Commuting - Favorite commuting safety tips

What are your three favorite safety tips for commuters?

Mine (at this moment, anyway):

1. Wear a mirror (but always supplement with a look over the shoulder during merges and turns).

2. Whenever a car is in view, make it a habit to look for the best "escape path."

3. Test your brakes.

4. Don't forget to carry water!

I know I said three; I got carried away.

5. Helmet

6. Helmet

7. Helmet
Actually those are 1,2, and 3, but JonR already used those numbers.

8. Bright colors (yellow best when overcast, orange, red)

9. Headlight and blinkies when dark (even the brightest colors are invisible in the dark). I've even got a blinky clipped to one of those reflective velcro straps intended for keeping pants legs out of chains. Thread it through a couple of vents on the underside of the back, making a nice place for a blinky. I am, after all, a fashion plate if nothing else.

10. Lots of reflective stuff when dark.

11. Car vs bike=bike loses. Don't get mad, just pedal on, shaking your head at the stupidity.

12. Find a good route, not so congested by those crates on four wheels with the bad breath (exhaust.) Preferrably a route with a view!

13. Ride on the road, about 3' from the right edge.

14. Use hand signals. Especially if they give you the Arkansas handshake!

As I have said before...

15. Assume that no one sees you, even if they are looking directly at you. I have had more than one person pull out in front of me, even though they were looking in my direction.

16. Don't ride a ride a tandem from the back seat if you are the only one on the bike...

17. Expect the stupid.

18. Expect the unexpected.

19. See thread - "Check your gear".

20. Give yourself enought time to get there safely.

21. Plan ahead with clothes, food etc.

22. Have fun!

Number whatever--I've applied lots of that 3M brand ScotchLite reflective tape to my commuting bike's frame.

THEY are out to get you, so its not paranoia.

Dont be afraid to control the traffic around you with your road position.

Pick the safest route you can, and get to know every pothole, so you can ride it in the rain and dark.

Make eye contact with drivers.

I agree with y'all.

Make eye contact.

Hand signals (okay, full-five-finger handsignals folks )...waving.

Don't assume that they see you. Be cautious.

Don't upset other people by being a jerk, when they're being a jerk, too. Doesn't help--especially in Southern California...could be packin' something in their car. : (

-get a detailed road map to plan your routes. you'll find roads you didn't know existed and are less traveled. Bonus for getting your maps from the local AAA if you have a membership.

-watch out for sun-glare. it makes it hard for you to see and blinds motorists. get some shades if you don't already wear them and be aware of the motorists' lack of ability to see you.

-pack a small flashlight even if you don't plan on riding in the dark. you never know. i've ridden 7 miles home with a mini maglite held in my mouth when my nicad bike light gave out on me.

-be sure to stop into local stores for food or other necessities wearing your biking garb. It gets the word out about bike commuting and you alway wanted to be the center of attention, right?

Go and ride the route on the weekend before you start commuting and time it so you know roughly how long you will need for the ride.

Ride on the road (I may have said this before) as close as you can safely do so.

Wear a helmet.

Cycle defensively, but be assertive (although not necessarily aggresive).

Expect stupidity from others so you can be prepared for when it happens.

I'll probably have some more later.

Chris

How could anybody who looks like that STILL be waiting!!!?
:D

wear shades... a sudden hit of debris in the eyes can cause intense pain...loss of concentration....crash

To feed off a few previous suggestions:

Lots of reflective stuff when dark.
I use a combo of LED and 4 3-inch reflectors, two red and two amber, on the rear. The LED alerts motorists from afar, while the reflectors show my exact position on the road.

Don't be afraid to control the traffic around you with your road position.
Keep a straight line when possible. Let overtaking traffic judge safe passing distance for themselves. Stay steady.

Pick the safest route you can and get to know every pothole.
Roads that I used to despise for their roughness I can now ride easily since I know where the smoothest places are. Weaving around unexpected bumps can put you in harm's way.

Get a detailed road map to plan your routes.
There are often many attractive routes to a given destination. This can be not only safer, but can provide a welcome change of scenery.

Expect the unexpected.
Always.

Stay mentally focused and alert at all times to your surroundings. Don't depend mainly on your hearing, but rely more heavily on your vision. Buses can sneak up behind you. Car doors can open suddenly. Dogs, cats, squirrels, birds, etc. can come from nowhere. Hidden sticks, rocks, potholes filled with water, and trash can spell trouble. Debris can contain hidden sharp objects or glass. Children may not see or hear you coming. Keep an eye open ahead, behind and all around. Spot trouble before it happens. Be prepared.

