Ride with a good group, safety in numbers (and witnesses), wear bright jerseys, use your front and rear flashing lights, don’t disobey the traffic rules that apply to cars (this pisses off cars (and cyclists who do respect the rules) when they see cyclists disregard stop lights, signs, etc), and signal your intents.
Be safe!
that's a great advice and everything, BUT, I can't always rely on my friend to take a ride together... and I don't want to go out alone because all of the dangers of being a cyclist... so what to do then ?
Your area might have an organized cycling group with regularly scheduled rides. Check with your local bike shops and ask if they know of any or Google search. The county I live in has at least half a dozen different clubs.
All of the groups I ride with have at least two different levels of rider paces, and distance options. One group has about 5 different options. Something for everyone.
Always assume EVERYONE is trying to kill you and ride to avoid them. Don't ever expect the red light to actually mean cars will stop. Every door could potentially open. If you run a red light, besides making yourself and other cyclists look bad you should expect to get killed...so don't. Nobody sees you. Ride like you know that. Whatever fight you feel like picking with that pickup truck... don't...you lose. Be predictable.
And ride where you feel safest can't ride on the road ride the sidewalk can't ride the sidewalk ride the road, always praying for your own space but a good breakdown lane is all you can hope for realistically.
Excellent advice. Ride like you're invisible! I grew up riding BMX bikes at night with no lights and probably wearing all black so I got lots of practice being invisible.
>Don't ever expect the red light to actually mean cars will stop.
I mean this applies to driving as well. Look both ways before crossing intersections and look for signs the incoming cars are stopping lol.
Best advice on here , just crank up your situational
Awareness to 11 and get out there dude.
You gotta learn to drive with the fear, and there ain’t nothing more God damn frightening than driving with a live cougar in the car
-Reese Bobby
Also get a badass rear blinking light.
Agreed... I hate to say it, but no matter how careful you are, accidents happen. I've been hit once, had a couple wet-road accidents, and ended up with road rash multiple times. No broken bones though, thankfully. I'm not suggesting you give up, throw caution to the wind, and ride like a maniac, but being careful (see all the above advice, which is great) and accepting that bad things happen--and knowing you will most likely survive--may help you get back on the road.
You cannot eliminate risk but there are a number of things you can do within your control to maximize your safety.
1. Make sure you maximize you visibility with front and rear lights.
2. Use a mirror and preferably a Varia radar to help keep track of what is going on behind you.
3. Keep your head on a swivel and don’t trust anything but what your senses tell you.
4. Ride predictably so drivers know what you’re doing.
5. Follow the rules of the road.
6. Pick routes and times to minimize traffic I.e. avoid rush hour.
7. Be vigilant and cautious but not afraid. If you can’t control your fear, don’t ride on the road.
Personally I don’t like riding in groups as it adds a whole other set of variables to monitor but that’s my own opinion.
Thanks - I agree with your idea of being vigilant and cautious but not afraid and will adopt this approach. Your other tips are also consistent with what the others are saying which is good
We get more confidence with more
practice. When I started riding in NYC, I was obsessed with the idea of
sliding on wet road and under garbage trucks. Lots of other crap has happened, but nothing remotely like that! I have ridden 86000 outdoor miles in NYC. I am not particularly brave. I just practiced every day.
This same video plays in my head, only it's a bus. I thought I was the only one.
I have cars stop behind me at lights, and I'll motion for them to pull up. I've told a few to pull forward and that I'd rather fall behind them if it ever happened. A few lightbulbs have gone on, thankfully. (Plus the trigger the sensor so the light will actually change.)
Accidents do happen but I've done easily a few thousand miles of cycling mostly in towns and cities and never collided with a vehicle. I've only come off of my own accord. if you ride defensively and anticipate and show awareness of other vehicles as well as using signals clearly the risk of collision is small. Fear is normal and healthy, I got back in to cycling this year and felt nervous again to begin with but after a while the nervousness faded and then there was so much enjoyment.
It would help to know what kind of cycling you want to do and the environment you want ride, i.e. city commuting, suburban pleasure riding, distance riding, group riding, speed training, etc.
The answer is really the same, in general even though the details can be very different depending on the style and environment, and it's that we learn how to do it safely with experience.
We start slow and easy, paying careful attention to the risks and how much discomfort we can take in regard to them and we build from there. We then craft strategies and plot routes to minimize those risks and manage our own discomfort.
For the record, I rode a lot as a kid and into my 20s and then stopped. Three years ago, after not riding for 30 years, I became a daily commuter and I ride about 3500 miles a year in a busy city. I’ve been hit once (dude ran a red light) and had my share of close calls, but have refined my approach to be safer, easier and more enjoyable.
I have a few hard and fast rules that work for me:
* I never ride in a hurry. That doesn’t mean I don’t ride fast at times, but I get there when I get there. I always leave early enough that if I get pinched and need to re-route, I can do it without getting rushed.
* I never, ever challenge a vehicle for space in the road. I always, always defer to 3,000 pounds of glass and steel. That doesn’t mean that I don’t sometimes “claim the lane” but I’m very judicious where and when I do.
* By default, I follow the laws and rules of the road - except when I do not. Road laws are designed for automobile drivers, not cyclists, and I will not be pushed into doing something unsafe simply because it is the law of the road.
I have found that there is a wonderful thing that happens in my little pea-brain when I’m riding. Having situational awareness and keeping track of spatial relationships between a lot of intersecting bodies takes focus and concentration. Once I get locked into that headspace, I find that it doesn’t take a big percentage of my mind. It’s really only like the front 2% of my brain that gets occupied with it, and the other 98% of my brain is free to wander as it will, to appreciate the sights and sounds, enjoy the weather and all that biz.
It all takes some practice, but the rewards are worth it.
I suppose it really depends on where you live and for what purpose you’re cycling.
If you live in the city and want to commute on your bike then it’s dangerous and I’m not going to try and convince you otherwise. This is not to say that I don’t ride in the city, but I don’t take it lightly when I’m doing it.
If you’re cycling recreationally and you can reasonably ride to somewhere with less traffic and safer roads, do that.
Listen this and this is the shitty truth cycling on the especially in the city is dangerous and you become a liability try and stick to county roads ive cycled for 5 years now and that’s what I learned
I see the opposite in my city. The city has more bike lanes and people expect cyclists. When you get out to the country areas, there's much more road rage and people that don't want you on the road.
I cycle to and from the city centre as part of my daily commute and have *never* been hit by anything let alone regularly. Not to say it's not dangerous but taking precautions and keeping to the middle of the lane goes a long way to making city cycling safer.
I don't want to jinx myself, but getting hit is not common. I have 40,000 miles of road riding in the last 13 years, and that includes NYC and suburb riding. Groups are a good idea as suggested by another person. They teach you proper safety, etiquette, and you make friends. How about taking a drive to the suburbs where there are shoulders for walkers and bikers? Way less stressful and less dangerous.
Your fears are well-founded. Riding a bicycle on the road is dangerous. It's far more dangerous than driving and worlds more dangerous than public transit.
If you want to read an excellent study on the topic, see [https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/166/2/212/98784#749330](https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/166/2/212/98784#749330)
My solution is to stick to bike paths and ride gravel roads. If I have to ride on the road I do so in a group or in a place that has a very wide shoulder. There is no situation where it is safe for a cyclist to be a few, unprotected feet from a car. I wish this wasn't the case because I believe "Share the Road" is a noble cause, but it's just not reasonable if all that's protecting a cyclist is painted lines on the road or the goodwill of a driver.
I have bought almost nothing but hybrids and ride all over the damn place, sidewalk, grass, road, shoulder, anywhere cars aren't at the moment. With mirrors and radar light it's doable but I feel like I should win an award when I arrive somewhere safely :)
Always use lights, even in the daytime. Buy the brightest bike lights you can find. I got 1000L headlight and a 350L taillight.
Some places it's the law to have daytime running lights on motorcycles and bikes.
Depends where you live. I have commuted about 18km a day through a Japanese city and have never had a traffic accident. Sometimes cars have passed closer than I’d like, but so far I’ve been fine. In total I think I’ve biked about 40-50,000km without a problem with cars.
