Basic Traffic Skills for Cyclists by Heather Fowler

Cultivating good traffic skills is as important to our development as road cyclists as is any other aspect of our training, and is vital to our safety on the road. In general, vehicular cycling is the safest and best model to follow. That is to say, “Bicyclists fare best when we act and are treated as drivers of vehicles”. -John Forester

To accomplish this, think like a vehicle and not a pedestrian. Ride with traffic, not against it. Follow the traffic laws - always. Stop at stop lights and stop signs. Signal your turns. Be predictable and steady. Be visible - wear high visibility colors, use lights after dusk and before sunrise, and choose the correct lane position when you ride.

Lane choice and position within the lane: Choose the right-most lane that goes in your direction of travel and ride as far to the right as is practicable. This means that slower traffic generally stays to the right of the faster traffic flow, just as if the bicycle were a big motor home or any other slow moving vehicle, but you can move to the left for left turns and to avoid obstacles or hazards and you can occupy the entire lane if it would be unsafe to share it. Generally, you should be at least a foot from the road edge (give yourself more room at higher speeds) and about three feet to the right of motorized traffic.

On wide lanes, resist the urge to swing wide and follow the road edge. Instead, travel a straight line, keeping three to five feet to the right of motorized traffic. Staying in this position increases motorists’ awareness of you and keeps you in a location where drivers expect to encounter other vehicles.

If the lane is too narrow for motorists to safely overtake you within the lane, ride further out in the lane (“take” the lane) to make it clear the motorist needs to either pass you in the other lane or slow behind you until it is safe to pass. Squeezing over to the very far right edge of the road in this situation may encourage unsafe passing and a sideswiping collision.

Intersections and turns: Several years ago, I rode for the first time with a good friend who was new to cycling. Her bike and helmet fit properly, she rode with traffic and stopped for stop signs and lights. We were riding on a street with one lane in each direction and a center turn lane. Everything seemed to be going along fine until we came to the first left turn on our route. I checked over my shoulder, signaled my movement out into the lane, moved into the lane, checked over my shoulder again and signaled my lane change into the left turn lane. As I turned left across the oncoming lane and into our destination street I was horrified to see my friend check over her shoulder and then dart across all three lanes. She rode against traffic about 50 feet, crossed the intersecting road from the wrong direction, then turned left onto that road. Luckily, cars saw and yielded to her and she wasn’t killed right then and there. Along the same lines, I occasionally see cyclists at stoplights position themselves in the right turn only lane when their intent is to go straight through the intersection and do other things they wouldn’t dream of doing in their cars.

Navigate intersections by “destination positioning” - position yourself in the right-most lane that leads to your intended destination. If you are traveling straight through the intersection, ride on the right side of the right-most through lane. Within a single destination turn lane (right turn only, left turn only) ride on the right side of the turn lane. Within a dual destination lane (left turn or straight through, right turn or straight through) mentally divide the lane into thirds and ride on the side of the lane which leads to your destination. For example, if you are on a road with a through lane, a dual destination (through or right turn) lane, and a right turn only lane and you intend to travel straight through the intersection, you would position yourself in the left side of the dual destination lane. Doing otherwise puts you where traffic does not expect to find you and possibly into the path of turning cars.

If you are not comfortable making vehicular turns at the intersection, your other option is to get off your bike and walk across as a pedestrian, then remount and resume riding.

Signaling your intentions to other users of the road is a basic part of being visible and predictable and obeying traffic rules. Signal a left turn by extending your left arm straight out and a right turn by extending your right arm straight out. Signal stopping or slowing by extending your left arm straight down along your side with your hand flat, palm facing behind you. Always scan in your mirror and then look over your shoulder to be sure traffic is clear before changing your direction of travel or position in the lane.

Road hazards: Cross cattleguards and railroad tracks at a right angle to avoid catching your front wheel in a gap. Watch for and avoid the uneven pavement that sometimes borders these hazards.

Scan far enough down the road that you can avoid parked cars, potholes, rocks, glass, oil, etc. Generally, this will be at least 30 to 50 feet ahead. The faster you’re going, the farther down the road you need to scan to give yourself more time to react.

Group riding: Cyclists can legally ride two abreast where it is safe to do so. Single up if necessary to facilitate traffic flow. At an intersection, the group should spread out a little to allow everyone to act as individuals, then re-group once everyone is through. Resist the urge to blow through stop signs as a pack, even if there is no other traffic. If you’re in a large group, breaking up into several shorter pacelines will facilitate motorists’ passing you better than one long paceline will.

Motorists notice large groups of cyclists more than a solitary rider. This is our chance to influence their perception of cyclists as a whole, for better or worse. For the good of all of us out there on the roadways, please always ride lawfully. Be safe. Set a good example to up and coming riders. Teach good riding habits by living them. Earn the respect of other road users by riding courteously and predictably. We bolster our right to use the road when we take our responsibility to ride legally seriously.

I encourage all of our club members, seasoned cyclists and newcomers alike, to take one of the Road I courses set up by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) and offered by our very own Arizona Bicycle Club. This course puts into action the principles outlined in this article and is a great way to develop more confidence with vehicular cycling.

References: Effective Cycling by John Forester

The Essential Cyclist by Arnie Baker, M.D.

Road Cycling Skills by Ed Pavelka and the editors of Bicycling magazine

www.bikeleague.org  (LAB website)