Riding on the road

[sleaver]

I'm looking to get my first bike in about 15-20 years. I already run so am quite fit but want to take away some of the impact of running.

However there is one thing that worry's me the most and that is riding on the road. Is it really as bad as some of the stories people have such as cars giving you no room (when I'm driving I try and give as much room as possible) or do you just get used to it after a while?

 

[guitarpete247]

The road is the best place to be. On the pavement you will encounter the erratic movements of pedestrians who seem to think they have the right to be there and stop without indicating and change direction without considering that a cyclist or driver could be trying to get past them at speed. In the road the drivers and riders of other vehicles should have the rudimentary skills and knowledge to be aware that there maybe other road users out there. Even on shared use paths you will get pedestrians who wander out of their allotted lanes.

You can make the road unsafe for yourself by riding erratically and failing to understand the rules of the road. As long as you are aware of what is going on around you (and as a cyclist you will have greater all-round vision together with hearing that is not restricted by being in a metal box) and understand that your position on the road will influence and even control the behaviour of others to your advantage. Cyclecraft and Bikeability are good starting points if you are unsure.
There are many stories of cyclist (as well as drivers and pedestrians) having accidents but these really are very small numbers compared with the road users that don't have problems but have very safe and uneventful journeys. My last accident of any kind was in 1976 when I was left hooked. I got up and rode off with no damage to me or the bike.

When I was learning to drive a good friend gave me a piece of advice:
"Remember Pete, everyone out there on the road is an idiot, and everyone out there thinks you are too."

 

[Peter Armstrong]

erratic movements of pedestrians? seem to think they have the right to be there? stop without indicating?

Your mad!

 

[Lee_M]

"Remember Pete, everyone out there on the road is an idiot, and everyone out there thinks you are too."

Good advice, that's how I survived 20 years on a motorbike

I've also seen a lot of riders on my commute into London bring situations on themselves by forcing their way into non existent gaps, or winding drivers up on purpose

Take it careful, assume they haven't seen you, assume they missed your handsignal, assume they are going to cross your path, and be clar and precise on roundabouts.

You may get there a minute later, but then you'll be alive - you'll never win an arguement with a car or truck

 

[BrumJim]

I was planning to blog every good ride into work when I didn't encounter a dangerous pass or inconsiderate behaviour. I got bored long before the readers did.

Practice and a good attitude will help you at the start. Experience will help you later. Confidence and familiarity are best fought.

(Most elements of this post may not be true, but are fictional, invented to illustrate a point).

 

[guitarpete247]

You may get there a minute later, but then you'll be alive - you'll never win an arguement with a car or truck

"Always best to be late in this life than early into the next". I can't remember where I heard this but it's another quote I like.

 

[MrJamie]

It looks a lot worse than it is if you read commuting forums, its made me paranoid at times but its also helped drill a lot of sensible riding techniques into my head. I try to ride assertively but cautiously if that makes sense, I end up mentally drained from watching cars and judging distances for their overtakes, planning road positioning. So far ive had nothing worth mentioning and not so much as spoken to a driver.

The only issue I have is with country lane cycling I get a few dumb overtakes where im riding in the right position and get given decent space as usual but theres not enough distance for the overtaker to make the overtake. By being aware I can brake as soon as I see a risky overtake starting and get myself out of the way, but even that hasnt been close as they usually force the oncoming traffic to brake hard instead

Traffic free routes like cyclepaths are a decent starting place though if you're fairly slow starting out IMHO, as you get faster weaving through pedestrians at speed is just silly.

 

[User16625]

I'm looking to get my first bike in about 15-20 years. I already run so am quite fit but want to take away some of the impact of running.

However there is one thing that worry's me the most and that is riding on the road. Is it really as bad as some of the stories people have such as cars giving you no room (when I'm driving I try and give as much room as possible) or do you just get used to it after a while?

If your gonna get a bike then why wait 15-20 years to get one?

Riding on the road will always have its downsides. I personally hate large roundabouts. When riding past the junctions I find drivers tend not to want to give way because your only a cyclist. On one occasional I was genuinely bracing myself for oblivion as some dozy driver literally wanted to drive into the side of me.

 

[carolonabike]

I hardly ever have any bother and I find the vast majority of road users are pretty patient and polite. It helps to be assertive without being agressive and I always thank people who let me out or give way.
Very, very few drivers are malicious, most poor driving is down to inattention, impatience or inexperience. Assume they haven't seen you and act accordingly and you'll be fine.

 

[TickettyBoo]

Being a postie who delivers mail by bicycle , I cycle on the pavement a lot and it`s horrible. Especially on bin day. Pedestrians also frequently jump in front of the bike even when I have clearly moved to the edge to let them past. It suddenly becomes their most favourite side of the pavement and they want it
On the road I assume I have super powers, I turn invisible ! even while on a bright red bike and wearing a fluorescent orange jacket. Brace yourself at junctions and while passing parked cars, they will pull out in front of you . . . . frequently. . . . Just be prepared and treat every other road user as an idiot, unless it`s me of course

 

[helston90]

I always assume everyone is an idiot- that way when they do pause to let you through/ overtake properly/ wait behind you sensibly it comes as a surprise but when they do as I expect them to and pull out in a hurry I was already assuming they would and am already guarding the brakes.
Trick is the only way you will build up any confidence is to practice at it- start on some housing estates you know, practising moving out around parked cars etc. then build it up to heading to a somewhere busier and before you know it you'll be out on the A-roads with the rest of us. Don't read too many of the stories/ watch too many of the vids and believe they always happen on every journey because they don't (hopefully).

 

[sidevalve]

No,it's not as bad as it sounds, most drivers really don't want to kill you, anyway if you rode 20 years ago things really aint all that different, [sorry to the kiddys but, yep there were lots of motors around in the 80s - 90s too].
Finally unless on a cycle path where else is there to ride ? You have no right to be on the pavement [whatever some excuse mongers seem to think]. One last thing, remember a lot of the "bicycle crash" videos on U tube etc are perhaps more suited to hollywood rather than real life

 

[sleaver]

Thanks for all the replys.

If your gonna get a bike then why wait 15-20 years to get one?

Bad wording on my part . I last had a bike when I was a kid still at school and I really do not think I have owned a bike since!

No,it's not as bad as it sounds, most drivers really don't want to kill you, anyway if you rode 20 years ago things really aint all that different,.....

As above, the last time I owned a bike was when I was a kid and then I just ride it up and down the road I lived it which only lead to another road which was a cul-de-sac. Plus most riding by people around me happened on pavements

So the advice sounds like it's along the same lines and what I heard someone say when he was asked what it's like to cycle in London. Which was to take a change of underwear for the first few times but after a while, you get used to it

In all seriousness though, it just seems that if you treat people with the respect that they deserve and stay alert, everything should be fine.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

Confidence comes with time. When I started out a few months ago, I was riding on the pavement whenever I rode. As I gained more confidence, I started going on the road for downhill roads - then flat roads and now I wouldn't even dream of cycling on the pavement, it's too dangerous.

The videos that you see on Youtube by CycleGaz, Mikey etc showing all of the close passes just highlight the negative aspects. For every one bad driver, you get 100 good ones.

 

[Peteaud]

Most roads are safer. My local "cycle path" is more dangerous than the local roads.

Just be aware.