Commuting - Conquering fear

Hi all,

I am planning to try commuting to work soon. I have been using my bike for short grocery store trips and riding the bikepaths to get my legs back in shape.

There is/was one section of my proposed commute that is under construction and the road will be hundreds of times better for bikes when done, so I planned to start riding when that is done.

That time is coming up and I still am avoiding the busier roads & cars like the plague. If I commute i will have no choice but to ride on a couple like this.

When I was younger I rode maybe 100 mi a week next to traffic, without worrying. Now, I wouldn't say i'm scared of traffic, but i'm not really feeling ready to jump right in either.

So, how do you guys get over that initial hurdle to get back on the road without worrying about the cars too much. Logically, I know there is a risk and it is fairly small, but still seeing tons of fast moving steel coming toward you with nothing in between & a person yakking on their cell can give one pause, especially at rush hour when there are so many of them.

Hope this made at least a little sense. I am determined to do it, but want to get over the hurdle of fear. I have always found facing ones fears is a far better experience than avoiding them, and that is what I wish to do here.

take care,

Jester

Obviously wear a helmet. In addition a rear view mirror might make you feel like you have more control.

As for my commute, I have designed it to minimize the amount of traffic I am in. I go a bit out of my way to ride around a park that has a dedicated no car lane. However, I am still next to cars for a few miles, and I try to be VERY predictable. I clearly signal everything and follow all the rules of the road.

I say you go for it! Ride defensively and be predictable and watch for car doors opening!

Originally posted by jester69
So, how do you guys get over that initial hurdle to get back on the road without worrying about the cars too much. Logically, I know there is a risk and it is fairly small, but still seeing tons of fast moving steel coming toward you with nothing in between & a person yakking on their cell can give one pause, especially at rush hour when there are so many of them.

I am determined to do it, but want to get over the hurdle of fear. I have always found facing ones fears is a far better experience than avoiding them, and that is what I wish to do here.

I started out riding about 3 miles each way to the bus stop, being extremely careful to avoid traffic. I used nothing but 25 mph. neighborhood streets.

Then we moved. My new home has well over 4 square miles of 25 mph. streets surrounding it, but it's surrounded by a "moat" of higher speed arteries having 40 - 45 mph. speed limits. I was in a pickle.

I chipped away at it piece by piece. First, I conquered my fear of 30 - 35 mph. neighborhood streets, using train and car to supplement my commute. As my confidence and understanding grew, I experimented with different types of roads. Now I feel quite confident travelling from my front door within my suburban "moat" all the way to the parking garage at my work downtown.

Just take your time. Don't try anything until you are ready.

One thing I do: I don't look back unless I have to. If I keep my eyes forward, the picture I see is the traffic passing me at a safe distance, not the traffic barreling down on me from behind. It's safer, too, since I can concentrate on the road in front of me, scanning for sticks, stones, glass, potholes, drains, etc.

Finally, I would say this: if in doubt, take a back route.

:thumbup:

Thanks for the great advice Pete and Repp5.


Originally posted by Pete Clark

One thing I do: I don't look back unless I have to. If I keep my eyes forward, the picture I see is the traffic passing me at a safe distance, not the traffic barreling down on me from behind. It's safer, too, since I can concentrate on the road in front of me, scanning for sticks, stones, glass, potholes, drains, etc.


Pete, by this do you mean you do not use a rear view mirror of any sort?

take care,

Steve

I didn't use a mirror for a long time as my helmet mirror went out of adjustment everytime I wiped my brow. It was more of a distraction than a help for me (some people love them, but I am not one of them). I finally found a mirror that attaches to my brake hood and I like it as it is much like a motorcycle rearview mirror. But no, you don't need a rearview mirror, I think the most important thing is to be predictable and ride on the correct side of the road (right side in the U.S.). I did several thousand miles of city riding without a rearview mirror without a problem.

Steve,

The others have offered great advice. You just have to build up to it. Just like you are building up your legs you have to build up your skill and confidence riding in traffic. When I first got back into cycling I rode almost exclusivley on trails and sidewalks. Little by little riding more in the street. Then to streets with heavier traffic and faster speeds. As your confidence grows so will the roads you will ride on.

