Being of "a certain age" but still a keen road cyclist and cycling regularly in the Middle East with a bunch of mostly younger riders with the Awali Wheeler's cycling group in Bahrain I wrote the note below on cycling safety after a few (fortunately not serious) accidents earlier this year. Some of this is aimed at cycling in Bahrain but most of it is common sense that can be applied anywhere. I'm sure that my closing note on cyclists' rights will attract a few comments, however, it has worked for me for many years.
Cheers,
Rewind
A senior citizen’s thoughts on cycling safety.
After two or three recent accidents to cyclists over the past few weeks, two serious, one not so serious I gave some thought early yesterday morning during my 2 hour ride to how we can minimise our risks while we are cycling. During this process I suddenly realised that I have been cycling, more or less continuously since 1960 when I used to earn a bit of pocket money delivering groceries on one of the old butchers bikes with a big basket on the front. Two hours each evening and 4 hours on a Saturday morning certainly was harder work than anything I have done here, mind you, I was 50 years younger…! Anyway, where is all this leading? I guess after 50 years of cycling in various parts of the world I must have picked up some survival techniques so I thought I would share them for what they are worth. If they only prevent one accident it will have been worth while writing this.
First of all let’s look at the main risks we face:-
1. The homicidal maniac driver.
2. Being hit by a car that has had his own accident behind or in front of you and you just happen to be in the way.
3. Being hit by a vehicle that has not seen you.
4. Being hit by, or hitting a vehicle that has misjudged your speed.
5. Falling off due to loss of concentration (this usually involves hitting another bike, hitting stones, drains, road studs etc.)
6. Falling off due to slippery road surface (diesel spills, water etc).
7. Being hit by a vehicle while you are negotiating an exit or entry slip road.
8. Falling off due to mechanical failure (this could range from a puncture at speed to wheel, frame or chain failure).
Mitigation of risks:-
1 & 2. Really there is not a lot we can do about these except by being careful about when and where we ride. As far as possible cycle early in the morning when it is quiet, avoid busy areas, choose roads where there is a hard shoulder to ride on and generally use common sense. Really there is little more risk than being a pedestrian if you are sensible.
3. There is a lot that can be done to reduce the risks here as follows:-
a) Wear something brightly coloured, obvious really but I still see people cycling wearing black or dark tops. Dayglow yellow, green or orange is best.
b) Don’t cycle into a low rising or setting sun in the mornings or evenings. This makes it very difficult for drivers to see you, especially if their windscreen is dirty which is not uncommon here. If it cannot be avoided try to keep well off the carriageway on the hard shoulder and minimise the time you are exposed to risk.
c) When coming up to junctions and roundabouts (traffic circles) assume that drivers have not seen you and be prepared to stop. Yes, I know they are in the wrong and you have right of way but you are much more vulnerable, more on this later!
d) Don’t cycle in the inside lane when you are by yourself or just riding with one other rider. In a big, highly visible group it is probably OK but with one or two riders it is another exposure to risk you don’t need. Ride on the hard shoulder if you are with a buddy and you want to chat and drop back to single file where kerbs etc. necessitate pulling into the inner lane. Always look before moving out, I have had near misses with cars and trucks that don’t want to move out because they don’t want to hit the road studs!
4. Vehicles can misjudge your speed either by thinking you are going slower than they think or faster than they think. Reduce risks by (some of this is similar to above):-
a) At junctions or roundabouts drivers are used to the eastern Asian cyclists who are generally doing about 20kph less than us and the driver will probably pull out, not from arrogance but they just don’t know how fast us fit lads can go! Similar to 3c above, be prepared to stop.
b) Don’t put yourself in the path of fast moving traffic, they won’t realise how slowly you are going relative to them until it is too late. Slip roads are a case in point, more of this in 7 below re. slip roads.
5. Lack of concentration is one of the biggest causes of accidents involving single, or multiple bike accidents.
a) If riding by yourself, keep a close eye on the road ahead, especially if you need to take one hand off the bars to take a drink, push a button on your Garmin, stretch or whatever. Most times you hit a stone, road stud etc. you’ll get away with it but with one hand on the bars you probably won’t!
b) When riding in a group take great care not to make any sudden changes of speed or direction. Try not to ride immediately behind another rider, ride slightly off to one side so you can see the road surface ahead. Don’t make sudden sideways moves without checking to see if there is anyone just behind and to one side.
6. Slippery roads are a hazard here, especially because we use slicks and are used to dry roads. In addition, because it is so dry here, oil and rubber build up on the surface and it is like riding on ice when it is wet, so it is very dangerous.
a) If it is raining, don’t go out, or if you really are feeling like falling off, go very slowly round bends, don’t apply your front brake and really, think twice,don’t bother going out, it is not worth the risk! It only rains occasionally here so why expose yourself?
b) If you are riding anywhere near a filling station (i.e. within about 2km) look out for signs of recent diesel fuel spills. Most truckers and six wheelers here fill their tanks tight to the brim and for the next few bends and roundabouts it leaks all over the road. It is a sure fire way to fall off when you hit it. Watch the surface carefully and if you see/smell diesel keep well clear. Mike Guest can tell you how easy it is to fall off on diesel! With this sort of fall you will normally rotate around your centre of gravity which on a bike tends to be around waist level, this means that you normally land on your head and shoulder, not a good idea!
7. In my opinion, slip roads entering, or leaving major two or three lane highways are one of the most dangerous hazards we face because if we are on the main highway we are at risk from high speed traffic for a significant length of time. The exit and entry slip roads on Zallaq Highway for the new flyover when heading towards Awali after the university traffic lights are a perfect example, reinforced by Friday morning’s nasty accident to the poor Filipino guy’s accident when he went into the windscreen of the car that hit him. Here’s how I deal with them:-
a) When passing an exit slip road don’t ever keep on the main highway following the white dash line that separates the inner lane from the slip road. Take the slip road until you are almost opposite the last point where you can cross to the main highway then cross when there are no vehicles, or when they are far enough away to do so safely. This will minimise your exposure from a couple of hundred metres to maybe 10 metres.
b) When approaching an entry slip road and you are on the main highway it is often difficult to look far enough back over your shoulder to see what is coming. This, coupled with the fact that cars and trucks are doing maybe 100kph or more at this point makes this a very dangerous place. I usually stop, or at least slow down enough so that I can take a proper look before crossing over the slip road exit perpendicular to the direction of traffic. Don’t even think about carrying on in the centre lane with the newly arrived inner lane (slip road continuation) on the inside of you, then you are doing maybe 30kph with 120 kph vehicles on both sides of you, not to be recommended!
c) This is one of the reasons I take my bike in the car to Fuddruckers during the week, or an Saturdays when I am riding by myself and the roads are busier, just another way of minimising risk.
9. Fortunately, mechanical failures are rare, however, regularly cleaning and checking your bike can enable you to find impending failures. Change the chain at least once a year and keep an eye on your tyres for wear. I normally change the inner tubes once every 6 months or so unless a puncture intervenes. I don’t clean my bike as often as I should but hey, everyone has their faults!
Lastly, a few notes on cyclists “rights”.
I am of the firm belief that trying to enforce your rights as a cyclist is akin to the driver of a soft skinned, unarmed military vehicle attacking an armoured, heavily armed tank, yes, you have the right to do this but you would be a complete and utter idiot to do so! If you assume you have no rights you will probably reduce your risk factor by about 60 to 70% immediately. Even in Europe or USA it is no longer safe to enforce your rights, here in the Middle East or in third world countries it is a recipe for disaster. Ride safe everyone, despite the risks I intend to continue until I can no longer do so which hopefully will be for quite a while yet!