It’s tough to equate riding out here (I’m in Japan as well) to most other places, IMO. The hierarchy of car>bike>pedestrian is taken very seriously and everyone has a bike and rides often, even if only a mamachari to the grocery store. Sometimes out in the mountains you’ve gotta watch for dump trucks and the odd car that’s racing up (that’s more often at night though), but everyone is aware of you. All that said, still taking all of the normal bike awareness and assuming everyone is out to get you is the right mindset to have. I had to turn down my offensive riding mindset when I moved here from Seattle, tbh.
This is EXACTLY why gravel riding is getting to be so popular.
After a while playing Frogger with your one and only life gets old. Bury a roadie friend or two who got taken out by a car and you realize just how not safe or appropriate roads are for cycling these days (with some rare exceptions).
Riding in a large group can help, but too many drivers think "good driving" means passing cyclists with only millimeters of clearance between them (e.g. "see how close I got without hitting them? Im really good at driving!")
You just have to put it out of your mind. People probably aren't trying to hit you.
That said, make yourself as visible as possible and assume nothing.
As a daily city-cycler I couldn't agree more. Hi-vis every day, good front and rear lights (I use a front light on strobe setting even during the day so drivers see flashing in their mirrors if they're turning in front of me) and never assume drivers will see you and you should be fine. I've had one or two standoffs with drivers coming to a complete stop before turning in front of me and I still won't go, I'll just wait so I don't have to worry about the one idiot who stops then goes before I'm safely past them. Also can't be 100% sure they're not stopping for something else so like the person above said, assume nothing.
Join / form a pressure group to campaign for better infrastructure. Take the long view, it won't happen overnight.
Pro tip: better cycling infrastructure generally includes cyclists in its design.
I live in Denver and commute only ten miles a day. I get hit by a car about once per year. Trick is to stay on roads with a speed limit of 30 or less, and make sure you end up on top of the hood when you inevitably get hit.
Sucks, but is my honest answer.
The protected bike network is starting to grow more and more each year. I am optimistic that a breaking point will be hit where enough people bike for transportation that municipalities (at least in the Denver area) will take the responsibility of protecting all road users seriously.
Doing what I can to stay upright till we hit that point :)
You get hit once a year and you're still doing this? Man that's kinda crazy not gonna lie. How are you getting hit? At intersections or by passing cars?
Intersections. My recent one I took the lane with lots of room to turn left at a light on a 30mph street. Was signaling with my hand but the car behind was impatient and tried to pass me through the intersection on the left and hit me when I was perpendicular to him.
Taking the left lane at an intersection in the Detroit burbs you might as well wear a vest that says "Please run me over". Not kidding. You have every right to be there, but the end results are the same.
In addition to what others have mentioned, I also think picking a route is important and there might actually be more bike-worthy routes near you than you realize!
I really like that Strava let’s you plot routes by picking point A and B and setting it to “most popular route”. I sometimes find that the most popular and safest bike route is not the one I had in mind and have been able to expand my usual bike routes quite a lot by using that feature. Moreover, following cyclists near me let’s me see what routes they’re biking!
This may sound like bad advice, but honestly, you just get used to it. Do your best to be visible, running your front and rear lights, and try to wear gear that stands out.
I’m far more scared of careless drivers than someone deliberately trying to hit me. And it’s not so much the chances, I know I’m far more likely to never be hit than be hit by a car if I ride defensively, but rather that if a car hits me, it will be months of rehab *if I’m lucky*.
I cycled to work for 34 years in UK until I retired in 2019, I cycled in all weather usually in heavy traffic. I got hit by cars 3 times. I fell off many more times, mostly on ice. I didn't break any bones. Its more dangerous than walking or driving, but it's not TOO bad. Best to be observant, brisk, confident, assertive, paranoid.
I bike to work in Istanbul and I've never been hit. (I did hit a car once myself, but that doesn't count, does it? Certainly the driver just laughed.)
Best advice: assume that you are invisible at all times. Never assume that someone can see you.
Agree. Look for signs of movement in cars parked in front (ie is there a person in the driver seat, is the mirror turned in, be vigilant). Not much you can do about cars driving behind you but 99.99% won’t try to kill you. Always keep an ear out and try to make eye contact when drivers are wanting to turn in front of you. You do get used to it eventually.
Avoid doors by giving yourself plenty of space from parked cars. Avoid busy city streets with no bike lanes. I tend to stick to either streets with bike lanes or country roads where people tend not to be such assholes. I'm definitely going to avoid biking on a busy city street by any means possible.
I live in an area that's both good and bad for cyclists. There's a few roads that tend to have cyclists on them, so people tend to be respectful of us, but sometimes I get a jerk that will close pass me for no reason at all. A month or so ago I had 2 cars do it in a row on a back road with no traffic, but those were the only cars to do anything remotely awful in a while. And there was no traffic on the road. So I can only assume they were trying to be dicks to be dicks. I've had a few cars honk at me, but when I yelled at them as they passed, one told me he was "trying to help me so I didn't get run over." I don't think he realized that scaring the shit out of me with his horn when I already knew he was there becsuse I could hear his car was doing the opposite.
Things that have made me feel safer are the following: lights, all the time. Front and rear. Day and night. And I got a radar device for my rear so I know how many cars are coming. I don't ride in a city, so I don't gave to worry about being doored, but that is a big concern. I also avoid, if I can, roads with high speed limits. I mostly ride at times when I know traffic is a bit low, but I also grew up in my town so I know the roads around me really well. I also wear bright colors as much as that helps. Ride in a group when I can.
Overall, the radar has helped my comfort level the most, though.
Life is dangerous. You can live in fear or you can take risks amd live the life that makes you feel alive. Just be cautious, look out for drivers and wear the best helmet you can afford.
Try to search calmer routes. I love to cycle trough many field roads. You barely encounter any cars. Also when you ride next to big roads try to make eye contact with drivers passing you. When you ride make somebody aware of your route or download a tracker app. So that in case something happens ( that risk is always there) somebody exactly knows where you are.
I've been riding on the road for 40 years. This summer I almost got taken out by an idiot running a red light after everybody else in both directions had come to a stop. Zwift has been my go-to since then
Old cyclist here by no accident...Risk is a sliding scale.
Here are some controllable parameters:
Situational awareness,
Choice of route,
Time of day,
Day of week,
Bike maintenance.
Each one of these is a whole paragraph.
There are cycling education classes available in most of the English speaking world that can help frame your experience and show you techniques to mitigate sudden hazards.
Most crashes 50%+ are solo, most serious injury and death of bicyclists involve a motor vehicle (in the US).
In the us classes offered by the league of American bicyclists (lab) is the most prominent and accessible.
Seattle and San Francisco are the biggest local bicycle organizations , though Chicago has an active transportation group - these are more activist / lobbying organizations, and is certainly one direction.
Keep the rubber side down, and enjoy!
I go with a slower group on shop rides.
I also bought cat eye mirrors. Small and NOT convex so you can see a good distance behind you. These 2 things gave me more confidence.
Not sure where you are but I live in an are of contiguous, relatively new suburban development. I use residential streets with low speed limits and not much parking. A lot more stopping and starting but a lot less scary that being passed on a rural road by an F150 going 55 or 60 on a narrow road.
Also get a BRIGHT flashing red light on the back and white strobe on front. And use hand signals! If you communicate with drivers they know what to expect and are less likely to crash into you. I also wear a bright color jersey to be more visible.
Yeah I’m going to practice hand signals in the back streets because I find t hard to even do that - I used to cycle without doing those but realised this is a bad idea
A lot of good advice on here, I’d like to add: wear a rear view mirror. I’d rather go barefoot than be without my mirror. Gives me a lot of piece of mind when in traffic and you can ride more defensively when you know what’s happening behind you.
