How would define a safe cyclist?

[2clepto]

I consider a safe cyclist to hold a 360 degree awareness in the aural and the visual before one attempts a maneuver. this attitude increases with vigor depending on traffic volume, pets/children, rush hour. the eyes and the ears work together.

also, learning brake technique in various strengths and conditions and bikes is a vital skill, as is dodging, bunny hopping, knowing the terrain, and countless other things i cannot think of at the mo.

also discussing with other cyclists riding dramas and such like with a view to using all knowledge to become a safe cyclist is an important addition to awareness.

also being able to drive and read other drivers is very valuable out on the road.

regarding the red light red herring angle, i just consider sitting at red lights to be putting oneself in danger from motorists in many many cases. obviously at major intersections one has to yield as a cyclist and ride or be stationary with the risk very much increased. for this reason if i am stopped at red lights i always look back frequently.

i do stop at alot of reds because i cycle the city alot but imo i set of while still on red if safe to do so because it forces drivers waiting to become aware of me, the skin and bone cyclist, either though my movement or their squeaky clean anger thats forever at the surface.

 

[snorri]

but if the ice worries you so much, how do you get from A to B in winter? Walking in icy conditions is no safer than cycling or driving... in fact the roads are far less treacherous than the pavements.

It doesn't worry me much, I'm just conscious of the risks, I was merely putting forward an argument.
I don't think this thread is going anywhere worthwhile, we all have our own beliefs as to what makes for safer (not safe!) cycling.

 

[Crackle]

i may downgrade myself to below average after I nipped into a gap in the traffic feeling smug with myself at the quickness of my reactions, only to find another cyclist in the gap who had to brake to avoid me. There's no option for completely shoot cyclist is there?

 

[rugby bloke]

I'm not sure about being a safe cyclist, to date I have certainly been a lucky cyclists as my periodic errors in judgement have not landed me in serious trouble. When cycling in London I am very defensive, which is not necessarily the same thing as being safe.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I consider a safe cyclist to hold a 360 degree awareness (pet subject of mine: do you use a mirror or mirrors on your bike to assist in this?) in the aural and the visual before one attempts a maneuver. this attitude increases with vigor depending on traffic volume, pets/children, rush hour. the eyes and the ears work together+lots.

also, learning brake technique in various strengths and conditions and bikes is a vital skill, as is dodging, bunny hopping, knowing the terrain, and countless other things i cannot think of at the mo.knowing when to pedal and when to back off, holding a bike as it slides, reading the road with your nose as well as your eyes, diesel is a bugger to spot but smells.
Bunny hopping - hmm, last resort evasion technique IMO, if I've got to a point of bunny hopping something, then my observation and anticipation leading up to the need hasn't been100%

also discussing with other cyclists riding dramas and such like with a view to using all knowledge to become a safe cyclist is an important addition to awareness. to a degree & part of the reason for dwelling on here but I prefer conversing with other types or road users TBH . No two bike rides even on the same route and same bike are ever the same, but people in cars who like to give me a friendly honk as they go past or don't understand why I'm in the middle of the lane not the gutter can gain more from a sensible conversation than a pub chat amongst cyclists about pot holes or idiots perceived as making punishment passes.

also being able to drive and read other drivers is very valuable out on the road. so by definition a child or non driver can't be a safe cyclist?

regarding the red light red herring angle, i just consider sitting at red lights to be putting oneself in danger from motorists in many many cases. the only problem I've ever had at red lights in 40 + years of cycling, primarily urban including many years in Newcastle, is being rear ended by another cyclist. I'd been stopped 10+ seconds, vehicles queued beside me, lights on red before I got to them, Smart boy had no intention of stopping and ploughed happily into me and then asked me why I was stopped - you mention red herrings and red lights, the 'I do it for safety' is IMO the biggest red herring of them all. obviously at major intersections one has to yield as a cyclist and ride or be stationary with the risk very much increased. for this reason if i am stopped at red lights i always look back frequently.

i do stop at alot of reds because i cycle the city alot but imo i set of while still on red if safe to do so because it forces drivers waiting to become aware of me maybe you could consider your waiting position in a queue rather than resort to jump starts if you feel you make yourself invisible. Parked up front and centre of the driver behind in line or when filtered to the front gets you seen plenty well enough, filtering driver side not passenger side with a quick nod into the car and eliciting an acknowledgement also works perfectly well, the skin and bone cyclist, either though my movement or their squeaky clean anger thats forever at the surface you must do something to upset them then, 99+% of everyone I encounter is absolutely fine and just going about their daily life.

