How would define a safe cyclist?

[shouldbeinbed]

I consider myself a safe cyclist in that my actions on a bike have never caused harm to others.

However I have been harmed whilst cycling, through others actions so I can be considered to be unsafe while cycling.

 

[Globalti]

Cycling is an unstable pursuit and in the six years I've been road cycling (after 12 years of motorcycling and 21 years of mountain biking) my cycling buddy has had two bad crashes, my son two, another buddy one really bad one and three other neighbours one tumble each, one of them this morning, while I haven't had any. So I guess that makes me a safe cyclist.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I'm always cautious, probably too much so. That doesn't mean I wouldn't skip a red light at 3am, it means I am well aware of the randomness of other cyclists, dogs and pedestrians and act accordingly, stopping if necessary.
Most cyclists I know do stuff I never do, like riding through bike crossings on red with just a fleeting glance that no traffic is coming. Also, I never trust non indicating drivers not to turn, I don't pull out till there's no cars.
Steep downhills and tight bends I don't do either: basically, I'm very safe for myself, not so safe with other cyclist or in traffic because they get irritated by my slowness

 

[Lonestar]

I consider myself a safe cyclist in that my actions on a bike have never caused harm to others.

However I have been harmed whilst cycling, through others actions so I can be considered to be unsafe while cycling.

I don't think so when it's not your fault?

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I don't think so when it's not your fault?

I feel the same, I was aiming at the notion that safe cyclist is not a binary position nor entirely under my control, unlike e.g. is the electric on or off before I poke a screwdriver into a plug socket.

 

[I am Spartacus]

18 months commuting in urban environment without too much hassle... so yes I;m safe..... no helmet or silly riding gear either..
even managed to stay upright whilst racing as well for two seasons.

 

[jefmcg]

I'm always cautious, probably too much so.

Yes, that's me too. And I am proof that "cautious" ≠ "safe".

1. I've been in two rear enders at a roundabout that were not my fault. But in both cases the driver mistook my body language and thought I was moving. Neither driver blamed me, and I don't blame myself, however I have modified my behaviour to make it clear when I am or am not moving.
2. As a kid, my brother and I (grammar!) used to play a game that involved jumping off a 60cm fence. He never noticed that I didn't jump, I climbed down. One day, in his excitement he grabbed my hand and jumped. Because I've never jumped off before, I put out my hand to break my fall. Hence the bum elbow that still haunts me today, and you can read about on other places in CC.

 

[glenn forger]

A safer cyclist would be a cyclist who doesn't jump red lights for fun.

A cyclist jumping a red light is not even in the Top 20 causes of injuries, but don't let the facts get in the way of your rampant prejudice. In fact a cyclist is more at risk from drivers jumping reds than doing it themselves.

 

[Lonestar]

A cyclist jumping a red light is not even in the Top 20 causes of injuries, but don't let the facts get in the way of your rampant prejudice. In fact a cyclist is more at risk from drivers jumping reds than doing it themselves.

That doesn't make it right.I would guess many must jump on here as it's defended very heavily plus with the amount I see on the roads would back this up.Whether it causes injury or not.

 

[glenn forger]

Not going up the inside of vehicles at silly times.Lights.Not riding the wrong way up the CS 2.Not close overtaking at speed on the CS 2 or CS 3.No cat 6 racing at inappropriate times.

None of that is a significant factor in cyclist casualties either. You are obsessed with trivia, desperate to allocate blame where none exists. It's relentless and tedious. None of what you say has much to do with safe cycling.

 

[Lonestar]

None of that is a significant factor in cyclist casualties either. You are obsessed with trivia, desperate to allocate blame where none exists. It's relentless and tedious. None of what you say has much to do with safe cycling.

I think it does.

 

[jefmcg]

A confident cyclist is a safe cyclist..

A cyclist whose confidence matches their ability is a safe cyclist.

Over confidence is probably a bigger danger than over cautious so at least my collisions were at low speed. Note: I am very confident in my road positioning, hence the rear enders.

Of course, I think it is easy to recognise in oneself over cautiousness. Riders who are over confident probably think they are just confident.

 

[glenn forger]

I think it does.

What proportion of cycling KSIs are you attributing to risky/illegal cycling?

 

[Lonestar]

What proportion of cycling KSIs are you attributing to risky/illegal cycling?

Eh? Are we going to argue all night because we don't agree with each other?

 

[glenn forger]

You cited a number of factors that make cycling unsafe. You then insisted they were valid responses. I'm asking you to quantify them by showing me they are a significant factor in actual injuries. You can't.