Bike etiquette - i don't get it...

[jon the student]

So, I've been reading on the forum and watching the videos of bad drivers etc, but I'm getting confused about proper bike etiquette.

I always cycle down the left as close to the pavement as is possible, unless a) the road is crap near the edge in which case i move out a few inches, or I'm going to be turning right. If there are cars backed up, I will scoot down along by the pavement if there is enough space, or just sit there catching my breath if there isn't: I would never go on the outside of a line of cars - am I doing it wrong?

Also, I will always signal right, check over shoulder and wave if someone lets me move over if i'm turning, yet I never signal left mainly cos I just take the corner/turn and carry on and being left-handed I can be a little wobbly when I take my left arm off the handlebars - is THIS wrong?

Safety wise, I always have my lights attached to the bike unless it's locked up, wear a hi-vis (always when it's dark, 95% of the daytime as it's been cold!) I knocked a car mirror once when scooting through traffic so I waved to say sorry. I will never cycle on the pavement; I think someone once told me that it's illegal to cycle on the pavement with a 20"+ wheel size or some such, but whether that's true or not I don't know. There are a lot of cycle paths in oxford which will be for the sole use of getting to the front at traffic lights (they literally start with a dropped kerb about 20yds before the lights, and then direct you back to the road again right by the lightpost) which are very useful as a lot of people only leave a few inches of space from the pavement which ceases my scooting quite quickly. That said, there are a lot of good drivers who will swerve out by 6" if it's safe to let me pass and I will generally wave at them to say thanks.

I guess what I'm really saying is, should I take my proficiency again!

Any opinions or comments welcome!

Jon.

 

[ChrisKH]

Read a book called Cycle Craft in between your subsidised pints of Stella Artois.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyclecraft-Skilled-Cycling-Techniques-Adults/dp/0117020516


Which is a bit rich from me as I've still to read it. However I have picked up some good tips from the people who have read it on here. I will get round to ordering it soon.

 

[fossyant]

Minimum 1m from the curb - you need escape space.

 

[jon the student]

Thanks for the book recommendation Chris, I'll be sure to pick up a copy.

Cheers to fossy and lee for the confirmation, I guess sometimes I forget I am allowed to be on the road too!

If anyone thinks of anything else I many not have mentioned please do say! I don't take any roundabouts because there are plenty of cycle lanes and underpasses in oxford on my uni routes, although I have to dismount for the underpasses (that's what the blue signs say!)

I'll keep browsing the forum for things I may not have realised :-)

Jon.

 

[cheadle hulme]

there are a lot of good drivers who will swerve out by 6" if it's safe to let me pass

I hope you mean 6'!

 

[Arch]

So, I've been reading on the forum and watching the videos of bad drivers etc, but I'm getting confused about proper bike etiquette.

I always cycle down the left as close to the pavement as is possible

Bad idea. It's generally felt that you should ride at least a few feet out, for various reasons.

a) the edge of the road will be fullof grit and glass and stuff.
the further left you are, the less drivers are likely to see you or pay attention to you. If oyu are further out, they tend to percieve you as a wider object and give you more room to pass.
c) if you are close to the kerb and a car passes close to you, you have less space to escape into.
d) at narrow pinch points, if you are to the left, a driver may assume they can get past, and come very close. Moving even further out here (primary position) should block the driver from overtaking until it is safe to do so.

, unless a) the road is crap near the edge in which case i move out a few inches, or I'm going to be turning right. If there are cars backed up, I will scoot down along by the pavement if there is enough space, or just sit there catching my breath if there isn't: I would never go on the outside of a line of cars - am I doing it wrong?

A matter of some debate. Many people do go round the outside, if there is room. Many (including me) will go down the left if there is a decent amount of room. If you do this, be very aware of the liklihood of passengers getting out suddenly. Ride very slowly, and keep your brakes covered. If the gap was so narrow that i had to scoot, I'd wait in line, myself.

Whatever you do, remember that you are overtaking. Keep your wits about you, keep the speed down and make sure you have a way of getting back into the flow when traffic moves off. If in doubt, wait in line. Half the time, the cars you filter past will then have to come past you again

NEVER, go down the left of a long vehicle unless ABSOLUTELY sure it won't move off while you are there. If it is going to turn left, or even just shifts to get in lane, you will get squashed. Best thing is just to stay back.

Also, I will always signal right, check over shoulder and wave if someone lets me move over if i'm turning, yet I never signal left mainly cos I just take the corner/turn and carry on and being left-handed I can be a little wobbly when I take my left arm off the handlebars - is THIS wrong?

Right indicating is probably more important, but left signals can be polite (if someone is waiting to pull out of the road you are turning into), and necessary if you find you need to change lanes to the left. Best to practice so that you can do them.