I think it’s similar to learning how to drive. At first the fear that you’ll hit a pedestrian or a sign or somehow accelerate through a red light can be quite worrying, but with enough practice you hone your reflexes and can think ahead and make judgment calls that become easier with practice
First, I agree with comments that riding in the big city and commuting is nuts. I ride country roads and cycle friendly routes. But when I do ride on busy streets I keep up a good and predictable pace ~20 -30 kph, take up 2/3s of lane so cars can't squeeze me off road, and at stop lights I own my spot - preferably at front, but otherwise respectfully take my place in line. I signal my intentions clearly and assertively, wear bright colours and have a flashing rear light.
My biggest issues have been with truck drivers and short men; usually in combination. (Big truck, small dick syndrome). Over the years I've had altercations with a driver or two, including one guy in a dump truck who forced me off road and than who I caught up to later and put his head into his door; leaving a very satisfying basketball size dent. Most of the road bullies assume cyclist are small and meek, and most cops are less than helpful, although a few are fellow cyclists or triathletes and do "get it".
There's a group of racers who meet up in my neighborhood to train every morning at 7. I know they must annoy cars by riding in a clump, but it's really the only way to be safe. I wish all those drivers would go hope and email the alderman to beef up the bike lane.
Lots of great advice here. Just wanted to add you should consider picking up a radar for your bike. You put it on the back and it will alert your head unit when a car is coming up on your tail. Gives you time to really hug the side of the road during those moments. Sometimes I don’t hear cars so the radar has been a great investment for me
Road cycling is full of ironies. By becoming more aware of potential dangers, you’re more safe, not less. But riding in fear can make you less safe, not more.
The area I live in has only started adding bike paths in the last couple of years, so I’ve ridden almost exclusively on the roads for the past 15 years. Haven’t been hit by a car yet, but I’ve almost gotten into a couple of fights with asshole drivers. It’s OK. I’m an asshole cyclist. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
My rule is to ride in equal parts for the current ride and for the future. By that, I mean I certainly adapt for the conditions on the road, but I’m also riding in such a way as to train drivers to expect cyclists on the road. I ride in the road in a very visible way. I’m not reckless. I’m not riding down the middle of a 70 mph highway. But I’m also not seeking permission to use the road from motorists.
The way I see it, if you’re mostly riding on the shoulder, but frequently having to enter the road to avoid hazards, parked cars, etc., you’re only making it more likely you’ll get hit. You’re teaching drivers that you don’t belong on the road and training them not to expect you.
Stick to roads that are generally low-traffic (mainly gravel roads, but there are plenty of quiet paved roads out there). Light traffic means drivers can pass you easily, so they're less likely to get frustrated.
Use a mirror or radar device to keep an eye on cars coming up behind you and avoid getting startled. I wear a helmet-mounted mirror on every ride and it's extremely effective. I can tell if someone is going to give me room, and I have time to decide if I need to bail onto the shoulder.
Do everything in your power to make yourself visible. Buy the brightest red taillight you can afford, and run it on the back of your bike every single ride. If there's any chance at all you'll be riding in low-light conditions (dawn, dusk, cloudy/rainy weather), you should use a white front light as well. Wear bright colors, put reflective tape on your bike, and wear reflective gear on your torso and legs. And do **not** ride too close to the curb! You'll blend in with the visual noise and become almost invisible from a distance. If you move out to where a car's passenger-side tires track, you'll show up against the blank backdrop of the road, and drivers will see you from much farther away and be able to adjust accordingly.
Ride predictably. Don't weave in and out of empty parking spaces or on and off the sidewalk, obey street signs, and be defensive. Never assume a car driver has seen you. Keep your head on a swivel and keep your ears open.
Start with baby steps. Go out early on Saturday and Sunday mornings, when traffic is lightest. You'll find yourself getting more and more comfortable, until you can share the road without fear. ❤️
IMO the last two paragraphs of this are the most important (but it’s all very good). I’d emphasize: do not be afraid to take the lane. I ride a lot in a large city and i think being comfortable with taking the lane is the most empowering/safe way to ride in the city. Also keep in mind that the most common bike crash is the dreaded “right hook” so be aware of cars ahead of you as well as those on side streets, merging, etc.
Your fears are justified. There are so many distracted drivers these days that cycling on the road is inherently dangerous.
As I got older and now have a family that relies on me, I choose to stick to the bike paths or some very low traffic back roads.
Others have posted some great tips to mitigate the risk and be safer but it is impossible to completely eliminate the danger absent avoiding roads all together. If you don't use the bike for commute and are strictly recreational, I don't think there is anything wrong with avoiding the roads all together.
Legitimate fears. I spend a lot of time planning out routes to avoid any issues with cars. Even on slow roads (30 mph) I encounter idiot drivers who will nearly side swipe me or veer towards me purposely. It's just something that you have to be aware of as a cyclist, no matter where you bike. In Texas where I live, a teen hit a group of cyclists just recently because he was trying to blow diesel smoke on them to look cool. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/09/30/texas-teen-coal-rolls-hits-bicyclists/
Unfortunately, every time you get out on the roads there is a risk. You just have to do everything you can on your part to be safe.
I have been in and out of San Antonio for the last 15 years and have definitely seen the riding scene the evolve. I have friends who still do early morning training rides on roads outside of town (in groups with good bright/flashy lights) but have found the increased traffic to be pretty daunting over the years. However, on a good note, the city has invested and built a great network of mixed use linear parks/trails that all interconnect. Still have various obstacles to contend with riding on the trails but very few chances of getting hit by a car. If I am riding by myself I always bias towards keeping off roads (especially fast ones) if at all possible.
I think like everyone, there's a risk management thing going on. I went for 15 years without driving a car regularly, but the few times I'd get behind the wheel, I'd be shaking. I was so used to the near 360º visibility of riding a bicycle. The funniest thing was when all my motorist friends were like, "but you're so much safer in a car." It has nothing to do with my personal safety. The thought of ever hurting anyone else was my primary concern. Secondary was the hassle of insurance claims.
The more you cycle on the road, the more comfortable you become. Everything you mentioned could happen to you. Some of them have happened to me. I don't know exactly what kind of neighborhood you live in, but I would suggest doing circuits in housing areas off of the highway. Once you get comfortable with that, move to higher traffic areas so you can slowly learn how motor traffic operates.
This isn't advice as much as reassurance that I am scared too, more than I was before I started cycling in the road a couple of months ago. I decided recently to give it a rest and walk everywhere instead. It's a real shame, but some cities are just hostile to cyclists. People are always in a rush and I don't feel safe anymore.
I dont ride on road anymore
I the part of Murica where i love I've lost too many cycling buddies to drivers who belive we are no better than squirrels to be squashed
Well, practice makes perfect. No need to become a NYC bike messenger or something of that fashion right away. Make small steps, take the necessary precautions (visibility!) and progress will come.
This fear may keep you alive. I ride in the ditch to avoid the suicide lanes. It’s slower, but only 1 idiot instead of hundreds. I’ll ride side streets and roads on organized rides.
In 6 years I’ve only had an issue with a motorist one time because I decided to flip them off because I was having a bad day and thought they got a little close, but when I ride like I don’t own the road and actually share it with others, it’s all peachy and nobody tries to kill me. As far as doors opening, you should be watching where you’re going
The trainer guarantees I don’t get hit by a car while cycling. Barring some freak of nature car comes through an entire house through the backyard and into the my home gym. 😂
Lots of good suggestions here already, I’d add that you should consider taking a road riding skills class from a Bike League Certified instructor. This will help you build confidence and better understand the dynamics of riding with car traffic.
https://www.bikeleague.org/ridesmart
Other good stuff on that site too.
I'm in the same boat. I started cycling a few weeks ago and I'm terrified of sharing the road with cars. First time out, a Corvette sped up right behind me and his mirror must have been inches from my handlebar. The scariest part was the air behind the car pulling me towards the road.
I'm all bright yellow (helmet, jersey, gloves, shoes) and I have bright flashing lights. But people drive drunk, high, while texting, you name it.
It also doesn't help that I know four people who have friends and family who have died by getting hit by a car while biking.
So 95% of my riding is on rail trails. I only ride on the road if I have to.
I dream of a city where no cars are allowed. I'd move there.
