Road Safety. How To Keep Safe

I cannot see the survey form. But anyway, from a cyclist's point of view, safety in riding is within our powers. If we avoid being in the middle of vehicles. The best lane is the outer lane since cyclists and bikers are considered pedestrians here. However, the outer lane is usually crowded by public transport that stops to pick up passengers, by roadside vendors, by beggars and other street urchins. So the best way for safe riding is to use the secondary roads.

I tend to blend in because I do not want to draw enough attention. I try not to create a lot of fuss and buzz with pimping my bike or using an expensive one. You never know what kind of attention you could get so for my safety it is better to be low key and abide by the road safety rules imposed

Something I've used as a rule of thumb is riding with as much space on the right of me as I want on my left when cars pass me. If I'm all the way to the right of a lane, a car is going to think that's all the room I really need and pass too closely.

Another thing is "controlling" the traffic as much as I can. If there's oncoming traffic and it's not safe for a car to pass, I'll ride in the middle of the road, so that the car behind me will see that the lane is occupied and won't pass me right away. When it's safe for the car to pass, I move to the right a bit to communicate that it's okay to pass.

Safe cycling definitely requires good communication-signaling turns, making eye contact with drivers, etc.

llamacycle said:

Something I've used as a rule of thumb is riding with as much space on the right of me as I want on my left when cars pass me. If I'm all the way to the right of a lane, a car is going to think that's all the room I really need and pass too closely.

Another thing is "controlling" the traffic as much as I can. If there's oncoming traffic and it's not safe for a car to pass, I'll ride in the middle of the road, so that the car behind me will see that the lane is occupied and won't pass me right away. When it's safe for the car to pass, I move to the right a bit to communicate that it's okay to pass.

Safe cycling definitely requires good communication-signaling turns, making eye contact with drivers, etc.

I agree, never assume that the driver behind you is on the same page. It seems like everyone is in a rush and they will try to squeeze in on you or get you to get out of the way. Best to just take the road to prevent them from passing when there is a oncoming car and make them wait. Once the oncoming traffic has passed, assess the "take over" area, and then accommodate them a passing area. Share the road, don't just give it to them like you don't exist.

Hello everyone

Thanks for replying, and your ways of cycling safely are being all noted down 🙂

I realise the survey wasnt included, so here it is.
surveymonkeysurveymonkeyOpen ↗

.com/r/ZSJNGPP

Links do not seem to work, so copying and pasting these 2 individual parts into 1 link will work 😄

Thanks again

I usually just keep clear of the cars as usually, drivers are not always so keen to slowing down for cyclers and most will try to overtake you (from my experience). Therefore, I when I cycle on the roads, I tend to stay on the cycle lane- always remember to value your safety. As some of you have mentioned before, I also make use directing my thumb in the way I am about to turn when entering a new road or exit on a roundabout. Hope I helped! Keep safe.

Most of my riding is on quieter semi country roads in the middle of the week in the middle of the day ( I usually race on Saturdays and train with a group on Sunday mornings) so its pretty good traffic wise but there are still idiots about!!

I keep to the left (New Zealand) leaving about 50cm between my wheels and the edge of the road, wear bright clothing so I can be seen, lights on darker days/morning/night rides (occasionally) and for the last 15 years or so I've had a helmet mirror which has been a life saver - almost literally.

I'm getting a Fly6 too - to record and better complain to Police about the occasional bad driver.

In all my years of riding I've only had one car driver knock me off :mellow: - she got sunstricke going up a hill and her mirror knocked my handlebars. She stopped etc and paid for my new helmet etc. 🙂

Zackiac said:

I usually just keep clear of the cars as usually, drivers are not always so keen to slowing down for cyclers and most will try to overtake you (from my experience). Therefore, I when I cycle on the roads, I tend to stay on the cycle lane- always remember to value your safety. As some of you have mentioned before, I also make use directing my thumb in the way I am about to turn when entering a new road or exit on a roundabout. Hope I helped! Keep safe.

Yeah, I always get the feeling that drivers look at bikers with contempt. I agree with you with saying on cycle lanes. My safety isn't worth staying on the road. There is a time and place to fight for cycler's rights, but the road is not one of them.

llamacycle said:

Something I've used as a rule of thumb is riding with as much space on the right of me as I want on my left when cars pass me. If I'm all the way to the right of a lane, a car is going to think that's all the room I really need and pass too closely.

Another thing is "controlling" the traffic as much as I can. If there's oncoming traffic and it's not safe for a car to pass, I'll ride in the middle of the road, so that the car behind me will see that the lane is occupied and won't pass me right away. When it's safe for the car to pass, I move to the right a bit to communicate that it's okay to pass.

Safe cycling definitely requires good communication-signaling turns, making eye contact with drivers, etc.

I really like your "controlling" traffic strategy. It's a good rule of thumb to follow to keep yourself safe. I think some cyclers get way too occupied with their biking and stop paying attention to their surroundings which is very unsafe.