Vehicular Cycling Tips Traffic Bicycle Commuting Bike Blogger
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- Here are some vehicular cycling tips. Vehicular cycling is bicycle commuting in traffic and following the rules of the road.
Rules Of The Road
When navigating heavy traffic it is important to stay calm and ride your bike as you would drive your car following all traffic laws. It's basically that simple. Take your time, be predictable, be assertive, be alert, and be visible. You'll only get honked at more if you break the rules of the road, the same way many drivers honk at each other and some honk for the heck of it.
Anticipating what drivers will do, predicting their speed, and focusing on their face and their front wheels all help in negotiating traffic. If you notice a car starts to move the edge of their lane they may be about to change lanes.
Signalling And Lane Control
Look and signal every time before changing lanes including moving out of a bike lane or away from the road shoulder.
The law in many places gives cyclists the right to control the lane as they feel it necessary. Controlling the lane means riding in a straight line in the center of the lane or a little off center. If you have a tendancy to ride near the road shoulder/edge, try to stay there and ride in a straight line rather than weave in and out of the traffic lane.
On rural roads it is best to stay closer to the edge of the roadway than in the center of the lane because people tend to drive faster and are less attentive, except on turns where you want to be most visible.
Do not ride so far to the edge of the roadway that you risk a flat tire in the gutter, or encourage passing when it's unsafe and unnecessary. Always have a second plan in case you need to escape a dangerous situation.
Blind Spots
When you crest a hill move to the shoulder in case a car is accelerating fast up the hill behind you. Do not pass in the slow lane, especially alongside large trucks. Ride your bike far enough behind other vehicles that you can see road hazards.
Speed And Passing
If you cannot keep pace with the normal flow of traffic to a reasonable degree (more than 10 MPH below speed limit), move closer to the shoulder to allow faster traffic to pass, but only when safe and practical to do so. If you know cars are piling up behind you and there is room to move over safely, do so and let them pass.
Cars and trucks move according to traffic light sequencing and so they tend to pile up and move in groups. If you just keep a steady pace you can spend most of your time riding between these groups and hit all the green lights. Do not make them pass you over and over again if you can help it.
When passing parked cars do it at least two arms length (5 feet) away to avoid being hit by an open door AKA being doored, or being scared and thrown into nearby traffic.
When in a bike lane and you notice a car in the adjacent traffic lane slowing down you should too because they may be preparing to cut in front of you to park or turn.
Intersections And Turns
At intersections position yourself according to your intended destination in a normal traffic lane where most visible.
When stopping at an intersection or turning onto another road, do it in the middle of the lane where another vehicle cannot squeeze past you. Remember to downshift before coming to a stop, and slow down slowly (cars cannot stop as fast as cyclists). While waiting at a traffic light keep one foot on the ground and one foot on the pedal ready to push off.
If you are proceeding straight through an intersection and the lane allows both straight thru and turning traffic, move to the side away from the curb if the lane is wide enough to allow traffic past while you wait at the stoplight.
When making a turn and there are multiple turning lanes, choose the lane that will most quickly get you to the shoulder side of the road unless you anticipate another turn soon after that turn.
If you cannot make your turn in time due to heavy traffic, pull into a parking lot and turn around, or try the next intersection.
Near the end of the video I think a motorist told me to stay on the right side of the road. I was at the intersection first and decided to stay in the primary thru lane. Immediately after that intersection the lanes merge and I knew this and felt uncomfortable waiting until the last minute to merge and allow a line of cars to pile up next to me. I felt I would cause the least disruption to the flow of traffic by taking the initiative and not waiting to merge. The lesson here is to just do what you feel is most comfortable based on your skill level and try to use your best judgment as the situation changes.
This direct route bike commute was in record time with only a distance of 2.5 miles in less than 10 minutes - about the same time it takes by car. Average speed +15 MPH. I find the secondary roads more relaxing, but it's good to mix things up.
More info on vehicular cycling - Effective Cycling by John Forester
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I have a lot of respect for anyone who has the bravery and resilience to cycle in a town with no bike lanes. What a chad. I'd be terrified. My anxiety is way too high to do something like this.
Riding roads isn't so bad. Just remember:
Hog the lane if it's too narrow to split safely.
Always signal your turns and lane-changes to cars.
Ride confidently, straight, and predictably.
Never use the left lanes for anything but taking left turns.
Wear lights and reflectors when it's dark or low-visibility.
Oh, and wear a helmet. And relax.
That's it! Safe and easy.
+Willy Goat Using the left lane temporarily is fine, when setting up for a left turn. It's often easier to use a break in traffic (the space between "platoons" or groups of cars) to move left a little early, and then move left again to the left turn lane. If you wait too late it can be much more difficult to negotiate the lane changes.
This advice would get me killed in the UK... never use the left lane, I'd end up on someone's bonnet then? lol ... sorry on someone's 'hood'
Edit: Just seen matthew's post.
LEFT LANE LEFT TURNS ??? LOL WTF THATS FOR CARS .. BIKES NEED TO STAY RIGHT .CROSS AT THE LIGHT THEN WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN CONTINUE ON YOUR RIGHT TURN !!