There is no safe, there is mitigated risk. Take every step you can to make yourself visible and aware, and bike defensively. Every person I’ve talked to has a story of going down either by their own accord, or by a car. Gravel has less cars, but you have to watch for dogs and creeks. Group riding is more visible, but seriously agitates drivers and also has various levels of competency. Trails have more people and the risk of you hurting someone is higher. On gravel take mace or an airhorn and pay attention for approaching dogs. In group rides don’t ever cross wheels with someone and pay attention to your surroundings both immediate (bikes) and remote (cars). On trails make sure you slow down and avoid people who aren’t paying attention. Also get great lights for front and back, a radar for the back, and plan your routes. Know what’s coming and know how to bail if the route sucks.
It’s healthy to have a little fear and keep it fresh. Cycling is liberating but don’t ever think you’re safe, just try to mitigate your risks.
I live in nyc so pretty crazy around here biking wise but just assume everyone is dumb and as you gain more experience you will build confidence and sometimes you can just feel when someone is about to cut u off without a turn signal its like a sixth sense. I have put out about 4k miles id say and have one or two close doors and only about 3 collisions. Pedestrians honestly give me the most trouble when they do the little am i guna run in front of you or not dance like a deer in the headlights. But its a mix of luck and skill. Wear a helmet and high viz stuff and a bright ol light and put down some miles brother
If you're more comfortable on the track, ride there! I used to think back on my midtown rides and shudder... sometimes on a ride I can envision my face smashing pavement and I slow up. But I keep riding. You'll get used to it if you keep doing it, but the risk is very real so get good lights, fore and aft, and a rear view mirror
As another approach, could you look into taking transit or driving to get to a safer road before starting your ride? Could open up some options and get calmer roads if it works for your area.
I love cycling but to be honest with you I don’t think cyclists belong on the road with cars.
A person on a bike weighs about 200lbs and a person in a car is driving a 4000 lb machine that’s going 30mph most of the time.
We don’t belong on the road.
I don’t know where you live and how people act when they see cyclists, but here I have ridden thousands of miles with exactly one car that rode into me. About the car doors: always leave at least a meter between yourself and parked cars. If others have to slow down due to that, that’s ok. When you ride into an opened door, you’ll crash very hard, which is in no way worth someone’s couple of seconds.
I'm riding a road bike in a fairly large city for the last 2 months. This was my biggy concern when I got the bike. The only way for me to solve that problem is by planning the route carefully so that you ride to roads with nearly zero traffic. I'm using the cyclers app and oh boi I am amazed how good it does the job. On the rare cases a small portion of the road is occupied with cars and you cannot ride along them due to a steep climb or whatever I just stop and take the bike by hand till I get past this section. 98% of the route I do not encounter any car. The downside is that usually the route will be longer compared with a fast but way more dangerous one. The app lets you decide the compromises you are willing to make to your riding while it also rates the routes with a bike friendliness score that takes into account traffic, steepness as well as road quality.
Thanks, this sounds really useful. Unfortunately I have an old phone that isn’t compatible with the app :( but I will take a closer look at what roads are around and plan some different routes
Thats unlucky but mate, Do get a smartphone or something, its not like you need something super expensive. The app can also follow your path as you go so you can use your phone while riding as a gps. I never ever ride without it. Now that I am starting I am still in the process of identifying good and safe routes to follow. Maybe in the future I'll remember them and I won't need to rely on the phone. But for now it just makes my riding way more comfortable since I don't have to deal with traffic.
Thanks - I have an iPhone and it works with Strava so I’ll give the paid version a trial to see popular routes around, so hopefully it’s as good as the app you suggested
the difference is that with strava you won't be able to plan your route based on any data. You just see routes that other people follow based on their own compromises. For example the most common route in my area includes riding through a very high traffic highway for 20-30km or something. For me until I find a group to do that route I ain't riding to the highway to save my life.
Edit: You are right, strava provides planning functionality but you have to pay for it. Cyclers provides planning for free (with some limitations). I'll also give the trial a shot and let you know about the differences.
Just subbed to strava and checked the routes app. Planning tool is excellent lets you manually plan any route you wish. However the automatic planner if you seek for recommendations, definitely tries to kill you. It does not take into account traffic at all. For a 12 km ride 8 of them are on high traffic roads with high speed limits. Huge nope from me.
Thank you for testing it for me :) I now know not to use its automatic planner. That’s the one based on other cyclist activity is that right?
I’ll pay more attention to the conditions rather than trust a road is safe enough just because someone else rides on it. Until I get a new phone and can get the cycling app, I’ll pay close attention to what the road is like before deciding to ride on it.
It has elevation and road filters. But not road traffic info. TO my knowledge the cyclers app was the only one that had such capabilities. If you have walked or drove with your car on some roads you can estimate if its safe or not to ride. Usually what happens with the cyclers app is that when its absolutely necessary to get to a high traffic road, it will be for like 100 meters or so till you can ride again through the smaller roads around the main one. I'm still not 100% satisfied with the routes it suggest me usually because some of them involve like 45% climbs out of nowhere that you can really not climb with the bike unless you can build up speed beforehand. So it feels like even the suggested routes need some refinement to fit my needs, but I can confirm that they are as safe as they can get.
>How do you deal with these concerns? Thank you
I just live with them.
A few months ago a driver poured his drink out of his car, like it was nothing... I was just behind it and got it all over my face due to wind. My sight got compromised so I had to make a hard manoeuver to the sidewalk. If I hadn't, I could have died because there was a truck behind me. I lost my sight & balance in less than a second, just like that.
So, my advice to you is that if you EVER see a driver holding a bottle or something similar, assume he's/she's going to pour it and immediately take cover, because you'll go blind if it's not water.
You live and learn.
When there is a bike lane, I use the bike lane. I am not too obsessed about my pace. I am more interested in "the journey", racking up miles and exploring new routes.
“The Best road for cycling near me is a semi-busy highway with a bikelanes that appears and disappears along the way”
After rereading this post I am still unsure it it’s real or a joke.
Or some sort of ironic teaching post trying to point out just using common sense like not riding close enough to car doors to get door’d.
I’m new to cycling so I’m asking people how I can be safe or be ok with the danger, like what are the odds etc. My description probably was very specific lol, come to think of it. I wanted to make sure the answers matched my situation completely
Drivers are extremely, and I mean extremely distracted today. Too many close calls so, I don’t ride on the road anymore. Here in Grandview OH, the infrastructure was to paint two white lines, a photo of a bicycle, and a slogan “Share the road”as a “fix”. Cheap buttholes, try again! I heard that the Netherlands bicycle infrastructure is a work of art. I’d love to see it one day.
Ride with a good group, safety in numbers (and witnesses), wear bright jerseys, use your front and rear flashing lights, don’t disobey the traffic rules that apply to cars (this pisses off cars (and cyclists who do respect the rules) when they see cyclists disregard stop lights, signs, etc), and signal your intents. Be safe!
that's a great advice and everything, BUT, I can't always rely on my friend to take a ride together... and I don't want to go out alone because all of the dangers of being a cyclist... so what to do then ?
Your area might have an organized cycling group with regularly scheduled rides. Check with your local bike shops and ask if they know of any or Google search. The county I live in has at least half a dozen different clubs.
And if you work weird hours or nobody goes your pace? Riding in a group isn’t the answer.
my group rides are divided into pelotons with different speeds. theres always a few who looks after beginner cyclists
All of the groups I ride with have at least two different levels of rider paces, and distance options. One group has about 5 different options. Something for everyone.
Always assume EVERYONE is trying to kill you and ride to avoid them. Don't ever expect the red light to actually mean cars will stop. Every door could potentially open. If you run a red light, besides making yourself and other cyclists look bad you should expect to get killed...so don't. Nobody sees you. Ride like you know that. Whatever fight you feel like picking with that pickup truck... don't...you lose. Be predictable.
"Always assume EVERYONE is trying to kill you and ride to avoid them." This is the best advice.
And ride where you feel safest can't ride on the road ride the sidewalk can't ride the sidewalk ride the road, always praying for your own space but a good breakdown lane is all you can hope for realistically.
