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Whether you buy BoJo's claim that London's enjoying a "Summer of Cycling", there's no doubting the number of cyclists out this month and the cool cycle events coming soon. London Freewheel is the big event -- a chance to ride the capital's streets with tens of thousands of cyclists and without the fear of getting mowed down.
Most days, however, getting to work by bike can be a battle with the city's 78,000 peak time motorists. But if you're a new or aspiring cyclist, don't be put off. You can ride safely in London, and here are my ten tips to improve your odds. Please share your tips in the comments!
1. Always assume motorists will turn left without indicating
I've lost count of the number of times a car driving parallel to my right has tried to turn left without indicating. The classic scenario is when the car accelerates fast past you and then turns left without warning. Always, always ride on the assumption that this'll happen, and be ready to brake if necessary.
2. Watch out for other cyclists
Sadly, there's not much solidarity amongst London cyclists, meaning other cyclists are in my top five hazards to watch for. Keep a beady eye on other bikers: cyclists will jump red lights as you cross junctions, pull out without looking, ride too close to you as they overtake and generally behave unpredictably. London cyclists take a lot of risks, which is dangerous for the rest of us. I'm not immune from it. I hurt another cyclist in the only major road accident I've ever had, because I turned right without being able to see the oncoming cycle lane. I hate to say this, but assume the worst of your fellow cyclists.
3. Never undertake lorries and other HGVs
This is an obvious one, but never forget it: many of London's cyclist fatalities come from HGVs turning left on cyclists that they couldn't see. Being on the inside of a lorry is a bad place to be. Either overtake the lorry on the right-hand side, or slow down and let it get ahead of you.
4. Keep your tyres pumped up
This tip helps you go faster as well as ride safer, so what's not to like? Soft tyres makes for poor cornering, which is bad news when cars are whizzing past you just feet away. If you don't have a pump at home, drop in occasionally at your local bike shop and pump up there.
5. Report pot holes
If you ride the same route day in, day out, it's in your self-interest to report pot holes. Some will just give you a nasty jolt in the groin, but the worst can send you flying. Report holes with Fill That Hole.
6. Take the back roads
If you can afford to add a few minutes to your daily ride, you'll enjoy a quieter and far safer cycle commute by taking the back roads. Check out TFL's Cycle Maps or Camden Cyclists' Google Map to find the best route down in your 'hood. Sometimes the back routes are faster too. My Herne Hill to Tate Modern daily commute is quicker via Portland Street rather than Walworth Road because it has far fewer traffic lights.
7. On narrow London streets, occupy the middle
A typical residential street in London has cars on both sides and barely enough room for two cars to pass. The upshot for you as a cyclist: anyone over-taking you in car will be way too close. Follow the London Cycle Campaign's advice and ride in the middle of your lane, making it clear to drivers behind that they'll just have to wait. You'll get the occasional beeping horn, but you'll be safer.
8. Don't give the finger
Sure, it's tempting. But from personal experience I can tell you it's always the wrong response to a driver cutting you up or somehow annoying you. One time I had a white van reverse after me after I gave him the finger for cutting me up; another time I almost crashed into a barrier because an SUV turned left on me without signalling. The advice here's simple: don't ever give the finger. As well as losing any moral high-ground, you're putting yourself in danger.
9. Ignore the cycle lane if it looks dangerous
This is a controversial one and I'm sure some riders will disagree. If a cycle lane looks dangerous to you -- taking you onto the pavement and then ejecting you back on the road at a busy point, say -- then ignore the lane and stick to the road. If you do end up in an accident because you ignored the cycle lane, the legal waters are a bit muddy (see here) but safety should be your priority, so do what looks safest.
10. Get a helmet already
The number of helmet-free cyclists on London's roads continues to amaze me, and I pine for the day when wearing a helmet becomes a legal necessity. In the meantime, although some people (like Mayer Hillman) argue that helmets make you less safe, I strongly recommend you wear one. If it's my head and the concrete versus my helmet and the concrete, I know which I'll choose every time.
For more cycle safety tips, check out the London Cycle Campaign's Cycle Sense pages. You can sign up for London Freewheel on its official site.
25 July 2008 01:23pm
Dont forget your oxygen musk! Save the enviroment at the cost of your lungs!
25 July 2008 01:31pm
No11 - give yourself at least a metre from the kerb, otherwise you're screwed when a car gets too close to you!
25 July 2008 01:43pm
When traffic has stopped in a queue but the cycle lane is still free, always assume people will try to cross the road and slow down. Also, watch out for impatient motorcyclists speeding up behind you in the cycle lane who never afford pedal cyclists anywhere near enough room.
25 July 2008 02:35pm
That's good advice, especially the take the lane part and not using cycle lanes (dangerous, useless, wastes of public money that they are)
http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/ - HMSO UK cycling manual
http://www.johnforester.com/ - Effective Cycling by J Forester, an American text book on a similar, but more scholarly, vein to Cyclecraft
MarkHR
25 July 2008 04:36pm
Yeah, headphones are a dreadful idea when cycling! I used to do a 18 mile-long commute and, getting bored, tried the route with headphones. Bad idea.