 

[cycle_bug]

I would say it's respecting and following rules, as well as remembering even the good motorists might struggle to see or safely pass you.. not that there's an excuse for it.. but the fact remains.

I think I'm pretty safe, I wear a hi-vis jacket which makes me look like a construction worker to try and be seen.. until I can afford a decent jacket that is hi-vis to replace it. I also plan on getting a mirror. I never cycle with earphones despite wishing I could.

 

[Tin Pot]

This has thought has been initiated by a survey currently on the forum, but it made me wonder how would you define a safe cyclist?

I don't think it s defined by whether you have accidents or what you wear, more by how you cycle, being aware of potential hazards. However I'm intrigued by how you would define a safe cyclist, and whether you consider yourself to be one.

I'm guessing that the poll will show that in general we consider ourselves above average? Perhaps in wrong.

A "safe" cyclist is one who has no one near them.

A cyclists safety is *entirely* dependant on those around them.

 

[jefmcg]

even the good motorists might struggle to see or safely pass you..

Is this a new usage of "good"?

Good motorists will be observant and will see a cyclist in good light, and at night if the bike is equipped with lights.

And they will not struggle to pass safely, they will wait until it is safe to pass.

There are lots of motorists this is not true for. Their level of competence is not "good".

 

[summerdays]

A "safe" cyclist is one who has no one near them.

A cyclists safety is *entirely* dependant on those around them.

Now that I disagree, to say entirely implies that we can't do anything at all to help the situation. Whereas I think using your road position and awareness of other road users may help to predict and be ready to deal with the situations where our safety is compromised by others (all too frequently).

 

[martint235]

also being able to drive and read other drivers is very valuable out on the road.

regarding the red light red herring angle, i just consider sitting at red lights to be putting oneself in danger from motorists in many many cases. obviously at major intersections one has to yield as a cyclist and ride or be stationary with the risk very much increased. for this reason if i am stopped at red lights i always look back frequently.

i do stop at alot of reds because i cycle the city alot but imo i set of while still on red if safe to do so because it forces drivers waiting to become aware of me, the skin and bone cyclist, either though my movement or their squeaky clean anger thats forever at the surface.

I consider myself a good/safe cyclist and have never ever driven a car on a road and fail to see why it's relevant.

Why is stopping at a red light putting yourself at risk? Have you seen many rear ending accidents involving road traffic?

It's really not a red herring. It p***es other cyclists off because it gives the perception that we all do it so I have to put up with people at work asking me why I run red lights all the time just because some cyclists think they are "special"

 

[Tin Pot]

Now that I disagree, to say entirely implies that we can't do anything at all to help the situation. Whereas I think using your road position and awareness of other road users may help to predict and be ready to deal with the situations where our safety is compromised by others (all too frequently).

Like a priest in Darfur confronted by cocaine fuelled rape squads, we can appeal to their humanity.

 

[derrick]

The poll looks to be not right. Judging by what i have read on here the below average should be the highest one, I can't believe we only have three below on here.
Just goes to shows polles are a waste of time,

 

[RedRider]

Being confident and assertive, having empathy for other road users, being predictable and signalling intentions, knowing the limits of your bike and self, experience and equanimity all make for a 'safe' cyclist.
However, if you undertake me as I'm setting off from some lights then all bets are off 'cos I'll chase you down with no regard to anyone's safety and throttle you with a bungee.

 

[John the Monkey]

Why is stopping at a red light putting yourself at risk? Have you seen many rear ending accidents involving road traffic?

Funnily enough, it happened (at very low speed) to me the other day, at the lights by the Manchester Aquatic Centre car park (low speed enough that no damage was done). I suspect that the driver was on his 'phone in the queue of traffic, tbh.

First time in getting on for nine years though. I wait at reds personally, but don't really think the "they give us a bad name" argument holds water for a couple of reasons - one because it's pernicious nonsense that should be debunked every time it raises it's stupid head, and secondly because an awful lot of motorists haven't the first idea of what's legal/safe, judging by the way they behave and the things they scream out of their windows. I'm uneasy about their anti-cyclist groupthink extending to things that they have convinced themselves aren't on (f'instance, I get told that flashing lights are illegal at least twice each winter, usually in a disculpatory rant following a close overtake or some other idiocy)..

Commuting into Manchester daily for about 9 years, I can count the number of times other cyclists have given me pause on the fingers of one hand, even those who are, presumably, below average. OTOH, I've had single journeys where I'd need every digit to count the tailgating, close overtaking and dangerous inattention of motorists on the same route.

 

[Spinney]

... in a disculpatory rant ...

[OT] I learned a new word!

(and it wasn't a rude one or connected to reproduction or excretion in some form!)

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