I have been commuting to work a few days a week for about 3 months now and I was nervous the first few times too. You get over that quick once you are familiar with the roads you will be on.

As far as the mirror I tried that too. I found I was spending all of my time looking to see what was comming up behind me instead of watching where I was going. I stopped using it pretty quick. As you gain confidence you won't be constantly looking over your shoulder.

Steve

Good luck on your future commute.

I am just getting used to ridding with a mirror that attaches to my glasses so the jury is still out on that. I am told that I jusrt need to get used to it. I do like the fact that I can now see that pick up speeding up to get by me. All the advice above is great, though one thing I found I actually feel safer on arterials than I do on side streets. I think it is a combination of being in peoples safety zone so they don;'t expect us to be there and then of course just not paying attention when they pull out of their driveways. At least on the arterials most people are paying attention.

Originally posted by jester69
...do you mean you do not use a rear view mirror of any sort?

I feel less distracted without a mirror. I feel safer looking at the road ahead. But many people consider a mirror an absolute essential of riding in traffic.

With me, I find I spend too much time looking behind in the mirror. Furthermore, I find myself cowering over towards the curb, instead of riding on the smoothest part of the street, where I'm more visible.

With overtaking traffic, the most important thing is for the traffic to see me.

But if a mirror makes you more confident, use one. I probably would, if I had the self-control not to look in it every 5 seconds.

;)

I'll never forget my first night ride home. I ride home along an old highway which is more of a tourist route these days. Part of the ride includes a climb of about 2.5 kms - the speed limit is 80km/h (50 miles) .
Anyway my first night ride, I'm riding the hill hard to try and get over the top before the cars come - its raining, all of a sudden I can hear one coming up behind my, I start to tense up - my glasses start to get all fogged from my efforts - it's all going horribly wrong here it comes - it misses!! Since that event I'm happy to report that 2 and a half years and 20,000 kms later I commute five days a week and wouldn't swap this for anything.

I'm not an advocate personally for rear view mirrors - I do not want to know how they miss.

Hi,
have your local library find you a copy of Effective Cycling. it will help a lot.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0262560704/qid=1056502078/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-2067210-5573713?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

As the others have said, you need to approach this gradually. Fear is something that can prevent you riding to your capabilities if you allow it to do so. You need to gradually build up to riding in traffic. You also need to ride in a predictable manner and learn to anticipate the actions of others - this will come with experience.

As Pete said, the most important thing is for those cars to see you. I have logged over 100,000km riding in traffic, and only a small percentage of those were done using a mirror or any kind. I, too, found it distracting (at a time when you really should be concentrating on what's in front of you so as to avoid hazards such as pot-holes and so on). I also found that it gave an inferior and rather distorted view of what was actually behind me, and I found a quick turn of the head to me more effective when I felt the need to see what was there (usually only on the approach to intersections and roundabouts).

A few points to either reinforce or add to the good advice already here:

1. Skill, knowledge and confidence. Skill in handling your bike. Knowledge of road rules and local conditions. Confidence, which comes from skill and knowledge.

2. If you are equipped with all that, you are in good stead to become a legal, conspicuous and predictable cyclist.

3. There are two ways to approach this -- learn by experience (which can take a long time and can be hindered by lack of confidence) or enrol in an Effective Cycling or similar course that will fast-track everything. Having people around you and showing you what to do helps a lot.

4. Plan. Think about a route initially that is quieter but may be longer. Ride it at weekends first. Explore other routes. On the day, take your time. Leave 10 or 15 minutes earlier. Observe the traffic flows. Might it be better to reorganise your start/finish times at work to avoid the heavy, fast-moving traffic?

5. If you are intimidated on the ride, stop in a safe location, drink from your bidon, and collect your thoughts. Rest. Hold your hand out front. If it is shaking, it's because of stress -- either physical or emotional -- which can affect your judgment. Calm down, pick your moment, then continue.

As to mirrors, I have one on one bike, and not on the other. I found myself looking for it this morning on the bike that doesn't have it. I use it generally to identify openings between vehicles that I can move into. But a-l-w-a-y-s check what you see in the mirror and hear behind you, by looking back over your shoulder. That's an art, too, if you want to maintain a straight line.