If you don’t want to use the left lane for a left turn. Perform a hook turn.
@@WhoThisMonkey this is for countries that drive on the right, it’s the opposite of your country drives on the left
Your videos of actual street riding situations are very helpful as I prepare to commute 7 miles to work. Thanks for sharing. You are definitely helping me ride safely.
Thanks for the kind words John Gardner.
I’m just scared that cars are gonna be dumbasses and not pay attention
Watching this makes me appreciate all the bike lanes my city put in. Almost every main road has one and it has definitely made it easier for me to cycle with traffic.
Lucky where I live there's no bike lanes
NO WAY! F em....u heard this guy ''i do what makes me feel confertable *sits in the middle of the road'' OK! well when some guy plows into u because his breaks failed.....ur dead or paralized and he gets a new bumper and hood. enjoy.
Agh I wish we have that here and pray someday we will 🥲. It is really sad, lucky you.
I want to do this to get to work, but honestly I'm scared of blocking everyone behind me if I'm too slow.
Master Pope Yoda don’t think like that. I just got over this fear today.
@@lavonnealexander6936 I'll have to cross an uphill freeway to get to work. Idk if I'd be able to make it at a speed fast enough to not block traffic.
@@masterpopeyoda3290 fr that's something I have to do for work and I'm a bit on the chubby side. Its gonna be rough
@@masterpopeyoda3290 freeway or highway? If it's a free problably shouldn't be on it
usually I just drive my bike directly on the white line dividing the lanes and hope people aren't too stupid to pass me. It usually works, even on the claustrophobic roads, there's more space between cars than you think
hearing you talk about gas prices almost made me cry
What kind of microphone are you using? It sounds amazing even with the wind.
Was thinking the same thing.
Brett Scott Gentry
he uses one of those beard things.
This is nuts. I used to live in this area and randomly stumbled upon this video. Small world!
I've been shouted at, spit on, shot with water cannons, cut in front of, and nearly grazed with a German Sheppard dog barking out the window. Some motorists don't like sharing the road, usually young ones. The old ones that don't belong on the road will run ya right over.
General Voltard when we start locking up these aggressive drivers , taking their licenses, and fining them into bankruptcy things will change
This is why you have a camera
Im also scared to ride on the road now
Start legally carrying so next time if the dog comes too close you can show who’s boss
@Anonymous Panacea in a electronics store or any store
It's sad that you live in a place where putting yourself between cars is necessary. I hope that one day you'll have safe, separate bicycle lanes in all your towns and cities, so that people of all ages and ability can cycle safely. Until then, good luck out there and keep up the good information on how to survive in the traffic wars.
Even with bike lanes, there can be an accident, I almost hit two bikes at two different times because he wanted to pass me in the right when I was trying to park on the street even though I put my blinkers, if you are going to drive a higher risk vehicle then don’t put yourself in with ton heavy vehicles that go at a considerable higher speed passing you, go to the sidewalk, the sidewalks in this video was empty the whole way. Stupid
@@patrickjames3321with this way of thinking, you’d think you would be advocating for bike lanes. the reason people don’t bike on the road is because a. they’re going wayyyyy too fast to be riding on the sidewalk. you would rather put pedestrians in danger than share the road. b. the sidewalks are terribly kept. majority of states spend billions on car infrastructure vs millions on pedestrian infrastructure. and c. it could be illegal to bike on sidewalks. i know for my state, it’s illegal to use e bikes on sidewalks despite many places not having any bike infrastructure. if you don’t want bikes on the road, fight for biking infrastructure. it’ll even benefit you, more people using bikes rather than cars means less cars on the road.
@@beefy74 i would advocate for bikes to go on the opposite site of the traffic flow, just as pedestrians do when there are no sidewalks, I say it because I’ve almost hit two people already trying to pass me on the right, even though I watched my mirror several times before pulling over to park, and on top of that they made it see as it was my fault. There should be a lot more restrictions for bikers and they should go were they belong, sidewalks, why aren’t you saying to make sidewalks wider and share the sidewalk? Two lane sidewalks for bikes and pedestrians the same? That way the most vulnerable ones are safer.
It’s sad for me too. I feel so unfortunate having to ride a bike. It’s hard finding a job. It’s a mess
Be visible, predictable and alert. Those are good tips, thanks!
Jorge857 My pleasure. I hope this video helps some people out there who have no choice to to cycle on the bigger streets like this. I'd add you certainly do not need to ride very fast. A steady pace riding in a straight line is fine while making room when safe and logical to do so.
I rode my bike for the first time on a major road this Friday. The drivers were actually a lot better than I thought they would be (I live in Dallas). Hopefully people seeing me do it will encourage others to give it a shot and slightly decrease the number of cars on the road.
Ultimately that's the goal. Ride more, more ride.
You cut your commute in half on those roads... don't let those roads cut your life in half.
I love your work.
No need to move over because you're only doing 17mph. I usually ride 12-15mph (70-yrs old), and you get the same interaction with motorists.
+Bungle2010 Pro cyclists are often some of the worst when it comes to riding on the road with other traffic - often riding in the gutter, sneaking up outside a line of cars, putting themselves in danger of being right hooked or left crossed, blowing red lights, etc.
