5 Tips for Biking with Traffic
How to “Swim with Sharks”
Jodie Gates, owner of Oregon Ebikes, riding her Riese und Müller
Megan Ramey, founder of Bikabout, riding her Urban Arrow
Founders Note
I am squarely in the infrastructure camp as the most effective safety measure to prevent crashes and injuries. Specifically, our walking and rolling infrastructure should be separated from vehicles when the speed limits is above 10 mph. Please do not mistake this blog post or these tips as a replacement for separated bikeways. Until we get the infrastructure that America deserves, we’re in a chicken and egg scenario. The rapidly rising popularity of ebikes or electric bicycles has seduced a whole new group of people to ride (and advocate) and these are tips that will help them be more confident, feel safer and have a better experience as a result. Please, get out and there and advocate for separated and safer bikeways!
Special thanks to Oregon Ebikes for the honor and for making this great video.
Biking Tips
You are not alone for feeling overwhelmed by the thought of biking with vehicles. It is daunting and often cited as the number one barrier for why people don’t ride. These tips will give you ways to prepare for and be comfortable with biking in the street.
Tip 1 - Where are the safe routes?
Look for the “dark green lines” that represent bikeways like this separated cycletrack, sidepaths or trails. Location: Oakland, CA.
Photo by Kyle Ramey of Bikabout
By in large, people driving are empathetic and courteous, but I find that taking streets or trails that are separated from cars, are a lot more comfortable and enjoyable.
In Google Maps, select the layers option in the bottom-left corner.
Select the Biking layer. I also like non-satellite view and turning off the labels. Green routes are bikeways.
Look at Google Maps bike layer and use biking directions. Ranked from the most to least comfortable routes, I like the dark green lines, dashed “neighborhood streets” and lastly, lighter green lines.
Is your city a bike friendly community? If so, they probably have a bike map designed by the city. Check out the League of American Cyclist’s Bike Friendly Community list.
Tip 2 - What are your state’s laws?
Check out this handy state-by-state guide that includes important laws about lights and what you can and cannot do. We want to acknowledge that some laws lead to racial profiling or intimidation and while there are some gray areas, follow our rule of thumb: be kind to others, and you’ll be fine.
Tip 3 - Ride slow, walk your bike, avoid signalized intersections
When you are overwhelmed, there is no shame in getting off your bike and walking across intersections or on sidewalks. Location: San Francisco.
Photo by Kyle Ramey of Bikabout
Take it slow when you ride on a new street or area. Plan your route with unsignalized intersections (stop signs) that do not have a traffic light. When approaching an intersection, take it slow and use your “spidey sense” to pay attention to everyone that is approaching or crossing. When you feel overwhelmed, there is no shame of getting off your bike and walking it across intersections on the sidewalk.
Tip 4 - Be Present, Dependable and Use Hand Signals
Use left and right hand signals. Location: Charleston, SC.
Photo by Kyle Ramey of Bikabout
Being present and in the moment is not just good for the psyche, it’s also a wonderful way to keep you safe, whether driving, walking or biking. Sure, I love to day dream when I’m on a rail trail that stretches on without any street crossings, but unless you’re in Minneapolis, home of the bike highways, good chances that you’ll have a lot of turns and intersections. Command and signal intention to turn or change lanes with your hands. Do not make abrupt movements, which may cause a crash, or risk scorn by others. If you miss a turn, stop on the right side of the street and wait for an opening.
Tip 5 - Give Space between you and Parked Cars
Give parked cars space to avoid dooring or quick vehicle maneuvers. Location: Bend, OR.
Photo by Kyle Ramey of Bikabout
Stay away from the “door zone”. When you have to ride sandwiched between cars traveling and parked cars, it’s counterintuitive to ride your bike closer to the traveling variety, but it’s much safer. This is because of the dreaded dooring, which happens when someone parks and immediately opens their door without looking. Best case, you avoid the door with heart palpitations followed by breaking your arm or organ impalement or worse, the door pushes you into a moving vehicle.
This tip was mostly meant as a PSA for driving. Open your car door with your right hand, forcing you to look back and good chances, you won’t injure or kill someone. And hey people who drive, please advocate for separated bikeways and you won’t have to worry about this.
Illustration by Bikeyface.com
Biking Joy
As you start to ride your bike for daily transportation, you’ll discover that there are so many joyful benefits:
Carrying dogs and kids on bikes sparks joy to you and everyone on the street. Location: Hood River, OR.
Photo by Kyle Ramey of Bikabout
Door-to-door convenience: you control the timing and are not beholden to traffic or finding a parking spot.
Random interactions with people: you will see people and wave hello or stop and have an impromptu conversation.
Seasonal sensory explosion - from the Spring blooming and Fall foliage “firework shows” to a cold winter day’s prickly nose to the way that asphalt steams and smells on a rainy day to gorgeous sunsets, birds chirping, friendly dogs, bakery aromas…your senses will thank you!
Surprise weight loss and appetite - it won’t happen overnight, but give yourself a few months and you’ll realize that you shed a few pounds and be a hungrier.
$$$$- the return on investment for buying a bike is less than a year considering the average cost of car ownership is $10,000 per year. Use that extra money to save or take a much needed vacation.
Pure bike joy. Location: Greenville, SC.
Photo by Kyle Ramey of Bikabout
What did i miss?
Feel free to leave comments below of tips or bike joy that I missed!
Remember, no one wants our tips when we are riding. We don’t tell someone how to walk or what shoes to wear so don’t offer unsolicited advice to someone biking. They will ask or learn as they go and we don’t want to turn them off from our loving community.