FWIW

R

I would seriously have a nervous breakdown without my helmet-mounted mirror. Knowledge is power.

As for dealing with traffic anxieties, I don't know where you live, or what the terrain is like, or whether the streets are wide or narrow, twisty or straight... but here are my general contributions:

1). Be visible Most motorists do NOT have ANY interest in colliding with you. There would be paperwork! ;) Make yourself visible with a flourescent-yellow vest, jersey or jacket in the daytime. Equip your bike with one of these (click me) (http://www.cateye.com/detail.php?products_id=71) and switch it on at the first sign of overcast or worse.

Or if you have the money, splurge on a NiteRider Blowtorch H.I.D. headlight combined with their ultra-output, noon-sunlight-visible-for-a-mile taillight, and run it at all times, day or night, like a motorcyclist would be doing. I use their rear flasher and one of their lesser headlights, day & night, for visibility reasons, and if I had a neon-yellow vest I'd go with that too.

2). Be predictable Motorists can see you? Great. Now help them out by being predictable. Signal your lane changes and turns well in advance. Don't hug the curb and then pop out into the traffic lane abruptly when you come to a parked car... drift gradually and predictably out, so you're already in clearance position when you're some distance away from the car parked car. Think about the view from an overtaking motorist's perspective.

When you signal, don't give these skimpy half-hearted little arm signals that last one second and look like a guy pointing out glass on the pavement. Get your arm STRAIGHT out, and hold your signal long enough for people to grasp what you're trying to convey (legally, this would be 100 feet in Washington, but if you're moving fast, also think about the time required for comprehension of your signal).

I use the conventional right-turn signal, which is to hold my left arm in an "L" shape, but I believe pointing the right arm straight to the right is now legal in my state, and might be more intuitive to motorists. I'm not changing my habit after all these years, though ;)

3). Be legal Traffic law is set up to make traffic work properly. These are the rules everyone knows and expects others to know and abide, so this ties in with the predictability theme. Ride like you'd drive, including signalling, stopping (yes really stopping) at stop signs, waiting at red lights (unless they really will never change for you), and using turn lanes and through lanes properly unless there are very serious reasons why it's not prudent (major highways, for instance). If nothing else, rigorously obeying traffic code raises others' opinions of cyclists as road users and ensures that you have a leg to stand on in court if someone collides with you.

4). Be thoughtful Think of other peoples' needs too. If you come to the rear of a line of cars in city traffic, don't sneak up the side if it's going to be difficult for them when they have to pass you again. If you see someone needing to get into your lane, consider opening a gap for them. Acknowledge any acts of friendliness with a cheerful wave & smile :)


/gets off soapbox ;)


Personally, I have a very competitive outlook towards traffic. If someone in a car thinks they're going to pull into the next lane, get the jump on me when the light changes, and then cut in front of me... they'd better be ready on the accelerator, because I am! ;) Another reason to love that tell-all helmet mirror :D

Originally posted by mechBgon
Personally, I have a very competitive outlook towards traffic.

Goes for me, too. It's part of an authoritative approach to riding. Not arrogant, but certainly letting the other party know you are there, and you will stand your legal ground (to a point, of course -- arguing from a hospital bed or coffin is not the desired outcome).

I often have a chuckle when getting away from a standing start when the traffic lights turn green -- my first 6 foot of acceleration is usually much faster than the car's next door.

R

Originally posted by Rowan
Goes for me, too. It's part of an authoritative approach to riding. Not arrogant, but certainly letting the other party know you are there, and you will stand your legal ground (to a point, of course -- arguing from a hospital bed or coffin is not the desired outcome).

I often have a chuckle when getting away from a standing start when the traffic lights turn green -- my first 6 foot of acceleration is usually much faster than the car's next door.

R Me too, I love to shock the natives :D I usually stop back of the line a meter or so, giving myself room to roll slightly and get clipped in when I see the light's getting ready to change. Green light, ROWRR. No throttle lag on bicycles :p

I still remember my first commute in London. I was a pretty experienced (but not enthusiast) rider, and I'd ridden in large cities before, but nothing prepared me for the sheer terror of a badly chosen route into the centre of town.

