Number one rule for riding a bike in traffic: Be alert.
Number two: Always have an escape route.
Number three: Learn basic bike handling skills.
Number four: Obey traffic laws.
Numbers 1 and 3 might be the most daunting, but they are easily overcome with some practice. This post is largely about number 1: Be alert.
People can and will kill you if you do something stupid on a bike, and sometimes even when you’re doing nothing stupid at all. The best way to counteract this is to be alert.
Being alert is a mindset that is cultivated. It is experience constantly speaking about potential threats. At its core is hypervigilance, and it’s something that is always being learned (consequentially, never fully learned).
Fortunately, learning to be alert isn’t that hard. It takes a little bit of discipline at first, but in time it becomes natural.
The key to being alert is to constantly ask yourself what could happen, given your current surroundings.
Is there a driveway? What might happen? A car might come out very quickly, or a car might pull in very quickly. Be alert: cars may attempt to enter the driveway from the oncoming lane (Left Hook) or from behind (Right Hook). Look out for pedestrians and other bicyclists as well. Always have an escape route.
Are there parked cars on the right? What might happen? They can pull out or open doors suddenly. There will likely be cars approaching from behind. You may need to take the lane so that you have space to react to sudden, unexpected movements. Always have an escape route.
Approaching an intersection? Is there a right turn lane? Prepare for the “right hook”: a car will overtake from your left very quickly, pull in front, smash the brakes, and make the right hand turn in front of you. Worse, they might not see you and simply run into you.
Have an escape route, and know where reaction time is thin: You won’t have time to react to a car’s sudden brake† or sideswipe. Lane-splitting and good bike handling are crucial skills here.
Approaching an intersection? Avoid the “suicide slot.” This is the narrow column of space to the right of cars who have the option to turn right. Cars in this situation behave erratically, and attempting to pass on the right invites disaster: there’s no way out of the slot unless there is a curb and you can hop it without killing a pedestrian.
Avoid the suicide slot: take the lane behind a car. If you can split lanes safely, split away from a lane with a suicide slot. Always have an escape route.
The suicide slot is most common at intersections, but can present itself at other times. You’ll learn to recognize it. Always be wary of being on the right hand side of any vehicle, especially large trucks, and always have an escape route.
Staying alert means listening to what you hear. The sense of hearing is extremely important, perhaps more so than sight. Car tires have a very distinct sound on pavement. It may seem natural to listen for engines, but tires are a far better indicator of speed and distance. A trained ear is a great asset for evaluating threats that aren’t yet visible.
On the other hand, being alert means questioning your senses at all times. Eyes and ears can play tricks, so confirm any suspicions before making any sudden movement in traffic.
____________________________________
* This post subject to change. It’s a work in progress.
†Car brakes are more effective than bicycle brakes.