Just because a cyclist is a pro or ex-pro doesn't mean squat in regards to traffic cycling.
Patrick94GSR
group rides are worse if there is a car behind them they would just hog the lane(not to mention there are only 2 lane roads here) so cars can't pass them,if the car honks the cyclists would flip the driver off.
@@Patrick94GSR All the pro cyclists I have seen in traffic are way more disciplined than the average cyclist. I.e. they don't blow red lights. Everything else you have mentioned is called 'filtering' and is completely legal in most countries. So it is not their responsibility for a potential crash, rather the drivers for not doing his checks properly before turning, most importantly the dead angle check.
@@ketmax2805 Cyclists don't hog the lane, they use it. Most lanes aren't wide enough to split-share safely. You pass a cyclist by passing a cyclist, same as you would a slow car. Only difference is most places it's legal to pass cyclists in a no passing zone if done safely. It does become an issue on two lanes if groups are too large, but it actually shortens the train if they ride two abreast, and shortens your passing time. You can't ride in most shoulders on group rides because nobody can see the potholes, glass and trash coming up with time to react. Shoulders aren't always useable even for singles.
@@ketmax2805 The road is for cars and bikes. Pass on the opposite lane when it's safe to do so.
We need more bicyclists on the road than cars to pressure the town to actually improve the roads to be more bikeable
Chicken and egg situation. The only thing that will get more people cycling is safer infrastructure. It takes political leadership. A politician who's willing to lose votes to improve their community. Noting will persuade most people to share lanes with speeding traffic. Mass cycling is when you see kids, pensioners and disabled people, and more women cycling on city streets.
incredible I've been thinking about buying a bike next week and commuting with it and I just started watching your videos I didn't even realize you were in the same city as me I'm definitely motivated and have lot more confidence now. thanks man.
How did it go? You get a bike?
very helpful video! I'm starting to ride to work and am looking at all the rules and tips for riding with traffic
Well I hope riding my bike from Walmart won’t kill me while commuting 🤦🏼♂️😅(I’m broke okay)
With the money you save, in the future you'll be able to afford an upgrade, either parts for your existing bike or a new / second hand one.
😂😂😂😂it’s okay 👌 I am riding one too.
Still broke? We need an update okay
always ride where you feel most comfortable
24 miles an hour! Damn I can't go over 20 without feeling the eford! I ride a tank(40-45 lbs just the bike without addons)
40-45LBS!! damn!
Hi From Iraq I Enjoyed The Ride ....
I do this all the time, the cars flying by is an exciting rush and it saves me money since I don't have to pay for gas.
I live around that part of St Louis too ! Talk about a small world! I was randomly going through bike safety videos to educate myself (recently started commuting on my road bike) and here I find a bloke from my neck of the woods 😁
Great tips in this video. I try to avoid the major thru roads (even some that are speed limit 25mph) because my single speed is geared so low I spin out at like 14-17mph. I will still take them for short distances or if i have no choice. I find the unprotected bike lanes more dangerous than regular residential roads and multi-use trails. Bike lanes end abruptly, often have things parked in them, commonly have potholes and debris, risk of dooring, and cars get uncomfortably close to me. A new rider riding in the middle of one of these with no helmet scares me.
I'm not a fast rider, sometimes on roads similar to this going maybe 12 if I have a headwind or something. I've never had a problem controlling the lane. It really is the safest way to ride!
Lol price of gas. $2+ . Ahhhhh good times 😂
Good tips! I just got back from a 10 mile night ride (never ridden at night before) and it was much scarier than I thought it would be. Could you do a video about how to remain calm while riding at night? During the day I'm fine in traffic but at night for some reason I feel like anyone behind me who doesn't pass me is following me. I guess I'm just paranoid. Still nice to get out and ride though!
Slizzard73 I ride at night couple times a week. My personal suggestion would be to feel safe in the first place, that is, get a reflective vest and some good lights, specially some that let you be seen from an angle. I suppose you already have lights, but my thinking is that with lights, the more the better. I don´t care if I look ridiculous for having 2 front lights, 2 rear lights and reflectives all over the place (vest, shoes, shorts, ankles and t-shirt), safety is never enough.
Slizzard73 Ok, Slizzard73. I'll cover it in a future video.
BikeBlogger Thanks!
Jorge857 I have a nice set of front and rear lights, but I think I'll add a flashing led to my helmet and look into getting a fluorescent yellow jersey. Maybe I'll look for some reflective straps too.
Slizzard73 lol
We are literally forced to have cars it’s such bs
His arms look terrifying
Ikr
Slenderman. 😁
Is he a cyclist or a bodybuilder?
I'm trying to learn to drive my bike in LA traffic. Here people are parked all along the sides of the road, and trucks are everywhere, plus the lanes are 4-6 across on most roads. It's very risky, but so is driving a car down here.
If you try this in Belgium you are getting hoinked at every 2 minutes. Ran over every 10.
MrWouzke in Myanmar it's 10 times worse.
Tyler Durden Here in Las Vegas a woman once yelled "if you won't ride responsibly then I'll run you over!" LMAO
@@tylerdurden5401 how is it now?
