be aware that if the turn is a little blind and the driver is speeding, which nearly every driver is, if they aren't paying enough attention they'll hit you if they have no way to avoid you and they don't have enough time to brake because of their lack of attentiveness. Quick way to die like that. So with that said my second piece of advice?

2. Beware of blind turns when occupying the whole lane. Move to the inside of the lane if needed. Sure they're less likely to see you because you've moved more into the inside of the turn but if you've left enough room for them you'll get buzzed, but you likely won't get hit, because they weren't going to be able to brake fast enough anyways depending on the speed limit. Near misses are still misses.

[MattJasa]

I keep my eyes open like the hawk, ears wide as a bat, and carry the speed of the cheetah. Love your videos!

[cameronbatt]

Be aware of electric vehicles, they make almost no noise so they’re hard to detect. I recently got a cat eye mirror and it’s been such a relief

[DrDirt-fkls]

I use left arm turn signals. Drivers are on the left side. Being visible and taking a full lane can save you from being clipped or buzzed. VA now requires a full lane change near bicyclists. Not everyone has gotten that memo. Be safe!

[paranormalzen]

I do not enjoy cycling in traffic. My experiences have not been great.

Very close passes on narrow roads, drivers passing and then slamming the brakes directly in front of me, cars following dangerously close behind me, cars pulling out of side roads and instead of waiting for me to pass they try to pull out ahead of me but they misjudge my speed and almost hit me, being almost crushed between a close passing car and the cars parked at the side of the road.

Honestly, everytime I cycle I feel at serious risk.

[lantholiday]

There's this one van that gets as close as he can every morning. I finally saw my chance and took the whole lane. What did he do? Still got as close to me as he could without hitting me. Happens almost every morning, even if I'm on the road that has a bike lane.

[mancello]

Use front and rear lights during the day not just at night.

[titaniumismagical]

The most dangerous situations are when you're trailing another vehicle, and when an on coming vehicle is turning left. They may NOT see you trailing behind the a large vehicle...Stay back if you can.

[titaniumismagical]

When using hand signals, it's better to use the simple version nowadays. The old fashioned way (left arm) is confusing, and the only reason why they used it, was because cars didn't have turn signals back in the day. They had no choice but to use their left arm out the driver's side window.

[rustlingbushes]

I play music from my phone's speaker, which is mounted to my handlebars. I have a helmet mirror, headlamp, and reflectors on my bicycle. It's also important to know your local laws and roads.

[dpskiff]

I find that many drivers don't even know what the left hand at 90 degrees means. I only use my right hand for right turns. I've been commuting for over 40 years in all kinds of traffic. Don't ride too far to the right as all kinds of debris goes there and can cause a flat or a crash. Watch out for grates and missing manhole covers also severely angled railroad tracks can catch your wheel. Not to mention potholes, broken pavement chunks and where the edge of the road is missing from washouts creating a large dropoff. A term I learned years ago was, command vehicular presence. Make yourself look bigger than you are. I've seen some cyclists with a flag sticking out of the left side. Watch out for dogs coming out unexpectedly or even other wildlife. I went down a few times when dogs try to get around your front wheel. They don't seem to understand the laws of physics. Some of these were commuting in rural areas. But I've commuted in all kinds of traffic over the years.

[Cody]

I agree with the advice BB gas given with this video. Also when it comes to intersections as well make sure to take the proper lane for example right turn only lanes are for right turns leave it open for others to go right and stay in the straight away lane if you intend on going straight. Same as any other traffic and of course left turn lanes if you feel comfortable to do it use only for left turns just like everyone else

[UenoLocker]

2 types to avoid if you see them coming in a rear view mirror.
1 school bus
2 pizza delivery car
they always, always make me regret not hopping to the sidewalk when i see them coming.

[bicycledad]

I dont see a place to have a tube ? And tools

[bazilCyclist]

To me bike paths is more dangerous than roads...

[qwertie_]

ain't nothing safe in saint louis city.

[DrDirt-fkls]

I use left arm turn signals. Drivers are on the left side. Being visible and taking a full lane can save you from being clipped or buzzed. VA now requires a full lane change near bicyclists. Not everyone has gotten that memo. Be safe!