That evening, I got a decent map out and figured a better way in, to avoid the major arterial car routes. It took me weeks to fine tune the route through many back streets, but once I had learnt how to navigate as a cyclist it was a real joy.

I would say, pick a route and try it early on a Sunday morning to check out any potential trouble spots.

mechBgon :


1). Be visible Most motorists do NOT have ANY interest in colliding with you. There would be paperwork!

Good point! Hey, I just noticed that is an animated GIF. . .

I was having the same kinds of discomforts myself not long time ago. The only think that got me through it is do it anyway for a few days. Very shortly you relax and don't analyze every little thing. That is what is what worked for me - just do it. If you remember, when you started to ride, you most likely worried about falling, turning, etc.. With time you don't even think about these things - these become a second nature. Same goes when you start driving a car, think about clutch, steering, etc.., eventually all that becomes a second nature. The only way to get over it is to continue doing these things. Bike in trafic is the same thing. The "fear" is not a bad thing, however, and I wish that more people were more cautious. I actually find these days cars in trafic more comfortable and predictable than the "bike paths", where pedastrians, pets and children do really unpredictable things just as you approach, probably because they think that there are no cars around. More experienced bicyclists are usually very good, but I wish that many of the others had at least some fear.

I'll repeat what a bunch of others have mentioned by saying that it's a gradual process rather than overcoming a single hurdle. It's not so much "conquering" your fears as it is slowly forgetting about them as you learn they're unnecessary.

When I started using my bike for transportation a couple years ago, I put a lot of planning into my routes in order to avoid the busy streets. It made the routes longer than they had to be, but it was what I needed to do to make myself comfortable. Then, over time, I found myself gradually modifying the routes, first taking a 35mph road to make my route a little more direct, then maybe going on a 40, and now I have one regular route to my parents' house that's exactly the same as the route I take when driving, including a long stretch at 50mph with no shoulder. My desire to get places faster just slowly began to outweigh my fears. Of course, if you don't have any reasonable alternative routes, this buildup might be hard to do, but you could also start by biking to other destinations (friends, grocery store) if those routes are "safer".

The gradual process also means that you don't just foolishly ignore your fears, packing them up in a little box (fear is there to protect us, after all). Rather, you learn that many of your fears are unfounded, and others are eliminated as you become a safer and smarter rider. Nothing we can tell you will make you less fearful; you have to learn it yourself. I use a helmet mirror, and find it invaluable. It tends to be a confidence booster, as I can watch overtaking cars and see that the vast majority of them have no trouble spotting me and take action to avoid me well in advance of their pass. Without the mirror, what I imagine going on behind me is generally far scarier than the reality is.

It's really amazing how much you "evolve" as a cyclist; over time, things that once seemed crazy to you (and still seem crazy to others) become perfectly normal. I think that might be one reason biking for transportation isn't more popular, because people aren't prepared to put in the time required for that growth and change. If someone had plunked me down on that 50mph road a few years ago, I probably would have quickly pulled off the road into the grass, walked the bike a couple miles to a quiter road, found my way home, and declared this whole vehicular cycling thing impossible. Luckily that didn't happen!

Maybe try riding with a club that is near you if they do any urban riding. The local club here does a lot of urban riding on Saturdays and that is a great way to learn the tricks of riding in traffic and get used to riding in the road with cars (not to mention other riders). It might be a' good way to ease into riding with traffic. Just remember to ignore the riders who are bad examples (the ones who ignore traffic controls and so forth). Most clubs I know don't care if you are a member or not to participate.

jester69, you've been given great advice to consider. The only thing I'd add is to learn from the inevitable mistakes, miscues, and close calls. There will be close calls. Don't get discouraged by them. Learn from them.

Overall, I view biking in lots of traffic as being safer than side roads. At least with traffic you have order (believe it or not) whereas side streets are often filled with kids, peds, and doors opening. For similar reasons I avoid parking lots like the plague. Better to zoom along with the traffic flow than to deal with thousands of potential hazards, I think.