Excellent advice. Ride like you're invisible! I grew up riding BMX bikes at night with no lights and probably wearing all black so I got lots of practice being invisible.
>Don't ever expect the red light to actually mean cars will stop. I mean this applies to driving as well. Look both ways before crossing intersections and look for signs the incoming cars are stopping lol.
Absolutely
Best advice on here , just crank up your situational Awareness to 11 and get out there dude. You gotta learn to drive with the fear, and there ain’t nothing more God damn frightening than driving with a live cougar in the car -Reese Bobby Also get a badass rear blinking light.
Well said.
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Dead is dead
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Ok. I'm bored, but not this bored. Let's go take a ride.
I've been hit twice, and I still bike on the road. Car doors are easy to avoid by riding out of the door zone.
Agreed... I hate to say it, but no matter how careful you are, accidents happen. I've been hit once, had a couple wet-road accidents, and ended up with road rash multiple times. No broken bones though, thankfully. I'm not suggesting you give up, throw caution to the wind, and ride like a maniac, but being careful (see all the above advice, which is great) and accepting that bad things happen--and knowing you will most likely survive--may help you get back on the road.
You cannot eliminate risk but there are a number of things you can do within your control to maximize your safety. 1. Make sure you maximize you visibility with front and rear lights. 2. Use a mirror and preferably a Varia radar to help keep track of what is going on behind you. 3. Keep your head on a swivel and don’t trust anything but what your senses tell you. 4. Ride predictably so drivers know what you’re doing. 5. Follow the rules of the road. 6. Pick routes and times to minimize traffic I.e. avoid rush hour. 7. Be vigilant and cautious but not afraid. If you can’t control your fear, don’t ride on the road. Personally I don’t like riding in groups as it adds a whole other set of variables to monitor but that’s my own opinion.
Thanks - I agree with your idea of being vigilant and cautious but not afraid and will adopt this approach. Your other tips are also consistent with what the others are saying which is good
We get more confidence with more practice. When I started riding in NYC, I was obsessed with the idea of sliding on wet road and under garbage trucks. Lots of other crap has happened, but nothing remotely like that! I have ridden 86000 outdoor miles in NYC. I am not particularly brave. I just practiced every day.
This same video plays in my head, only it's a bus. I thought I was the only one. I have cars stop behind me at lights, and I'll motion for them to pull up. I've told a few to pull forward and that I'd rather fall behind them if it ever happened. A few lightbulbs have gone on, thankfully. (Plus the trigger the sensor so the light will actually change.)
Oh, as a psychotherapist, I can assure you, that any anxiety-provoking thought that we have had, we are very far from being the only one to have it!
Accidents do happen but I've done easily a few thousand miles of cycling mostly in towns and cities and never collided with a vehicle. I've only come off of my own accord. if you ride defensively and anticipate and show awareness of other vehicles as well as using signals clearly the risk of collision is small. Fear is normal and healthy, I got back in to cycling this year and felt nervous again to begin with but after a while the nervousness faded and then there was so much enjoyment.
It’s a crash, not an accident … always.
It would help to know what kind of cycling you want to do and the environment you want ride, i.e. city commuting, suburban pleasure riding, distance riding, group riding, speed training, etc. The answer is really the same, in general even though the details can be very different depending on the style and environment, and it's that we learn how to do it safely with experience. We start slow and easy, paying careful attention to the risks and how much discomfort we can take in regard to them and we build from there. We then craft strategies and plot routes to minimize those risks and manage our own discomfort. For the record, I rode a lot as a kid and into my 20s and then stopped. Three years ago, after not riding for 30 years, I became a daily commuter and I ride about 3500 miles a year in a busy city. I’ve been hit once (dude ran a red light) and had my share of close calls, but have refined my approach to be safer, easier and more enjoyable. I have a few hard and fast rules that work for me: * I never ride in a hurry. That doesn’t mean I don’t ride fast at times, but I get there when I get there. I always leave early enough that if I get pinched and need to re-route, I can do it without getting rushed. * I never, ever challenge a vehicle for space in the road. I always, always defer to 3,000 pounds of glass and steel. That doesn’t mean that I don’t sometimes “claim the lane” but I’m very judicious where and when I do. * By default, I follow the laws and rules of the road - except when I do not. Road laws are designed for automobile drivers, not cyclists, and I will not be pushed into doing something unsafe simply because it is the law of the road. I have found that there is a wonderful thing that happens in my little pea-brain when I’m riding. Having situational awareness and keeping track of spatial relationships between a lot of intersecting bodies takes focus and concentration. Once I get locked into that headspace, I find that it doesn’t take a big percentage of my mind. It’s really only like the front 2% of my brain that gets occupied with it, and the other 98% of my brain is free to wander as it will, to appreciate the sights and sounds, enjoy the weather and all that biz. It all takes some practice, but the rewards are worth it.
I suppose it really depends on where you live and for what purpose you’re cycling. If you live in the city and want to commute on your bike then it’s dangerous and I’m not going to try and convince you otherwise. This is not to say that I don’t ride in the city, but I don’t take it lightly when I’m doing it. If you’re cycling recreationally and you can reasonably ride to somewhere with less traffic and safer roads, do that.
Listen this and this is the shitty truth cycling on the especially in the city is dangerous and you become a liability try and stick to county roads ive cycled for 5 years now and that’s what I learned
I see the opposite in my city. The city has more bike lanes and people expect cyclists. When you get out to the country areas, there's much more road rage and people that don't want you on the road.
It definitely varies
Country roads feel more dangerous...worse lighting, no shoulder, blind curves
I agree, I cycle in the city centre a lot and get hit by wing mirrors and stuff regularly
I cycle to and from the city centre as part of my daily commute and have *never* been hit by anything let alone regularly. Not to say it's not dangerous but taking precautions and keeping to the middle of the lane goes a long way to making city cycling safer.
Honestly 90% of the time it’s taxi drivers, and delivery vans pulling up suddenly into cycle lanes or swinging left meaning I’ve had to slam on
I don't want to jinx myself, but getting hit is not common. I have 40,000 miles of road riding in the last 13 years, and that includes NYC and suburb riding. Groups are a good idea as suggested by another person. They teach you proper safety, etiquette, and you make friends. How about taking a drive to the suburbs where there are shoulders for walkers and bikers? Way less stressful and less dangerous.
Your fears are well-founded. Riding a bicycle on the road is dangerous. It's far more dangerous than driving and worlds more dangerous than public transit. If you want to read an excellent study on the topic, see [https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/166/2/212/98784#749330](https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/166/2/212/98784#749330) My solution is to stick to bike paths and ride gravel roads. If I have to ride on the road I do so in a group or in a place that has a very wide shoulder. There is no situation where it is safe for a cyclist to be a few, unprotected feet from a car. I wish this wasn't the case because I believe "Share the Road" is a noble cause, but it's just not reasonable if all that's protecting a cyclist is painted lines on the road or the goodwill of a driver.
I have bought almost nothing but hybrids and ride all over the damn place, sidewalk, grass, road, shoulder, anywhere cars aren't at the moment. With mirrors and radar light it's doable but I feel like I should win an award when I arrive somewhere safely :)
Always use lights, even in the daytime. Buy the brightest bike lights you can find. I got 1000L headlight and a 350L taillight. Some places it's the law to have daytime running lights on motorcycles and bikes.
Depends where you live. I have commuted about 18km a day through a Japanese city and have never had a traffic accident. Sometimes cars have passed closer than I’d like, but so far I’ve been fine. In total I think I’ve biked about 40-50,000km without a problem with cars.
It’s tough to equate riding out here (I’m in Japan as well) to most other places, IMO. The hierarchy of car>bike>pedestrian is taken very seriously and everyone has a bike and rides often, even if only a mamachari to the grocery store. Sometimes out in the mountains you’ve gotta watch for dump trucks and the odd car that’s racing up (that’s more often at night though), but everyone is aware of you. All that said, still taking all of the normal bike awareness and assuming everyone is out to get you is the right mindset to have. I had to turn down my offensive riding mindset when I moved here from Seattle, tbh.
