Participants Articles Cycling Safety and Etiquette | Cycling Safety and Etiquette |
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| Wednesday, 26 December 2007 | |
The Highway Traffic ActUse of public roads is a privilege, not a right. According to provincial transportation laws, bicycles and cars are similar vehicles, and so are subject to the same rules. We adhere to those rules on the Bike Rally and may remove Riders that disobey them, for their own safety as well as others. But if personal safety and mutual respect is not enough to motivate your common cycling sense, perhaps a little financial incentive courtesy of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) will help: Improper bicycle lighting - $30 Fine - HTA Section 16 (17) If we want to deserve our space on the road with cars, we need to obey the same rules that they do. Think of yourself as an ambassador for all cyclists. When car drivers see us acting like responsible riders, they will have more respect for us and be more aware of us in return. And that makes the road safer for everybody. Riding in trafficIn the Toronto downtown area, the most frequent single type of collision involves motorists opening their car-doors in front of cyclists. Ride far enough in the traffic lane to avoid being struck by doors suddenly opening on cars that are parallel-parked. You may get honked at by drivers who don't know what you are doing, but hold your ground. Don't weave in and out of spaces between parallel-parked cars. Motorists may not expect your re-emergence in their lane, and people about to open their car door ahead of you may not see you in their rear-view mirror. Look through the rear windows of parked cars for someone who may pull out into your lane or open their door. Also watch out for pedestrians who are cutting in between cars and may step out onto the road in front of you Be very cautious at intersections, as this is where accidents commonly occur. Watch out for cars turning left across your path - stand up on the pedals to make yourself more visible and make eye contact with the approaching driver to make sure they see you. Watch the front wheels of the car as that's the surest way to spot any forward movement. Also look out for cars turning right in front of you - don't assume that drivers will signal before turning. If a motorist intentionally harasses you, resist the urge to shout back at them or "flip them the bird". This actually tells the driver that they have succeeded in annoying you and encourages more of the same behavior. At the same time, don't meekly pull off the road, thereby retreating and rewarding the driver. Stay your course and pay no attention - no good can come from confrontations with hostile operators of big metal boxes. Sometimes if you want a piece of the road, you have to demonstrate that you own it - responsibly. Use hand signalsRide predictably and signal your intentions to motorists and other cyclists:
Communicate verbally with other cyclistsThere will be many times during training rides and on the ride to Montreal where cyclists will be riding in close proximinity to each other. It your responsibility to make your fellow cyclists aware of your actions and upcoming obstacles though effective communication. If you are not used to cycling in a group, review this section carefully. And if you are used to cycling in groups, review it anyway. Call out your actions to riders around you. This can be done in conjunction with hand signals, but also allows you to leave both hands on the handlebars for emergency steering or braking. Also, the rider behind you may be looking elsewhere and not see your hand signal. Don't be shy - call out loudly and clearly, for it‘s difficult to hear over the din of traffic and wind: "TURNING LEFT! TURNING RIGHT! POTHOLE! GLASS!" It is important to use words that don't sound like each other so people don't get confused. For example "STRAIGHT" sounds like "RIGHT", so we prefer to use the word "FORWARD". (Insert your own joke about sexual preference here.) If the rider in front of you yells "STOPPING!" or "SLOWING!", tap your brakes and repeat the yell. This is to indicate to others that you've heard them and will also alert those behind you that you are slowing or stopping - you have to pass the announcement back so that everyone can hear it and have time to safely react. It's very important not to slam on your brakes, especially if there are riders behind you! When you are passing a cyclist, call out "ON YOUR LEFT" to let them know that you are there and to avoid startling them. Ride ahead at least three bike lengths before moving in front of them. When being overtaken, continue to ride a straight line and be prepared to protect your front wheel in case the passing cyclist cuts in front too soon. Be awareAlways look ahead at what's coming up on the road. While you are looking for cars or other dangers, also check the road surface for potholes, sewer gratings, railroad tracks, loose gravel, rocks, broken glass and any other flotsam and jetsam that could cause you to lose control or puncture your tires. Cross railroad tracks as close to a 90° angle as possible. Avoid riding on the "road snakes" where cracks in the road have been mended with tar - these get quite sticky in the summer heat. Watch the