I keep a loud plastic whistle clenched between my teeth. It has saved me before.

At $2.00, I reckon it's just about paid for itself.

SIPDE
S] Scan for possible saftey hazards
I] Identify where possible threats could come from
P] Plan an escape route
D] Decide which escape route to use
E] Execute your escape

:irritated Don't make enemies. You might see hundreds of cars every day, but odds are they only see a few cyclists. They'll remember... Random, blatent, acts of courtesy can make you friends out there. You need every one you can get.

:irritated Take control of iffy situations. Sometimes "situations" arise just because motorists don't know/think how to deal with a situation. Communicating intentions (hand signals, nods, eye contact) or suggestions to drivers reduce the guess-work, and reduce associated anxiety.

Do you know the colour coding of alertness used in combat training:
white: away with the pixies
yellow: relaxed but aware
orange: alert for danger
red: danger identified
black: enemy engaged.

Good tips everyone! I will add one:
Develop bike handling skills!

1) Don't drink Johnny B's home-made cherry bounce on the way home from work.

2) Objects seen in the rear view mirror are closer than they appear.

Believe it or not, getting rid of my rear-view mirror was the smartest thing I have ever done. The only purpose it ever served was to give the primates something else to try to hit.

Chris

Personally, I would not be without a rearview mirror. I have a Blackburn/Rhodes barend model on my drop bar. It hangs down and slightly to the side, sticking out not much beyond the bar. Though I don't rely on it 100% for major movements like lane changes (you gotta look), it is invaluable for keeping me aware of what is coming up from behind so I can adjust my road position or get ready to deal with situations that may be developing from behind. I hate having someone pass a little close when I didn't even hear them coming.

I have actually consider, but Rainbabe nixed, the possibility of getting one of those littel bike flags that sticks out to the side, not so much for visibily, per se, as to make me visually wider (I am already actually wider than most. :blush: ) so drivers give a little more space when passing. Most are very good, but a handful either don't realize how close they are or don't care.

Yep. I never (intentionally) ride w/out my mirror.

white: away with the pixies

:confused:Say what???

Originally posted by RainmanP
I have actually consider, but Rainbabe nixed, the possibility of getting one of those littel bike flags that sticks out to the side, not so much for visibily, per se, as to make me visually wider...so drivers give a little more space when passing.
The "Flash Flag" you described has been road-tested and shown to influence drivers to pass you at a safer distance. I cannot think of any reason important enough to forgo using such a valuable safety device.
Even the wrath of our wives!

(Did I say that?)
:eek:

Having a pannier on the side of your bike on which traffic passes tends to motivate them to give you more room.

Chris

I can't remember who came up with this bright idea, but I've been considering it... The rider added a strip of aluminum, to match the width of the handlebars, to the back of the rack. On this strip was added multiple reflectors. The rider, said it was very effective in gaining wider territory from drivers passing by.

Maybe it looked like this from behind?

:beer: :) :( :o :D ;) :p :beer:

It's more like this:

:irritated :beer: :irritated

Where :irritated = 3 inch red reflector, :) = oval amber reflectors and the "toast" is a blinkie.

Reflectors like these are about $1 a pair. They can be attached using zip ties and a little ingenuity.

AlphaG., I have had several compliments from cyling commuters about them, the most recent only this morning.

Somehow, I think there is an instinct that takes over in the mind of motorists that says, "Hm. One of us." Either that, or, "Better give this wierdo a wide berth!"

Originally posted by Pete Clark
It's more like this:

:) :D :beer: :D :)

Where
:) = 3 inch red
:D = oval amber
:beer: = blinkie

Somehow, I think there is an instinct that takes over in the mind of motorists that says, "Hm. One of us." Either that, or, "Better give this wierdo a wide berth!"

SumoDude, Somehow I think it's the last option!

I do like the symmetry of the blinkie in the middle. Now my blinkie is attached to the left side of my pannier.

Did you use aluminum for the bar or what do you recommend?

Originally posted by AlphaGeek
Did you use aluminum for the bar or what do you recommend?
You can probably find something suitable just kicking around the garage, attic or basement. Any material you like will do.

I like the way it makes me visible no matter what I'm wearing...the bike is always "night ready." (It took some fooling around with smilies to get the look.)

:irritated :beer: :irritated