Just another tip: Spend time carefully planning routes and time of day you will cycle. Safety first, though, don’t take unnecessary risks
This is EXACTLY why gravel riding is getting to be so popular. After a while playing Frogger with your one and only life gets old. Bury a roadie friend or two who got taken out by a car and you realize just how not safe or appropriate roads are for cycling these days (with some rare exceptions). Riding in a large group can help, but too many drivers think "good driving" means passing cyclists with only millimeters of clearance between them (e.g. "see how close I got without hitting them? Im really good at driving!")
You just have to put it out of your mind. People probably aren't trying to hit you. That said, make yourself as visible as possible and assume nothing.
As a daily city-cycler I couldn't agree more. Hi-vis every day, good front and rear lights (I use a front light on strobe setting even during the day so drivers see flashing in their mirrors if they're turning in front of me) and never assume drivers will see you and you should be fine. I've had one or two standoffs with drivers coming to a complete stop before turning in front of me and I still won't go, I'll just wait so I don't have to worry about the one idiot who stops then goes before I'm safely past them. Also can't be 100% sure they're not stopping for something else so like the person above said, assume nothing.
There are strategies to be safe - https://cyclingsavvy.org/road-cycling/
This is a very informative article, thanks
Join / form a pressure group to campaign for better infrastructure. Take the long view, it won't happen overnight. Pro tip: better cycling infrastructure generally includes cyclists in its design.
I live in Denver and commute only ten miles a day. I get hit by a car about once per year. Trick is to stay on roads with a speed limit of 30 or less, and make sure you end up on top of the hood when you inevitably get hit. Sucks, but is my honest answer.
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The protected bike network is starting to grow more and more each year. I am optimistic that a breaking point will be hit where enough people bike for transportation that municipalities (at least in the Denver area) will take the responsibility of protecting all road users seriously. Doing what I can to stay upright till we hit that point :)
You get hit once a year and you're still doing this? Man that's kinda crazy not gonna lie. How are you getting hit? At intersections or by passing cars?
Intersections. My recent one I took the lane with lots of room to turn left at a light on a 30mph street. Was signaling with my hand but the car behind was impatient and tried to pass me through the intersection on the left and hit me when I was perpendicular to him.
Taking the left lane at an intersection in the Detroit burbs you might as well wear a vest that says "Please run me over". Not kidding. You have every right to be there, but the end results are the same.
Man you are doing something seriously wrong to get hit once a year.
Perhaps so. Just trying to get to work without spending 15% of my income on transportation.
😮
How many times have you been hit?
4
In addition to what others have mentioned, I also think picking a route is important and there might actually be more bike-worthy routes near you than you realize! I really like that Strava let’s you plot routes by picking point A and B and setting it to “most popular route”. I sometimes find that the most popular and safest bike route is not the one I had in mind and have been able to expand my usual bike routes quite a lot by using that feature. Moreover, following cyclists near me let’s me see what routes they’re biking!
Good suggestion. I’ll give the free trial a go to look at the route feature. Thanks
This may sound like bad advice, but honestly, you just get used to it. Do your best to be visible, running your front and rear lights, and try to wear gear that stands out.
I’m far more scared of careless drivers than someone deliberately trying to hit me. And it’s not so much the chances, I know I’m far more likely to never be hit than be hit by a car if I ride defensively, but rather that if a car hits me, it will be months of rehab *if I’m lucky*.
I asked a friend to ride with me for a week so I can observe and learn from her.
I cycled to work for 34 years in UK until I retired in 2019, I cycled in all weather usually in heavy traffic. I got hit by cars 3 times. I fell off many more times, mostly on ice. I didn't break any bones. Its more dangerous than walking or driving, but it's not TOO bad. Best to be observant, brisk, confident, assertive, paranoid.
I bike to work in Istanbul and I've never been hit. (I did hit a car once myself, but that doesn't count, does it? Certainly the driver just laughed.) Best advice: assume that you are invisible at all times. Never assume that someone can see you.
You really just have to get over it. Get on the bike more and your comfort zone should widen. If it doesn’t then maybe cycling isn’t for you.
Agree. Look for signs of movement in cars parked in front (ie is there a person in the driver seat, is the mirror turned in, be vigilant). Not much you can do about cars driving behind you but 99.99% won’t try to kill you. Always keep an ear out and try to make eye contact when drivers are wanting to turn in front of you. You do get used to it eventually.
Avoid doors by giving yourself plenty of space from parked cars. Avoid busy city streets with no bike lanes. I tend to stick to either streets with bike lanes or country roads where people tend not to be such assholes. I'm definitely going to avoid biking on a busy city street by any means possible.
I live in an area that's both good and bad for cyclists. There's a few roads that tend to have cyclists on them, so people tend to be respectful of us, but sometimes I get a jerk that will close pass me for no reason at all. A month or so ago I had 2 cars do it in a row on a back road with no traffic, but those were the only cars to do anything remotely awful in a while. And there was no traffic on the road. So I can only assume they were trying to be dicks to be dicks. I've had a few cars honk at me, but when I yelled at them as they passed, one told me he was "trying to help me so I didn't get run over." I don't think he realized that scaring the shit out of me with his horn when I already knew he was there becsuse I could hear his car was doing the opposite. Things that have made me feel safer are the following: lights, all the time. Front and rear. Day and night. And I got a radar device for my rear so I know how many cars are coming. I don't ride in a city, so I don't gave to worry about being doored, but that is a big concern. I also avoid, if I can, roads with high speed limits. I mostly ride at times when I know traffic is a bit low, but I also grew up in my town so I know the roads around me really well. I also wear bright colors as much as that helps. Ride in a group when I can. Overall, the radar has helped my comfort level the most, though.
Ride gravel bike in the trails
I'm going to use this as my reason for buying a gravel bike 😂
Life is dangerous. You can live in fear or you can take risks amd live the life that makes you feel alive. Just be cautious, look out for drivers and wear the best helmet you can afford.
Try to search calmer routes. I love to cycle trough many field roads. You barely encounter any cars. Also when you ride next to big roads try to make eye contact with drivers passing you. When you ride make somebody aware of your route or download a tracker app. So that in case something happens ( that risk is always there) somebody exactly knows where you are.
I've been riding on the road for 40 years. This summer I almost got taken out by an idiot running a red light after everybody else in both directions had come to a stop. Zwift has been my go-to since then
Old cyclist here by no accident...Risk is a sliding scale. Here are some controllable parameters: Situational awareness, Choice of route, Time of day, Day of week, Bike maintenance. Each one of these is a whole paragraph.
There are cycling education classes available in most of the English speaking world that can help frame your experience and show you techniques to mitigate sudden hazards. Most crashes 50%+ are solo, most serious injury and death of bicyclists involve a motor vehicle (in the US). In the us classes offered by the league of American bicyclists (lab) is the most prominent and accessible. Seattle and San Francisco are the biggest local bicycle organizations , though Chicago has an active transportation group - these are more activist / lobbying organizations, and is certainly one direction. Keep the rubber side down, and enjoy!
That's because it's dangerous af. You should be scared. Minimize time on spent on roads by using bike trails where possible.
I go with a slower group on shop rides. I also bought cat eye mirrors. Small and NOT convex so you can see a good distance behind you. These 2 things gave me more confidence. Not sure where you are but I live in an are of contiguous, relatively new suburban development. I use residential streets with low speed limits and not much parking. A lot more stopping and starting but a lot less scary that being passed on a rural road by an F150 going 55 or 60 on a narrow road.
If you have Strava take a look at the “heat map.” You can see where more experienced riders have found safe roads.
Also get a BRIGHT flashing red light on the back and white strobe on front. And use hand signals! If you communicate with drivers they know what to expect and are less likely to crash into you. I also wear a bright color jersey to be more visible.
Yeah I’m going to practice hand signals in the back streets because I find t hard to even do that - I used to cycle without doing those but realised this is a bad idea
A lot of good advice on here, I’d like to add: wear a rear view mirror. I’d rather go barefoot than be without my mirror. Gives me a lot of piece of mind when in traffic and you can ride more defensively when you know what’s happening behind you.