Thanks a lot for all the wonderful advice.

I have done much of what was suggested already, but also many new suggestions were made that I think will help me greatly.

Next month (July) is when the road opens that signifies "the day" for me. I have done a bunch of route planning and pored over maps repeatedly. I think i have the best compromise for me but any way i look at it some interaction with traffic is inevitable.

I have bought a light, a pump, and have done a bunch of reading. I think I just need to play in traffic a bit to get used to it. I have done it before, heres to doing it successfully again.

take care & thanks again,

Steve

P.S. here is the light I have:
Cateye EL-300 (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47595397&parent_category_rn=4500821)
and the taillight I plan to get:
Cateye TL-LD600 (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=11068458&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1)
I probably won't need them for the commute, but just in case can't hurt to have them & i sometimes want to go grocery shopping after dark.

Right on jester69! Let us know how it goes!

Originally posted by jester69
I think I just need to play in traffic a bit to get used to it.

That is a great line. That would make a great bumper sticker with a picture of a cycler underneath it or better yet on a shirt or a pair of socks.

Anyway I just thought that was funny. Instead of telling people I was out riding I will now tell them I was playing in traffic.

Jester, good luck on your commute and let us know how it goes after that road opens.

Steve

Originally posted by Neil G.
It's really amazing how much you "evolve" as a cyclist; over time, things that once seemed crazy to you (and still seem crazy to others) become perfectly normal.
Absolutely true.

One other factor that will have an influence in the longer term -- your fitness will increase substantially, along with your speed and acceleration. As all this happens, you will feel more confident of joining the traffic stream as required and as the gaps form. You may well end up in many situations where you want to go faster but you can't because of the traffic flow. That's quite satisfying.

Don't underestimate the benefits of your fitness in commuting.

R

Never stop to search for the better route. Bike needs only thin stripe of asphalt. You will be surprised by your discoveries.

Read and learn from others, but doubt any advice. Think yourself and select what fits you.

You are the captain.

Do you know anyone who's more comfortable on the fast roads, who you could ride with? Not being alone will make you more at ease, and you can pick up some pointers.

Got a blinking rear light?

My mirror has probably saved me a lot in medical bills. If an
obstacle suddenly appears in front of me (car pulling out, massive pot hole, inattentive pedestrian), etc., I need to be able to know instantly how much room, if any, I have to veer out to the left to avoid it. In these circumstances, I don't have time to look over my shoulder. The mirror instantly gives me the feedback that I need.

Originally posted by ViciousCycle
My mirror has probably saved me a lot in medical bills. If an
obstacle suddenly appears in front of me (car pulling out, massive pot hole, inattentive pedestrian), etc., I need to be able to know instantly how much room, if any, I have to veer out to the left to avoid it. In these circumstances, I don't have time to look over my shoulder. The mirror instantly gives me the feedback that I need.
I'm not arguing against mirrors, Tim, but what if someone suddenly pulls out in front of you and you look back in your mirror to check for clearance to veer out into the lane, and there's a vehicle behind blocking you? You have just lost critical response time to slow down and avoid what's happening in front of you.

It would be better to keep your eyes forward and anticipate problems ahead, maintaining a safe speed so you can stop if necessary.

In general, I find that thinking about my commute is scarier than actually doing it. I have a short commute but it's on a 45 mph arterial and goes through the busiest intersection in the state. The road narrows the closer I get to town and gets really bad in front of the Super Walmart. I do use a brake hood mirror to see if and when I can dodge the potholes in the bike lane. When I think ahead to the commute, lying in bed at night, I imagine all sorts of terrible things but there is something about actually being on the bike that is reassuring, provided your traffic and biking skills are up to par.

On occasion, when the intersection is really bad (like our infamous Malfunction Junction here in Missoula) I will just bail, get off the bike at a corner and take the crosswalk. With that option at least I don't have to stress about an intersection all the way back from a long group ride, when I may be too tired mentally to cope with crossing multiple lanes to do a left turn, for example. Sometimes the traffic clears suddenly and I can do it on the bike-as-vehicle, and sometimes it's just stupid to try.