Category Archives: Safety

Keep It Safe — But Keep It Fun

Wow, that post on cycling more cautiously sure got a lot of attention! In case you missed it, my friend David reminded us in the comments that accidents can happen even to the safest of bikers, because we have no … Continue reading

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Getting Cautious

The comment by Blackpearl in the last post triggered some resonant thoughts in my mind. He’s concerned that road riding is losing its attraction for him, because it’s just becoming too dangerous. I’m not there yet, but I do think … Continue reading

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When Sharrows Don’t Work

I’ve run across several streets with “sharrow” markings lately. Sharrows are generally a great idea. They signify the sharing of traffic lanes between bikes and cars, and thereby let cars know that bikes may be around, may be taking the … Continue reading

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Being Visible

I’ve been riding along some pretty busy roads lately. Most of the time, they have shoulders. Sometimes, they don’t. And shoulders and bike lanes usually end at intersections. So being seen is something I’m always aware of. It seems whenever … Continue reading

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Filed under Accessories, Equipment, Safety

Chasing Pavements

Here’s a guest post from a reader on the other side of the globe, 17-year-old David Low of Singapore. (To remind our American readers, “pavement” is the U.K. English word for “sidewalk.”) Should I give up or should I just … Continue reading

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The World’s Worst Bike Lanes

I consider myself pretty lucky. My town, Austin, Texas, has a lot of cyclists and therefore has paid some attention to cycling routes. Many streets (not enough) have bike lanes. For the most part, I like bike lanes. Yes, you’re … Continue reading

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Filed under Odds 'n ends, Safety

Avoiding the Right Hook

Guest poster Jeff Hemmel encounters the most dangerous situation for cyclists. So there I was, cruising along in one of the widest, most well-designated bike lanes in the county, when the car that had been alongside me for the last … Continue reading

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Filed under guest post, Safety

Professional Drivers

Since beginning biking way back in 2007, I have had a healthy respect for trucks and buses. Not because they’re big and are a threat, but because they are driven by pros. Pros know the rules of the road, and … Continue reading

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Do You Adopt a “Car” Mentality Behind the Wheel?

I had just begun my Tuesday evening ride, one I hope will now become a regular occurrence, now that daylight lasts longer (Hey, DST begins this weekend, doesn’t it?). I was on a gentle downhill leading past a strip mall … Continue reading

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Triggering Green Lights

When I wrote my last post about getting stuck at red lights, a couple of commenters noted that the bike should be able to trip the green light.  The problem is, a lot of us don’t seem to know exactly … Continue reading

7 Comments

Filed under Safety