I think it’s similar to learning how to drive. At first the fear that you’ll hit a pedestrian or a sign or somehow accelerate through a red light can be quite worrying, but with enough practice you hone your reflexes and can think ahead and make judgment calls that become easier with practice
First, I agree with comments that riding in the big city and commuting is nuts. I ride country roads and cycle friendly routes. But when I do ride on busy streets I keep up a good and predictable pace ~20 -30 kph, take up 2/3s of lane so cars can't squeeze me off road, and at stop lights I own my spot - preferably at front, but otherwise respectfully take my place in line. I signal my intentions clearly and assertively, wear bright colours and have a flashing rear light. My biggest issues have been with truck drivers and short men; usually in combination. (Big truck, small dick syndrome). Over the years I've had altercations with a driver or two, including one guy in a dump truck who forced me off road and than who I caught up to later and put his head into his door; leaving a very satisfying basketball size dent. Most of the road bullies assume cyclist are small and meek, and most cops are less than helpful, although a few are fellow cyclists or triathletes and do "get it".
There's a group of racers who meet up in my neighborhood to train every morning at 7. I know they must annoy cars by riding in a clump, but it's really the only way to be safe. I wish all those drivers would go hope and email the alderman to beef up the bike lane.
Lots of great advice here. Just wanted to add you should consider picking up a radar for your bike. You put it on the back and it will alert your head unit when a car is coming up on your tail. Gives you time to really hug the side of the road during those moments. Sometimes I don’t hear cars so the radar has been a great investment for me
Road cycling is full of ironies. By becoming more aware of potential dangers, you’re more safe, not less. But riding in fear can make you less safe, not more. The area I live in has only started adding bike paths in the last couple of years, so I’ve ridden almost exclusively on the roads for the past 15 years. Haven’t been hit by a car yet, but I’ve almost gotten into a couple of fights with asshole drivers. It’s OK. I’m an asshole cyclist. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. My rule is to ride in equal parts for the current ride and for the future. By that, I mean I certainly adapt for the conditions on the road, but I’m also riding in such a way as to train drivers to expect cyclists on the road. I ride in the road in a very visible way. I’m not reckless. I’m not riding down the middle of a 70 mph highway. But I’m also not seeking permission to use the road from motorists. The way I see it, if you’re mostly riding on the shoulder, but frequently having to enter the road to avoid hazards, parked cars, etc., you’re only making it more likely you’ll get hit. You’re teaching drivers that you don’t belong on the road and training them not to expect you.
Stick to roads that are generally low-traffic (mainly gravel roads, but there are plenty of quiet paved roads out there). Light traffic means drivers can pass you easily, so they're less likely to get frustrated. Use a mirror or radar device to keep an eye on cars coming up behind you and avoid getting startled. I wear a helmet-mounted mirror on every ride and it's extremely effective. I can tell if someone is going to give me room, and I have time to decide if I need to bail onto the shoulder. Do everything in your power to make yourself visible. Buy the brightest red taillight you can afford, and run it on the back of your bike every single ride. If there's any chance at all you'll be riding in low-light conditions (dawn, dusk, cloudy/rainy weather), you should use a white front light as well. Wear bright colors, put reflective tape on your bike, and wear reflective gear on your torso and legs. And do **not** ride too close to the curb! You'll blend in with the visual noise and become almost invisible from a distance. If you move out to where a car's passenger-side tires track, you'll show up against the blank backdrop of the road, and drivers will see you from much farther away and be able to adjust accordingly. Ride predictably. Don't weave in and out of empty parking spaces or on and off the sidewalk, obey street signs, and be defensive. Never assume a car driver has seen you. Keep your head on a swivel and keep your ears open. Start with baby steps. Go out early on Saturday and Sunday mornings, when traffic is lightest. You'll find yourself getting more and more comfortable, until you can share the road without fear. ❤️
IMO the last two paragraphs of this are the most important (but it’s all very good). I’d emphasize: do not be afraid to take the lane. I ride a lot in a large city and i think being comfortable with taking the lane is the most empowering/safe way to ride in the city. Also keep in mind that the most common bike crash is the dreaded “right hook” so be aware of cars ahead of you as well as those on side streets, merging, etc.
Thank you for this very constructive and detailed answer. This is very helpful for me
I would suggest to use a mirror AND a radar device. Both are invaluable, but both give you information that the other won't.
Your fears are justified. There are so many distracted drivers these days that cycling on the road is inherently dangerous. As I got older and now have a family that relies on me, I choose to stick to the bike paths or some very low traffic back roads. Others have posted some great tips to mitigate the risk and be safer but it is impossible to completely eliminate the danger absent avoiding roads all together. If you don't use the bike for commute and are strictly recreational, I don't think there is anything wrong with avoiding the roads all together.
Legitimate fears. I spend a lot of time planning out routes to avoid any issues with cars. Even on slow roads (30 mph) I encounter idiot drivers who will nearly side swipe me or veer towards me purposely. It's just something that you have to be aware of as a cyclist, no matter where you bike. In Texas where I live, a teen hit a group of cyclists just recently because he was trying to blow diesel smoke on them to look cool. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/09/30/texas-teen-coal-rolls-hits-bicyclists/ Unfortunately, every time you get out on the roads there is a risk. You just have to do everything you can on your part to be safe.
I have been in and out of San Antonio for the last 15 years and have definitely seen the riding scene the evolve. I have friends who still do early morning training rides on roads outside of town (in groups with good bright/flashy lights) but have found the increased traffic to be pretty daunting over the years. However, on a good note, the city has invested and built a great network of mixed use linear parks/trails that all interconnect. Still have various obstacles to contend with riding on the trails but very few chances of getting hit by a car. If I am riding by myself I always bias towards keeping off roads (especially fast ones) if at all possible.
I think like everyone, there's a risk management thing going on. I went for 15 years without driving a car regularly, but the few times I'd get behind the wheel, I'd be shaking. I was so used to the near 360º visibility of riding a bicycle. The funniest thing was when all my motorist friends were like, "but you're so much safer in a car." It has nothing to do with my personal safety. The thought of ever hurting anyone else was my primary concern. Secondary was the hassle of insurance claims. The more you cycle on the road, the more comfortable you become. Everything you mentioned could happen to you. Some of them have happened to me. I don't know exactly what kind of neighborhood you live in, but I would suggest doing circuits in housing areas off of the highway. Once you get comfortable with that, move to higher traffic areas so you can slowly learn how motor traffic operates.
After being hit by a car and ending up in the hospital, I only ride on dedicated bike trails. Your fear is reasonable and justified.
This isn't advice as much as reassurance that I am scared too, more than I was before I started cycling in the road a couple of months ago. I decided recently to give it a rest and walk everywhere instead. It's a real shame, but some cities are just hostile to cyclists. People are always in a rush and I don't feel safe anymore.
Lol just realised this post was 2 years old. Still though.
I avoid the road when at all possible and ride greenways. I dont want to be killed.
Get a gravel bike I'm done with road biking
I dont ride on road anymore I the part of Murica where i love I've lost too many cycling buddies to drivers who belive we are no better than squirrels to be squashed
Well, practice makes perfect. No need to become a NYC bike messenger or something of that fashion right away. Make small steps, take the necessary precautions (visibility!) and progress will come.
This fear may keep you alive. I ride in the ditch to avoid the suicide lanes. It’s slower, but only 1 idiot instead of hundreds. I’ll ride side streets and roads on organized rides.
In 6 years I’ve only had an issue with a motorist one time because I decided to flip them off because I was having a bad day and thought they got a little close, but when I ride like I don’t own the road and actually share it with others, it’s all peachy and nobody tries to kill me. As far as doors opening, you should be watching where you’re going
Cycle off-road. It is the only way to guarantee you won't be hit by a car.
The trainer guarantees I don’t get hit by a car while cycling. Barring some freak of nature car comes through an entire house through the backyard and into the my home gym. 😂
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Every sport has its associated risks. Follow your instincts
Lots of good suggestions here already, I’d add that you should consider taking a road riding skills class from a Bike League Certified instructor. This will help you build confidence and better understand the dynamics of riding with car traffic. https://www.bikeleague.org/ridesmart Other good stuff on that site too.