I have a mountain bike with a 20" wheel diameter that I have since I was 11. My average on the road is like 8-10 mph, while yours is like 25-30. I am still short enough to ride ithe bike safely, that is I'm only 5'4", though I'm now 24. What every cyclist on the road should have, as I do, are rear view mirrors. You can buy them for like only $10 each, you can always see what's behind you, and you don't have to look back.
I'm a new rider and have side mirrors mounted. Just like driving a car, I learned to use my bike mirrors. It was hard in the beginning while staying straight.
thanks, I was looking for this kind of information..afraid to ride....
I once saw an accident and that scared me but she was riding so fast and tried to get ahead of the car when making a turn to the right
the car was making a right too and the biker went ahead between the sidewalk and the car making a right ....the car was faster and corner her
making her fall....
I like the way you are doing it, respecting the cars, biking behind them not trying to bet in the middle or trick getting ahead in between because you can
I had to do this for the first time today. Had an anxiety attack because of all the traffic.
I am getting a new bike soon! Thanks for the demo showing me how to ride on the highway! :)
Thank you for making this vid. I wana start cycling, but I'm nervous about making a left hand turn at a busy stop light with multiple lanes. But watching videos has giving me a little confidence.
Dude teach me !!! I am not worthy!!
I'm terrified. But slowly I'm gaining confidence.
1:54 is a VERY dangerous position to be in. We motorcyclist knows it well. You get rear ended like that. That is why we allow lane spitting in CA. You go to front of the cars to have a cushion for you back. Otherwise you watch your back like a hawk.
+Carlyle's Tech Reviews no, lane splitting and moving to the front is incredibly rude and annoying to motorists because most of them have already passed, and they would be forced to negotiate another pass. It's different with motorcycles because you can speed away. Not so with a bicycle.
I always take my place in line, which makes me more predictable to everyone around me. When I see a car approaching in my mirror, I usually turn and look straight at them, which helps ensure that they have seen me and are coming to a stop.
Patrick94GSR Again. getting killed by being rear ended is a high risk. I'd rather be rude than dead.
As for annoying driver...only because you pass them. When light turns green I either shoot out ahead and leave the slow (reaction time to green light is typically very slow.) cars behind, or I get out of way so they dont have to be impeded by me. I don't impede traffic because I do close to speed limit or get out of way because I'm alert and see when I might cause issues and adjust. MANY cyclists are oblivious, so that is why they piss of drivers and frankly faster cyclists like myself. They get so zoned out. Of course cars hate them. ANYBODY in the road that is spaced out is annoying. Pedestrians, cars, motorcycles, bicycles.
I dont want on my tombstone "He was a polite cyclist". No thanks.
Carlyle's Tech Reviews
In many areas that sort of riding is not possible, and many people are not capable of such. I'm not able to ride that fast unless it's downhill. Traffic lights are typically spaced out about a mile apart or more, where I live. There is absolutely no way you're going to get away from traffic in that scenario.
What statistics are you using to make the claim that waiting centered in the lane is high risk? Motorcycle crashes? You can't use that because motorcycles and bicycles are quite different, despite them both having two wheels. A person on a bike LOOKS different than a motorcyclist, and motorists tend to notice things that are different. They tend to "tune out" things that are more of the same.
If there's a road with a RTO lane, a straight lane, and a LTO lane, where would you position yourself to go straight across the intersection? I use the lane that best serves my destination, and it has worked for me every time, without issue.
Polite cyclist? Maybe, maybe not. But I'm courteous, predictable, and visible. And that's what keeps me safe.
cyclingsavvy.org/hows-my-driving/
Patrick94GSR If I can't ride as I described before, then I don't ride there because I consider it too dangerous. I only ride with traffic I can keep up with. If I can't keep up, then I crawl on the sidewalk or find a bike path. I simply can't put my life in the hands of motorists which is what you do when you wait in the back. The only thing keeping you alive is luck because if a car misses the light and runs into you, you are done. Unless you are constantly watching your back and have an escape route planned, you are sitting duck. You are basically just hoping this never happens. I can't rely on hope.
As for it being different on motorbikes, that is wrong also. Cars rear end cars as well. So the issue is more about the lack of safety that both bicycles and motorcycles share. We both have no bumpers and will probably die or get seriously hurt if hit like that. So the fact that we might be missed is only part of the issue. The big issue is vulnerability that we both share. At least on a motorcycle we have serious helmets and protective gear. On a bicycle all you have is that silly helmet hat at most so you are at more risk than I. Also, motorcycle are outnumbered by bicycles by far so the motorcycle is more strange, so would stand out more. A bicycle is much more common but again it's about lack of protection.
As far as stats, I know from studying about motorcycle safety that cars running/racing lights or missing lights is a big threat to us. We are too small for a distracted driver racing the light to see.
Too small, which is EXACTLY why I place myself directly in the driver's line of sight. That is the best chance I have of being seen and noticed. Plus I run dual bright flashing lights at all times (steady and pulsating at night).
If you have paths and stuff that's cool, but most places do NOT have such things. And what they do have is very fractured, at best. At some point in time you will have to ride with traffic, and riding at the edge is very dangerous.