Safety wise, I always have my lights attached to the bike unless it's locked up, wear a hi-vis (always when it's dark, 95% of the daytime as it's been cold!) I knocked a car mirror once when scooting through traffic so I waved to say sorry. I will never cycle on the pavement; I think someone once told me that it's illegal to cycle on the pavement with a 20"+ wheel size or some such, but whether that's true or not I don't know. There are a lot of cycle paths in oxford which will be for the sole use of getting to the front at traffic lights (they literally start with a dropped kerb about 20yds before the lights, and then direct you back to the road again right by the lightpost) which are very useful as a lot of people only leave a few inches of space from the pavement which ceases my scooting quite quickly. That said, there are a lot of good drivers who will swerve out by 6" if it's safe to let me pass and I will generally wave at them to say thanks.

I guess what I'm really saying is, should I take my proficiency again!

Any opinions or comments welcome!

Jon.

Yeah, that all seems sensible. If you want to be sure of what is best get a copy of Cyclecraft. In fact, just get it anyway. Think of it as the advanced drivers manual for cyclists.

If you still want help, check you local council for adult training. Much more relevant than the odd proficiency test.

 

[Crackle]

There's a simple little guide here for the basics which seems to address your first questions.

 

[Arch]

although I have to dismount for the underpasses (that's what the blue signs say!)

oooh, now... Am I right in thinking that the blue sign saying "cyclists dismount" is in fact only advice and not an order (as opposed to the round sign with bike and red border, which is an order 'no cycling'). Of course, it's often polite to dismount (a busy underpass would be nasty to cycle through anyway, esp if there were blind corners and so on), but is it actually law?

 

[jon the student]

Thanks for that Arch, very very useful. I must remember to keep a few feet out then, middle of the lane perhaps, that would make a lot more sense. I guess I always thought I should hug the pavement to allow cars to get past. There are a few inclined sections on my commute so i'm obviously a lot slower than 99.9% of the cars, so I tended to stay to the left which has made overtaking parked cars (and buses who are obviously not about to pull off imminently) a bit trickier, although i do signal early and my arms are long(!).

I have only ever gone past an old lady on the left when she was quite far out into the road and doing about 10mph, so that wasn't extremely difficult. I can't catch the buses when they do pull off anyways! turbo diesel power

I will remember the primary position stuff: a few times people have overtaken buses when coming towards me and you're right I had zero space to swerve into. One time it was a big fat jag too, it wasn't a good morning.

Cheers for the help though.

Jon.

 

[jon the student]

Hmm, good point. Blues are suggestions in the highway code aren't they. I'll have to look that one up.

Thanks Crackle, just reading that now.

 

[Arch]

Thanks for that Arch, very very useful. I must remember to keep a few feet out then, middle of the lane perhaps, that would make a lot more sense. I guess I always thought I should hug the pavement to allow cars to get past. There are a few inclined sections on my commute so i'm obviously a lot slower than 99.9% of the cars, so I tended to stay to the left which has made overtaking parked cars (and buses who are obviously not about to pull off imminently) a bit trickier, although i do signal early and my arms are long(!).

A handy measure can be to look for the left hand wheel tracks of cars (a smoother patch of tarmac). I think that is thought to be a good place to be, generally. Also, try not to swerve in and out between lines of parked cars, if you can. Always try to plan for a smooth line, and no sudden movments. If that means staying out, so be it. Also of course, when passing parked cars, remember the risk of someone suddenly opening their door. Keep well out of what gets called 'the door zone'.

Of course, if you can move in to let someone by, if you are going uphill, it's polite. I often do - but it's best to have claimed the road beforehand. There will always be times when what you 'ought' to do and what is polite, or helpful, or even defensive, differ, the trick is to think about what you are doing all the time, and not drift off.

 

[jon the student]

Ah yes, door zones. Got it!

Thanks, this is all good stuff. Uni starts again on Monday so I will be fully prepared.

 

[Arch]

The only thing you have to watch out for, in primary (or even normal position) is people coming through on your left! I nearly got myself in trouble the other day, I overtook a string of cyclists (about 5), and then as I got level with the first one heard an emergancy siren coming round the corner ahead, towards us. So I slowed a tad and moved left to tuck in more (whatever the vehicle was, it was going to come round a bus stopped on the other side of the road), and nearly collided with the 2nd chap in line, who had put on a spurt and was undertaking me. (I should have looked over my left shoulder better, but the was concentrating on the siren).

 

[jon the student]

Ahh yeah, that sounds tricky! But then again it was an exceptional circumstance. I will have to practice my looking and signalling left then.... where are those stabilisers....