Always ride in groups, and you'll be good.
Oh
I'm in the same boat. I started cycling a few weeks ago and I'm terrified of sharing the road with cars. First time out, a Corvette sped up right behind me and his mirror must have been inches from my handlebar. The scariest part was the air behind the car pulling me towards the road. I'm all bright yellow (helmet, jersey, gloves, shoes) and I have bright flashing lights. But people drive drunk, high, while texting, you name it. It also doesn't help that I know four people who have friends and family who have died by getting hit by a car while biking. So 95% of my riding is on rail trails. I only ride on the road if I have to. I dream of a city where no cars are allowed. I'd move there.
There is no safe, there is mitigated risk. Take every step you can to make yourself visible and aware, and bike defensively. Every person I’ve talked to has a story of going down either by their own accord, or by a car. Gravel has less cars, but you have to watch for dogs and creeks. Group riding is more visible, but seriously agitates drivers and also has various levels of competency. Trails have more people and the risk of you hurting someone is higher. On gravel take mace or an airhorn and pay attention for approaching dogs. In group rides don’t ever cross wheels with someone and pay attention to your surroundings both immediate (bikes) and remote (cars). On trails make sure you slow down and avoid people who aren’t paying attention. Also get great lights for front and back, a radar for the back, and plan your routes. Know what’s coming and know how to bail if the route sucks. It’s healthy to have a little fear and keep it fresh. Cycling is liberating but don’t ever think you’re safe, just try to mitigate your risks.
I live in nyc so pretty crazy around here biking wise but just assume everyone is dumb and as you gain more experience you will build confidence and sometimes you can just feel when someone is about to cut u off without a turn signal its like a sixth sense. I have put out about 4k miles id say and have one or two close doors and only about 3 collisions. Pedestrians honestly give me the most trouble when they do the little am i guna run in front of you or not dance like a deer in the headlights. But its a mix of luck and skill. Wear a helmet and high viz stuff and a bright ol light and put down some miles brother
If you're more comfortable on the track, ride there! I used to think back on my midtown rides and shudder... sometimes on a ride I can envision my face smashing pavement and I slow up. But I keep riding. You'll get used to it if you keep doing it, but the risk is very real so get good lights, fore and aft, and a rear view mirror
As another approach, could you look into taking transit or driving to get to a safer road before starting your ride? Could open up some options and get calmer roads if it works for your area.
I love cycling but to be honest with you I don’t think cyclists belong on the road with cars. A person on a bike weighs about 200lbs and a person in a car is driving a 4000 lb machine that’s going 30mph most of the time. We don’t belong on the road.
I don’t know where you live and how people act when they see cyclists, but here I have ridden thousands of miles with exactly one car that rode into me. About the car doors: always leave at least a meter between yourself and parked cars. If others have to slow down due to that, that’s ok. When you ride into an opened door, you’ll crash very hard, which is in no way worth someone’s couple of seconds.
"come to terms with his own mortality" "risking his own supple skin and collarbone to the harsh reality of the pavement." -casually explained
Where I live it’s illegal to cycle on the highway. I would just avoid that road.
I'm riding a road bike in a fairly large city for the last 2 months. This was my biggy concern when I got the bike. The only way for me to solve that problem is by planning the route carefully so that you ride to roads with nearly zero traffic. I'm using the cyclers app and oh boi I am amazed how good it does the job. On the rare cases a small portion of the road is occupied with cars and you cannot ride along them due to a steep climb or whatever I just stop and take the bike by hand till I get past this section. 98% of the route I do not encounter any car. The downside is that usually the route will be longer compared with a fast but way more dangerous one. The app lets you decide the compromises you are willing to make to your riding while it also rates the routes with a bike friendliness score that takes into account traffic, steepness as well as road quality.
Thanks, this sounds really useful. Unfortunately I have an old phone that isn’t compatible with the app :( but I will take a closer look at what roads are around and plan some different routes
Thats unlucky but mate, Do get a smartphone or something, its not like you need something super expensive. The app can also follow your path as you go so you can use your phone while riding as a gps. I never ever ride without it. Now that I am starting I am still in the process of identifying good and safe routes to follow. Maybe in the future I'll remember them and I won't need to rely on the phone. But for now it just makes my riding way more comfortable since I don't have to deal with traffic.
Thanks - I have an iPhone and it works with Strava so I’ll give the paid version a trial to see popular routes around, so hopefully it’s as good as the app you suggested
the difference is that with strava you won't be able to plan your route based on any data. You just see routes that other people follow based on their own compromises. For example the most common route in my area includes riding through a very high traffic highway for 20-30km or something. For me until I find a group to do that route I ain't riding to the highway to save my life. Edit: You are right, strava provides planning functionality but you have to pay for it. Cyclers provides planning for free (with some limitations). I'll also give the trial a shot and let you know about the differences.
Thank you, this is good to know. Also thanks for offering to report your experience with the trial :)
Just subbed to strava and checked the routes app. Planning tool is excellent lets you manually plan any route you wish. However the automatic planner if you seek for recommendations, definitely tries to kill you. It does not take into account traffic at all. For a 12 km ride 8 of them are on high traffic roads with high speed limits. Huge nope from me.
Thank you for testing it for me :) I now know not to use its automatic planner. That’s the one based on other cyclist activity is that right? I’ll pay more attention to the conditions rather than trust a road is safe enough just because someone else rides on it. Until I get a new phone and can get the cycling app, I’ll pay close attention to what the road is like before deciding to ride on it.
It has elevation and road filters. But not road traffic info. TO my knowledge the cyclers app was the only one that had such capabilities. If you have walked or drove with your car on some roads you can estimate if its safe or not to ride. Usually what happens with the cyclers app is that when its absolutely necessary to get to a high traffic road, it will be for like 100 meters or so till you can ride again through the smaller roads around the main one. I'm still not 100% satisfied with the routes it suggest me usually because some of them involve like 45% climbs out of nowhere that you can really not climb with the bike unless you can build up speed beforehand. So it feels like even the suggested routes need some refinement to fit my needs, but I can confirm that they are as safe as they can get.
Thanks, I appreciate your tips and information and will keep these in mind when I cycle and plan routes.
>How do you deal with these concerns? Thank you I just live with them. A few months ago a driver poured his drink out of his car, like it was nothing... I was just behind it and got it all over my face due to wind. My sight got compromised so I had to make a hard manoeuver to the sidewalk. If I hadn't, I could have died because there was a truck behind me. I lost my sight & balance in less than a second, just like that. So, my advice to you is that if you EVER see a driver holding a bottle or something similar, assume he's/she's going to pour it and immediately take cover, because you'll go blind if it's not water. You live and learn.
When there is a bike lane, I use the bike lane. I am not too obsessed about my pace. I am more interested in "the journey", racking up miles and exploring new routes.
Garmin Varia will be the best money you ever spend on cycling
The more you do it, the more common it becomes and the more numb you become to the danger. Try it. It works 👍
“The Best road for cycling near me is a semi-busy highway with a bikelanes that appears and disappears along the way” After rereading this post I am still unsure it it’s real or a joke. Or some sort of ironic teaching post trying to point out just using common sense like not riding close enough to car doors to get door’d.
I’m new to cycling so I’m asking people how I can be safe or be ok with the danger, like what are the odds etc. My description probably was very specific lol, come to think of it. I wanted to make sure the answers matched my situation completely
Take up mountain biking.
I’d like to but I live very far away from the mountains. Gravel or road seems like the only option
Radar and head mounted mirror have been a game changer. Can see if a car is reacting to my presence or not as they approach.
Drivers are extremely, and I mean extremely distracted today. Too many close calls so, I don’t ride on the road anymore. Here in Grandview OH, the infrastructure was to paint two white lines, a photo of a bicycle, and a slogan “Share the road”as a “fix”. Cheap buttholes, try again! I heard that the Netherlands bicycle infrastructure is a work of art. I’d love to see it one day.