I've heard of a couple of people lightly tapped on the rear of their bike while waiting in the lane at a light. I have not heard of a single person killed while doing so. Conversely I've heard of many people killed while riding in bike lanes, on shoulders, and on sidewalks.
There is always risk in life. If you think riding out of the direct path of a car is always going to keep you safe, you may end up with a nasty surprise. Many people ride like that, and many people are killed while doing so.
I drive a motorcycle, and you guys have guts, its almost like its become more dangerous on a bicycle then a bike with an engine
I pedal these all the times. It makes you a better rider and more defensive as well as being more familiar with your surroundings.
You know I'm amazed at you, 'cuz you said you're making 25m/h but you can still talked, WOW.
Joel Alonzo bikes = bueno
30 miles an hour on a single speed on a flat... you got some cadence!
Wow, I was looking for tips on riding on the road and this is the first video I watched and it was taken just a couple miles from where I'm staying at the moment. "Can't to move back to Colorado".
Great video, thanks for making it
I clicked on this, wanting to know how it might be to ride on the road in my city. Turns out this IS my city! 😂 Thanks for this video! From a fellow St. Louisan!
does every single person from st. louis shout out when they see st. louis? if this is just a part of st. louis I sure as hell know I'm affected
@@blitzn00dle50 Yep. It’s in the town charter.
Here in Canada if you are 12 years old and up You have to ride on the road. Drivers must give 1meter of space if not they can be fined $500. That’s if and a big if a cop sees them not obeying the law.
If you go through a red light on a bicycle and get caught it is a $300 fine. You can also be fined if you go over the speed limit of 50km/hr.
Yeah I'm 14 and I have to cycle on the road
this is in St. Louis, Missouri, where
-driving a bicycle on the sidewalk is completely legal outside of business districts and even so the only place that law is enforced is the Delmar Loop
-there's almost no speeding enforcement, that's why all of the roads with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour are hauling at 50 or more
-because there's no speeding enforcement they also won't pull you over for passing a cyclist too close
-there's also minimal red light running enforcement
They have that ageist bs law on many us cities and states as well though thankfully usually never enforce it as there's no logical reason to. I've ridden in the sidewalk many times and even passed police and they never cared at all in not getting hit by a car just to please the fools who made that law.
The only thing I'm worried about (cause I'm going to ride on the street tomorrow for the first time on my new bike) is that when I stop at a light I'm afraid of stopping to late or when the light turns green I wont br able to get back up on my back fast enough to go
I just got a bike and I’m so scared to ride on the street. I can’t ride on the side walk since it’s illegal in my city. I never road on the street before. Idk where to start.
Gas prices are creeping back up there again here as well. I've saved thousands of dollars by biking instead of driving. We went from a two car household to one car. Sometimes people honk and/or say things, I think this happens to almost everyone who rides a bike to commute around town. What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you from passerby's. A few months ago someone tossed their cup of ice out the weekend, unfortunately for them they missed me by about 2 feet. lol
James Robinson Hello James Robinson. I've been honked at only a half dozen times since I began biking everyday about a year ago, but I can't think of a particularly bad incident like the one you mentioned. As you said, there are always those who think the horn is a toy and there's no avoiding them whether you are on a bike or in a car. Luckily I haven't really had any bad words (I've heard) exchanged with motorists. Glad you are all right. I think the best thing to do is ignore it, be polite, laugh, and just get away from the crazy person and continue to follow the rules of the road. You may limit these encounters if you can ride during non rush hour times. Motorists often do not realize it requires a great deal of concentration to ride a bicycle compared to driving an automobile. Nutty people like that could be on drugs, drunk, sleep deprived, etc. When I first practiced driving a car my first thought was, wow, this is so easy and the amount of power I have in my hands right now certainly shouldn't be held by anyone but the best trained and responsible people. I honestly felt like Einstein before his death and his regret of helping bring about nuclear weapon technology. LOL
99% of the motorist I've noticed are careful and courteous, but there will always be the few that think throwing something is a funny joke or just dislike slowing down for half a second because of a bike. I just let it roll off of my shoulder. It's beautiful outside today, in the mid 70's. Just home relaxing for a little bit will definitely be going back out later this evening. Just completed a 6.3 mile ride with no purpose, just out riding.
$2.779. Lol! Don't you wish it were that low now?! BB, your channel is one of the best! Wishing you safe travels from Leesburg, Florida.
I was watching this for about thirty seconds when I noticed the Schnucks and was like... he's in St. Louis!! Then this whole video became a fun puzzle where I tried to figure out where you were. Very fun.
the second worst stretch of Manchester. Directly east of Big Bend is the worst, dear god why is there parking
Good riding, I hate those idiots who duck in out between cars and blame the drivers if they get knock the bike.
I live about two hours south of Stl! Grew up in Eureka. My town is.... fairly unwelcoming to cyclists. Luckily, the bike-loving community is swelling here. I find hogging the right lane (when appropriate) makes me feel a lot safer. Motorists come too close when I ride the edge.
You're really good at riding bicycles on the road.
