Originally Posted by
mconlonx
Way too many crash and death threads without a lot of actual safety talk. Worth reviewing the Leage of American Bicyclists "Rules of the Road"'for safer riding:
The League’s five “Rules of the Road” are the core of the Smart Cycling program and will prepare you for a safe and fun bike commute no matter where you are riding.
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FOLLOW THE LAW
Your safety and image of bicyclists depend on you. You have the same rights and duties as drivers. Obey traffic signals and stop signs. Ride with traffic; use the rightmost lane headed in the direction you are going.
BE PREDICTABLE
Make your intentions clear to everyone on the road. Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between parked cars. Signal turns, and check behind you well before turning or changing lanes.
BE CONSPICUOUS
Ride where people can see you and wear bright clothing. Use a front white light, red rear light and reflectors when visibility is poor. Make eye contact with others and don’t ride on sidewalks.
THINK AHEAD
Anticipate what drivers, pedestrians, and other people on bikes will do next. Watch for turning vehicles and ride outside the door zone of parked cars. Look out for debris, potholes, and other road hazards. Cross railroad tracks at right angles.
RIDE READY
Check that your tires have sufficient air, brakes are working, chain runs smoothly, and quick release levers are closed. Carry tools and supplies that are appropriate for your ride. Wear a helmet.
I dislike LAB claiming that these errors are the Rules of the Road. The Rules of the Road are specific sections in all (I believe) state vehicle codes, containing the requirements for all the movements in traffic that drivers may make. When LAB writes Follow The Law what they really mean is Follow the Rules of the Road as stated in your state vehicle code. LAB states, incorrectly, that cyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers; LAB fudges on the issue of whether or not the cyclist should obey the FTR laws, which attempt to prevent cyclists from using the rights of drivers. This may seem too complicated, but since this is the prime contentious issue, it ought to be mentioned.
When LAB writes Be Predictable, they are really saying that you should obey the rules of the road for drivers of vehicles, but, if you notice, they never instruct the cyclist to learn how to operate in accordance with these rules.
When LAB writes Be Conspicuous, they are really saying obey the rules of the road regarding nighttime protective equipment, and don't ride on sidewalks. The recommendation to make eye contact with others has a hoary old history of being made decades ago by someone who thought of cycling as a pedestrian-type activity. For most types of traffic movement, obtaining eye contact is both impossible and unnecessary.
When LAB writes Think Ahead, they offer two different types of advice. The first really means learning how traffic operates, which is best done by learning how to obey the rules of the road for drivers of vehicles (which LAB fails to mention). When you understand how traffic operates, you are best prepared to detect when it is not operating properly and take the appropriate action. The rest of the advice is just normal advice about road surface hazards, plus the open door hazard.
It is desirable to have a condensed summary of safe traffic behavior, but it should not be dumbed down to inaccuracy.