SAFETY

OR HOW ABOUT...

... fitting mirrors to your bike? They don’t remove the need to look over your shoulder but a mirror can improve your sense of what’s going on around you. Some fix on your helmet.

Learn these techniques and you’ll be well on the way to becoming a confident, careful and safe cyclist RIDING SAFE

LOOK BEHIND YOU!

1What does cycling and panto have in common? You need to

‘look behind you!’

Okay, it’s a bad joke, but a serious point. It’s easy to remember to look where you are going when riding, but what’s happening behind you is just as important, particularly when approaching a junction.

Well before you reach a junction, take a look over your right shoulder. Is there any traffic approaching from behind? Only when you know what’s happening behind you can you make a safe decision about adjusting your position on the road.

This over-shoulder check is especially important when turning right from a main road to a minor road. Look back before you move to the right-hand side of your lane, then look again before turning. Traffic shouldn’t try to overtake you when you are turning, but unless you look to check how can you be sure? It’s called the ‘lifesaver look’ for a reason.

Lorries and buses have large blind spots, so take care when overtaking

LOOK OUT FOR BLIND SPOTS

2Don’t assume other road users have seen you. In particular, be very cautious around large vehicles such as lorries and buses which have large blind spots. The rule of thumb is, if you can’t see the vehicle’s mirrors, the driver can’t see you. Even then be very careful when sharing a stretch of road with large vehicles. This eye-opening video from Transport for London shows why: https://youtu.be/Y9E1_1M-qhU.

In slow-moving traffic it’s generally safer to overtake a lorry or other high-sided vehicle on the right, as the driver of the vehicle has better visibility on this side, but only do so if there’s room to overtake safely without being in danger from traffic coming the other way. If in doubt, hang back and ‘guard the lane’ (see page 32).

Keep your fingers poised over the brakes if you spot hazards up ahead

GET OUT OF THE GUTTER

4Nervous, novice cyclists often ride close to the kerb, right in the gutter. “I’m keeping out of the way of cars and buses so I must be safe,” they think.

Think again. Riding close by the kerb leaves no room for error, and may encourage drivers to squeeze by when there isn’t really space. If they get halfway through their overtake, realise there isn’t room and cut back in, you’ve left yourself with nowhere to go.

Instead – even when you’re on a busy road – aim to ride between half a metre and one metre from the kerb. This gives you more room, makes you more visible, and discourages unsafe overtaking manoeuvres.

KEEP ’EM COVERED

3With good anticipation a skilful cyclist should avoid the need to brake suddenly, but someone else’s mistake could quickly turn into your accident. So when riding on a busy road, passing junctions or cycling by a row of cars, it makes sense to keep your hands poised over the brake levers.

Be ready to brake hard if there’s no other way of safely avoiding a collision.

The front brake does most of the work, so if you need to stop in a hurry pull hard on this lever and apply normal force to the back brake. As you brake, shift your weight backwards slightly to stay stable and in control.

Look other road users in the eye to help you judge their intentions

THE EYES HAVE IT

5No cyclist ever wants to hear the words “Sorry mate, I didn’t see you.” Hi-vis clothing and a good set of lights will help, but don’t underestimate the importance of eye contact.

If you’re riding past a junction and you can see a driver waiting to pull out, look directly at them.

Make eye contact if you can.

Don’t assume that someone has seen you, even if you think they are staring straight at you. But if they don’t make eye contact there’s a good chance they haven’t spotted you.

Be very cautious passing the junction and get ready to brake or change direction if the vehicle pulls out unsafely in front of you.

OR HOW ABOUT...

... taking a first aid course? The likes of the Red Cross and St John Ambulance run courses which will help you attend to others in an emergency before professional help arrives.

ADVANCE, THEN STOP

6Some signal-controlled junctions have advanced stop lines for cyclists. These create room for riders at the head of a queue of vehicles, making them more visible and giving them space to move off when the lights change. Usually a cycle lane on the left leads cyclists to the stop line.

Keep an eye on the traffic signal as you approach the junction. If the signal is red and traffic is stationary, it should be safe to move up to the advanced stop line. If the lights are red and amber or green, move carefully back into the main traffic stream. Even if the light is red, it may be better to hang back rather than filter up the inside of an HGV or bus: the driver may have a restricted view.

SAFETY IN NUMBERS

There’s strong evidence that the more people take up cycling, the safer cycling becomes. Studies in many cities including Berlin and York have all supported the ‘safety in numbers’ principle.

However, recent statistics from Transport for London show that when cycling in the capital increased between 2010 and 2012, the number of riders killed or seriously injured per million journeys rose.

That suggests that infrastructure improvements and the skill level of all road users may be just as important.

Advanced stop lines are there to make the roads safer, so don’t be afraid to use them

Some studies suggest more cyclists make for safer roads

The National Cycle Network covers over 14,000 miles, some of which are traffic-free

GUARDING THE LANE

8There are times, especially at junctions, when the safest place to ride is the centre of the appropriate traffic lane. Having looked over your shoulder to check it will be safe, move to the centre of the correct lane. If that means changing lanes, such as when turning right at a roundabout, remember to indicate your intentions clearly. ‘Guarding the lane’ makes you more visible to other traffic, improves your own view of the road, and reduces the chance of being unsafely overtaken.

OR HOW ABOUT...

... leaving a door’s width between you and your bike and any parked cars? That way if someone opens their car door you are already far enough into the lane to avoid being knocked off.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE 7

The more skilful and confident on two wheels you become the happier you will be riding in traffic. But don’t ride down a busy main road if you don’t feel happy, particularly if there’s a quieter alternative.

On the other hand, back roads with frequent junctions can slow you down, and there may be many parked cars, inattentive pedestrians and other hazards.

Try to plan a route where you don’t have to give way to traffic too often. In particular, avoid busy roundabouts if there’s a less frenetic alternative route. Roads with bus lanes can be cycle-friendly, and a well designed, traffic-free cycle path can make your journey hassle-free.

BIKEABILITY

Bikeability training gives riders of all ages and abilities the skills they need to become safe and confident cyclists.

Level 1 is for new cyclists or riders who haven’t been out on their bike for a long time. It teaches basic skills in a traffic-free environment.

Level 2 takes riders onto the road, and teaches how to cope with junctions and signal clearly to other road users.

Level 3 helps riders deal with more complex road layouts.

Ride assertively but safely at junctions and roundabouts Find a local Bikeability instructor at www. bikeability.org.uk, or www.cyclingscotland. org/our-projects/bikeability-scotland-2.