As a cyclist, your ears are the equivalent of a motorist's mirrors. You need them open.
25 July 2008 07:35pm
"Don't give the finger" - I always find being absolutely smilingly polite and friendly while ticking off a lunatic really disarms them.
"Excuse me, were you aware what the large yellow box you've just parked in was for? It's an ASL, that means..." or "Excuse me, but I just wanted to check that you were aware of nearly clipping me on that last corner... just checking as I thought you might want to modify your driving style slightly so that in future you don't have to face the horrible aftermath of having seriously injured or killed a cyclist in order just to shave a few seconds off your rush to the next set of lights. Just a thought, anyway, as obviously both the psychological and potental legal ramifications to you if you continued to drive like that might be severe. Anyway, have a good rest of your day. Goodbye... and thanks for not quite killing me back there."
Go with the super-polite and it really disarms road rage drivers. Failing that, keeping a d-lock or a solid pump to hand occasionally prove a valuable deterrant.
I'd also add read "Cyclecraft" - absolutely brilliant book on safe cycling. And don't just take the lane when it's a narrow street - take it whenever necessary/safer for you to do so - big bends in the country, junctions in the city, through road-narrowing schemes, on nearly all roundabouts etc.
25 July 2008 07:41pm
Two more for you:
1. keep an arms' length from parked cars. When I lived in Chiswick a cyclist died because a parked car opened its door without looking and the guy died because he swerved into traffic behind him. Grim.
2. go fast. Sounds odd, but if you keep speed with traffic, I generally find you're safer
26 July 2008 10:49am
They may cost a bit more then your standard tyres, but reflective side wall tyres are a must have during winter, the side profile is usally forgotten when it comes to safety.
28 July 2008 01:07pm
17. I'd also put forward, carry a puncture repair kit. There's nothing more frustrating than pushing your back to the nearest bus stop, or riding with a puncture.
29 July 2008 10:19am
You mention, you can't count the number of times a car has cut you up. Well, in my own experience, it happens rarely. The times it does happen is when you are not reading the roads and taking the primary position. Sure, it has happened, but that would be a huge swerve from the driver, and they plainly shouldn't be in the road, but it's certainly not routine.
As for #10 ... legal? You have to be kidding. That really destroyed the article. I bet you've never had a couple of beers and then cycled as "it's wrong and you lose your reaction times". FFS, read the stats. Implementing a law for adults will bring a huge cut in adults cycling. Sure, it's your choice on the road, but you do realise it would also be law to wear one whilst leisurely peddling down a country towpath.
29 July 2008 11:38am
Anon, I'm glad to hear you're not getting cut up on a daily basis. I do all the "communication awareness position" stuff at junctions and when passing minor roads on my left, but you'd be amazed at how often drivers still cut left on me. In London at least, it's also not always realistic to take the primary position, regardless of how assertive you are.
Helmets -- we'll have to agree to disagree! Incovenient, yes, but if they save just one life, worthwhile. I've looked at the stats on helmets before and the various studies contradict one another.
E.g.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/bicyclehelmetsreviewofeffect4726?page=3#a1004
http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/archive/overtaking110906.html
For now, however, I'll be taking consolation in the Dept for Transport summary that says:
"Bicycle helmet legislation has been associated with head injury reductions"
(although I do admit it also says "Compulsory helmet wearing may discourage some bicyclists leading to decreased bicycle use" which would could make cycling less safe)
05 August 2008 04:41pm
I enjoyed this article.
I also like PsiMonk's comments on how to address bad drivers with politeness. I'll try it next time.
The helmet is a personal choice and should stay that way. Road safety is the issue that should be addressed and reinforced to all road users, including pedestrians.
On the advanced stop line (asl) subject. I am a bit confused to see cyclists all waiting in line by the left side of the road and not making use of the asl. ie there will be one or two people in the asl and all the others queueing up behind them on the left handside of cars. I always feel I'm jumping the queue as I either go in the asl in the primary position or will stop behind the first car again in the primary position. I rarely wait by the left side of a car in case it decides to turn left and will not be able to be see me.
27 August 2008 02:47pm
Get yourself a cycle cam. Invaluable as they will prove either way what really happened in an accident. If nothing happens on your way to work/home then just delete it.
Don't worry about anyone else, just ensure you are safe. If anyone wants to overtake you, let them.
Make yourself seen, cycle in the middle of your lane is very good advice.
Be patient and polite at all times unless you are required to shout (when a driver with their window open is cutting you up witout seeing you on Shepherds Bush Green)...
I commute 14 miles each way and its the best time I have ever had getting to work. A short trip through Surbiton and Kingston, then through Richmond Park, finally ejecting myself from the pleasant surroundings to cycle via Barnes, Hammersmith and finally to Sheps Bush......
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