Thank you for the video.
Always ride safely... ^^
I was terrified to ride on the roads even in our rural area but after I got a mirror on my helmet that all changed. I can see what people are doing behind me if they are getting over and it took 95% of the fear away. On a road with lanes too narrow to spare, I take the center of the lane until a car approaches from behind. If the oncoming traffic is clear then I signal and move over to the shoulder until they pass. If the oncoming lane isn't clear or it's not safe to pass I hold the lane until it is. There are always jerks and idiots who don't know the law and I just ignore their honks and insults. They are showing me their lack of character and I'd have them away from me and down the road and out of my life. And if they want to fight about it I carry bear spray.
Riding in the center of the lane does a couple of things: It makes you maximally visible and it lets drivers know that you are part of the flow of traffic. When you ride on the crumbly edge of the road you can't go as fast and drivers don't treat you as another vehicle on the road with right of way. When being overtaken, I try to time getting over so that they see me doing it but they don't have to slow down and I think they really appreciate that I'm working with them and not against them.
If you don't have a mirror then give it a try and you will see. They have them that mount on your helmet, that clip on a pair of glasses, and that attach to the end of the handlebars.
I love your bike! :)
thanks for the tips they really helped me, by the way i live in missouri too
nice sharing, I did it
I love bikes and rather have a bike then a car
You should never move Right in a narrow lane. Always control the lane if its too narrow to safely share. If you move Right you may make yourself invisible to Left turning motorists and giving up your escape zone in case something were to happen, or if theirs road debris along the edge. I tend to ride on roads that max out at 40mph, nothing higher. The only exception is the road I live on the speed limit is 45mph, but quite often people go 50 or more. Stay safe.
I ride every day on a road that has 10 ft. wide lanes and a 65 mph speed limit. I've been doing it for 7 years. I have not had a single problem but that is because the traffic is so low. There's plenty of room to pass and almost never oncoming traffic. The shoulder is about 6 inches wide. I get passed maybe one or two times in two miles on this road. Now if it was winding or had more traffic I wouldn't do it. The key is to have a mirror. don't just ride your bike but drive it like you would a car and watch what other people are doing. The only real danger is if I drift off in thought and don't pay attention. I can see what cars are doing behind me and if they are not getting over I can always bail into the grass alongside the road. If a car is weaving all over the place I get off the road and let the drunk driver go on down the road and away from me.
Love your videos with the info points and occasional silliness (singing, comments, etc.). I wanted to make a couple of suggestions that have made my biking easier and with peace of mind.
In addition to locking it up just as you had suggested, I also detach the front wheel and lock it into that 'triangle', as well.
I also wanted to mention a trick I've used to speed up waiting at traffic lights. If you stop over the sensor in the road (usually a black groove filled in with tar in a rectangle, circle, etc.) with your wheels on one side of it, tip your bike over almost to a point of laying it DOWN ACROSS the sensor, it will trip the light and get you moving quicker sooner. It's basically a magnet that recognizes your bike as a car. This trick also works at fast-food drive-thru's!!! 😂😂
Wow! You can ride fast! Awesome!
Ride where you feel comfortable and in adherence to State and Municipal laws (many motorists only think they know all the laws). Ride with cameras recording at all times and keep your cool (until a motorist puts your life un danger...then go for the kill).
When crossing Big Bend at 7:30, I would have stayed in the right lane and yielded to traffic when the lane ended if necessary. Staying in the left lane appears to have encouraged motorists to pass you on the right.
+markinzeroland Usually it is better to prepare ahead of time and change lanes early when anticipating a turn etc. That intersection is poorly thought out though because the right lane ends quickly and leave little time to merge after crossing the intersection, which I really don't like. Motorists also don't expect cyclists to be very quick - like me. ;) Motorists often cut each other off because of this poorly designed intersection/lane merge. Similarly I also really don't like it when on ramps to highways are very short and then leave little time to merge. That's just dangerous.
+BikeBlogger I commute by bicycle regularly 8 to 10 miles depending on my route. At 55, I can still start pretty quickly and can be over 20 mph by the time I cross an intersection--often faster than many motorists. I understand your strategy and why you chose it but as you say, motorists don't expect a cyclist to be that quick so what will they do? They'll move to the right lane and try to pass you on the right before it runs out just as those two motorists did. What if there was a third car? That could have been anticipated and disastrous if he tried to pass you on the right too. In my opinion, you took the less safe option and it's debatable whether you violated state law 307.190. My strategy would have been to stay to the right. As you noted, motorists would not expect me to be quick an would have single filed in the left lane. All I'd have to do is lollygag through that intersection under those conditions and all the cars would have passed me safely before I got to the part of the lane where it merged. Of course, if I was still the only vehicle waiting at the intersection when the light turned green, I would have sprinted as fast as I could to get into position to take the lane again. The caveat to my strategy is that while I'm in the right lane, cars can't turn right. It's a judgment call though. I enjoyed the video and found it informational.
+markinzeroland We disagree but I appreciate your input, markinzeroland. Quoting law is something I try to discourage because it isn't absolute. I've passed through that intersection often over the years and I'm well aware of how the traffic/drivers in my city react to it. There is very little time to signal after crossing the intersection, and the road surface is very bumpy (hard to signal with your arm out). There are safer routes to take and this is why I don't always use it.
