Jiggle

The biggest thing you can do to avoid accidents is NOT ride around inexperienced or squirrely riders. There are a dozen group rides in my area and I'll only ride with two of them. Some of those people are downright scary. How hard is a constant speed and a straight line? Apparently, very.

NYMXer

I'm not very experienced and recently moved up to an "A" group where they paceline the entire ride. It is not as easy as it would appear, esp when you are pulling. The "puller" must maintain the pace, no coasting because it forces others to brake behind you, no surging, moving over after a minute or so, yelling out "Clear" as the guy behind you passes your front wheel, looking ahead while looking at the bike in front of you, riding in extremely close quarters, calling out gravel, glass, holes, sticks, walkers, dogs, etc and evading something dangerous on the road with enough lead time for others to react to your callout and more.

That is pretty overwhelming to a newbie like me and I make some mistakes but I learn from them and continue to focus on the ride pace, what's ahead and the guy next to me all at once. The more I do it, the more second nature it gets but it is a learned skill that I have yet to see anyone just step up and master right away. It's a learned skill, an acquired one that comes with time. In our group, the more seasoned veterans will coach a newbie like me a few tips as they circle past me or me past them.

In the end, it is a skill worth mastering because it works at lessening the effort needed to hold a fast pace and allows the group to ride farther too. We cover 38-42 miles in 2 hours depending on wind, climbs and route.

Booger1

When riding along side parked cars,look at doors and front wheels.

Take the lane when needed for safety.Make the cars change lanes or run you down.Takes some faith in humanity to do this!....It will save your butt.

Red light does not mean stop....Don't jump out at the first sign of green....LOOK!...Umpteen times I would have been run over had I gone on the green.

Just because people in cars look in your direction,does not mean they actually see you.....People driving are looking for other cars,not bikes.

Cars with tinted side windows are death.....You can't tell what's going on....They could have a shotgun pointed at my head.

When wet outside,have your bike in an upright position when crossing painted lines or metal in the road.....NO LEANING!

Most important of all,ride like everybody is going to kill you.....If you get hit,chances are they will......Ride defensively!....Getting brushed by a 4000lbs car is not good at any time.

Enough for now.....