rider in front of you for hand signals or verbal communication. Be aware of their movements - if they have to swerve to avoid a pothole, so will you. He/she may not know you're there or not have time to signal, so be prepared to react to their actions. Always be aware of what is around you in case you need to maneuver suddenly. Learn to look back over your shoulder without losing your balance or swerving. You MUST ALWAYS SHOULDER CHECK before you switch lanes, or you could cause an accident. And that means checking your right side too - you never know when another cyclist might be next to you. Dealing with obstaclesRIDE OVER IT: Sometimes there is nowhere to go but over an obstacle. Keep your elbows slightly bent and raise your butt off the saddle, keeping your weight towards the back wheel. Keep your pedals at 3 and 9 o'clock so that you will have maximum bend in your knees and will therefore be able to absorb the shock. Try and "lift" the bike so that your full weight doesn't hit the obstacle. As long as your bike is in good condition (take it in for a tune-up and do a safety check if this is in question), it will withstand some serious bumps. If you hear a big metal crack when you hit an obstacle, it's probably just the sound of your chain hitting the bike frame - a common occurrence, and it won't break the bike. Keep your tires inflated to at least the designated pressure indicated on the sidewall. Good hard tires are less likely to get a blowout when hitting potholes. They are also more impervious to glass and debris, as less of the tire is touching the road when they are properly inflated. LEAN AROUND IT: If you can't really move left or right, you can subtly lean your bike to direct your tires right next to the obstacle without swerving. This means that your body stays in the same place, but the bike actually moves under you. Practice this by setting up a water bottle in the middle of an empty road or parking lot and ride right up to it, then almost graze it with your tires while your body stays straight. The crucial tactic in this situation (as in all riding) is to stay relaxed - if you tense up, you may over-steer or brake too much, sending yourself into another rider, car or equally unfriendly object. JUMP OVER IT: If a 2-foot crater opens up in the road ahead of you, and you have a car to your left and the curb to your right, do a bunny-hop. Pull up on both sides of the handlebar while also pulling up on the pedals, which should be parallel to the ground (positioned at three o'clock and nine o'clock). This is assuming that you have toe clips. Practice this move a few times to be prepared for emergency situations - it could save your butt. Don't ignore stop signsNever coast through stop signs - pass through them as a group. The lead rider of the group of cyclists signals, comes to a rolling stop at the intersection, and looks in ALL directions for approaching vehicles. If there are none, the leader yells "Clear!" and moves forward. The other riders in the group follow behind in single file, checking in all directions as they do so, and repeating the "Clear!" signal until they see traffic approaching. If there is a vehicle coming up to the intersection, the crossing cyclist yells "Car/Truck up/left/right!" and any following cyclists stop and wait for the approaching traffic to pass. NOTE: Although this is an accepted procedure on most cycling club rides, it is not legal. By law, a cyclist must come to a full stop and put one foot on the ground at stop signs. Just so you know... Riding in wet weatherBe especially careful when riding in wet weather. Give yourself extra space and time to stop, since the brakes won't grip until they clear the water from your tire rims. When they do grip, you may stop suddenly, so be prepared and keep your weight back over your seat. Avoid riding over puddles, if possible, as potholes may be lurking underneath. Some surfaces can be especially slippery when wet - watch out for metal and wooden bridges, manhole covers, gutters, train tracks, road markings and fallen leaves. If you have to ride over any of these surfaces, don't apply the brakes and don't turn - ride a straight line to avoid skidding out. Keep your weight centered over the bike and stay relaxed. Always carry a waterproof jacket if there is any chance of rain. Even in warm weather, your body temperature can drop dramatically if you get soaked, causing muscle fatigue (and misery). When you get home, be sure to wipe your bike down and re-lube your chain
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 01 January 2008 ) |
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Extra! Extra!
Bike Rally Merchandise for Sale!This year we are pleased to be offering 10th Anniversary t-shirts and hoodies for sale! Don’t miss your opportunity to get this limited-edition merchandise. Purchases can be made from the PWA office. Stop in to 399 Church Street, 2nd Floor, or make a request by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Hoodies are $35 and t-shirts are $20. Also, for those who missed out on last year’s event, the 9th Annual Friends For Life Bike Rally jerseys are also for sale. A steal at only $45, this jersey would make an excellent addition to anyone’s wardrobe. 
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