+BikeBlogger Well, we agree that 307.190 has its share of vagarity. It seems I tend to ride a bit more conservative than you though.
+markinzeroland Probably, markinzeroland. LOL Have you seen my bicycle accident videos!? ruclips.net/p/PLEZf1_jDCYJ3_qJChyJ7VQ1pAd8YFD3XR I'm not afraid to admit I could ride more responsibly sometimes. :)
Keeping this in mind for when I decide to take my electric unicycle on the road
Gas is now $4.70 lmao
Just trying seating high to be visible also with bold lights and loud colors is not enough if car drivers do not look you way. Believe it or not I got bumped by this young female driver who was looking down at her phone while speeding out of a gas station driveway. I think it is too risky to ride alongside of cars. Forget about commuting to work here in Cali, I am not doing it.
That last intersection looked a bit scary.
Great video young fella.
It's important to remember to go to council meetings when possible to advocate for better bike infrastructure.
In my state, if you're 13 or older, you have to use your bicycle on the road which is insane to me. There are no bike lanes, and you are legally supposed to stay as far right "as possible", which basically invites all motor vehicles to aggressively pass you without much room. It's too scary for me. I'd bike on sidewalks, but that's illegal.
I ride on hills, broken concrete, over curbs, dangerous drivers, pot holes, dangerous looking people, snow, ice, strong wind, bike thieves, and this is not a bad city.
Bike manufactures know nothing about bike security. The whole world is flat, no thieves and everyone is rich. lol
I have the kryptonite $75 U bolt. Heavy gauge wire twisted around removable parts. A bell, upright handle bars, 21 speeds, electric front wheel drive, a steel box for the battery, front and rear baskets, a tailor, a mirror strapped to my wrist, tools, studded tires for ice, a big fat seat, and a good knife.
I never go in the street except to cross. I hate quick release wheels, insecure rear racks, any bike where my butt is above my head, and stupid handlebar mirrors. I ride slow and believe every driver is a kamikaze on his cell phone aiming for me. And I pray. :-)
excelentes videos
riding on the right side is actually not legally advised. so that driver was mistaken. thanks for the upload btw!
During my entire childhood I would fall everytime I tryed to ride a bike, specially when going on curves, now at my 30s I want to learn yes or yes how not to fall, please give me an advice 😢❤ I like the independent it will give me ❤
Great video! Stay safe out there!
I have no idea where you are, but those are amazing gas prices! 😆 I haven't seen anything below $5 a gallon here in LA since COVID... It's only getting worse and more expensive, some places are about $10 a gallon!! Insanity! Financially it's hard here in LA and bike lanes suck, so whoever commutes on bike and skates pretty much has very little options on the streets and the drivers are crazy and selfish... Public transportation takes three times as long, So pretty much a 20-minute commute would take you an hour and a half minimum with public transportation.. It's terrible
I wish cities cared to make better bike lanes
Santa Monica did an amazing job during COVID the entire city of Santa Monica is amazing after COVID and completely did ALL their cities lanes in an amazing way, All other places should take notes lol
I don't think I saw where you passed the guy on the right... Can you tell me the time and explain what you should have done? I'm just starting out and it sounded important :) Thanks, and loving your videos!
Adam Richards I started passing some folks at 4:55, so whenever you begin passing on the right watch out for blind spots. Cars certainly don't expect you there and it's better to just slow down a little if you can. I was on a hill and didn't really want to stop spinning.
I like your video editorial. Very well done.
I love this content, Im thinking of doing something like this with my Electric Unicycle to help others learn how to traverse the road.
Wouldnt people get furious that theres a bike in front of them going 10 miles per hour??
i just ride my bike on busy street today...my anxiety kicked in so fast..lots of vehicles honked at me..but i survived..next time I would just take my time crossing the street...lol
I always feel awkward at stoplights. Not sure if i should ride the shoulder to the front of the line or wait behind the car in front. Especially if im making a left turn, sometimes ill just move to the crosswalks
Now, I dont ride my bike almost anywhere on public roads but when I have its either been on the respective bike lane or on the sidewalk. And if I want to turn I usually try crossing with the crosswalks.
The other day I was driving and these 2 old guys were riding their bike and since there wasn't a lot of space on the street I obviously played a little slower until a bigger street came on. The thing I didn't understand was, the street had a bike area where you can go along the road without disturbing the drivers. But they continued on the road.
Now obviously I tried being respectful so I gave them like a solid 4 feet when I tried passing them when my left lane was clear.
Nice post. I was curious if other cyclist did a defensive cycling tutorial. I did the same recently for a riding in Australia.
Check out CyclistLorax and CyclingSavvy. I also have a playlist talking about various road cycling topics (read the blogs that accompany each video) ruclips.net/p/PLEZf1_jDCYJ2lNB5BpMOsqM8mNDK_nEX5
Sweet! Thanks for that. Will be sure to check it out.
I'd rather ride on the sidewalk and not worry about getting hit. For the who say about the pointless ageist sidewalk laws they aren't usually enforced and should be removed as laws anyways for discrimination against age.
Here i am still waiting for spring to finally be able to bike again
Winter here up north SUCKS
Great video and thanks for taking the time to make it
so nice to ride there . much easier then the small busy single roads here in uk
Michael Hardy I know! I've seen videos of people riding their bike on the roads in European countries and they are so much narrower because the cities are older I guess.
It's hard to build wider roads into a town that has buildings that are 700years old without tearing those buildings down and starting again .
there is i live by one, but 'im talking about city commuting like that.
I #love this :)
I personally ride on the sidewalk if there is one, it's legal in my state. I do not trust any driver with today's texting fanatics. This is why the best commuter bike is a cyclocross bike.
God are you lucky. I got a ticket for riding on the sidewalk. Such bullshit! Fuck the assholes who passed that law and the old geezers who voted for it.
@@unnamed715 Dude same, I was told by a cop that I have to ride in the road in downtown where I live. It's horseshit.
@@llkk9900 They didn't give you a ticket?
@@unnamed715 No but he could've. It was just a warning. I'm gonna have to do it because a bike ticket is too much money. This only applies to the downtown area. Other areas the cops don't give a fuck. He said that I have to walk my bike on the sidewalk in downtown. Basically telling me to ride in the road. It's the most retarded thing ever.
Everyone just needs to follow the rules and we will be ok.
Even more importantly, respect human life. Rules help avoid mistakes, but they don't justify you in otherwise not caring about the consequences of the dangerous machine you choose to operate.
god that looks so stressful
2.77 9/10 for gas. The reason for the 9/10s is simple. There's a huge competition on gas prices. Some people will drive two miles out of their way to save pennies per gallon. $2.77 9/10 looks better than $2.78, but that's what they are charging you. You're getting the best gas mileage of all though.
Manchester road can be a beast man lol you’re brave it’s such a narrow road especially for biking
bro yeah, Manchester is trash. At this point improving it would be starting over from scratch, lol
Dude you're fast as hell! Is 25mph a normal speed because I can only keep up around 16-18
your endurance is great, wish i was as good aha! also thanks for not breathing down the mic really loud, its a pet peevee
I am sorry for the poor bicycle infrastructure you have there. Very stressfull, very dangerous, and not suitable for the majority of the people. Really sorry to see examples like these. Given the infrastructure you show in this video, I do hope you won't have a serious accident in the comming years.
All this, of course, from a perspective of a people oriented society (The Netherlands), as opposed to the USA car centric society.
It's changing. Some of my city is getting more people centric. , FYI, We have a 3 foot rule...cars need to give bikes, where-ever they are, 3 feet of distance in my state. It's a good law because if a cyclist gets hit then the car driver is at fault which makes sense because historically it has always been the responsibility of the party with the most motor-power to make sure all are safe. Should keep bullying from happening, too.
Unfortunately most drivers do not know the laws therefore it can be very stressful at times. This year potholes are an added stressor for me. Can't be turning your head to look behind you and hit huge potholes and have balance issues.
it's worse here in the Philippines,when you ride your bike here you always have to look on your left shoulder if there is a car you have to go to the very edge of the road,you have to stay there until the car passes if you don't go to the very edge of the road you will get honked at,even though im already on the side of the road,they also have room to pass,one time i was riding my bike home and an asshole on a pickup truck passed me the distance between him and me was about 50cm,i was lucky that he didn't hit my handlebars or i could've been on the side of the road,motorcycle riders here are even worse(the majority of people here ride motorcycles for transportation only and some of them don't even have a license nor knowing the rules of the road)I'm on the shoulder of the road they keep honking even though im staying on the shoulder and they are on the middle of the road,i guess people here are not used to cyclists(feels bad man).
Cars are better than bikes. The US is much better than the Netherlands. Suck it!
Come to India, it’s worse than anywhere else.
@@unboxviews Nonsense.
Question: Why do you ride a single speed? Just to get a good workout, or for other reasons?
RUclips is Social Media, you're not supposed to mind your own business lol
Dude, he's just asking a question.
The Pixelated Fox ew move on, stop crying
single speed......put the bike in push resistance mode theres really only 1-3 different push resistance modes to put a bike in...low-medium push resistance and something higher...low-medium resistance is barely ever used
@@uspresidentsplays no
thanks john forester
Got me back into bikes
Do any drivers try to forcibly split the lane or not let you in? I live in a busy area and the few times I’ve tried to hit the main road I get a bit paranoid about this since it’s happened to other cyclists in my area
I've only just started riding my bike to school , I've never done it before and seeing as riding on the path in the uk is illegal , I made a huge mistake after watching this video , I now know how to ride on the road safely so thankyou , are you able to make another video on this as i still feel a little nervous. I'm 15 year's old and i feel like an outcast.
+VenomPlays Mirrors help some people. I also recommend sticking to routes you are familiar with, make sure your bike is in great operating condition, start on quieter roads and build up your strength/endurance, and ride with a friend/group if you can.
BikeBlogger Thankyou so much for replying so fast , I have been doing the quieter road's already and just been generaly riding up and down my street.