I have recently started commuting (in the Puget Sound area) and after reading the Advice sticky I have a few questions (or just one very open one). What are some of the no-no's and should-do's when it comes to bike commuting?

When I ask this, I assume the obvious is already out there. Examples: helmet, lights at night, and so on. I am more referring too, when do you use the sidewalk and when don't you? Do you split cars at a stop light and go to the front, or do you hang in the back where you happen to fall? I know this will show a difference of opinion on some things but I am just trying to learn to be a responsible and efficient commuter. Thanks guys (btw, first post, but I have been using the forum for a little while).

Welcome to the forum!

At a stop light, I head right up to the front and wait for the green. I'll only ride a sidewalk if I feel really unsafe on a road with no bike lane. That said, I almost never ride on the sidewalk. If I need to turn left, I wait for some sort of break in traffic, hand signal like a madman, and move on over into the turn lane.

In the many year I've been riding in the Phoenix area (Tempe & the East Valley area to be more specific), I've only been right hooked once. Several REALLY close calls.... but only hit once. Fortunately at low speed...

Personally, I never ride on the sidewalk. If there isn't a bike lane, you will obviously have to ride in the same lane as cars. Never split cars, ride to the front, etc., because it is so easy for somebody not to see you. Also, if people pass you safely once, you don't want to make them try to do it again. I ride about 1 1/2 to 2 feet to the left of the white line, mainly to force cars to get over as they pass, instead of making a bike and car fit side by side in the lane, and to be more visible. If there is a bike lane however, I ride to the front but I won't pass somebody after the light has turned for fear they will turn without a signal as they reach the intersection. If you can, wear something fairly bright if possible. The biggest tips I can give are to never assume you are seen and always assume the cars around you are going to do something stupid, so be prepared for it.

Ride in the correct direction when you're in the bike lanes (you're supposed to go in the same direction as the automobile traffic.) If I meet you going the wrong direction, guess who is going to move out into traffic?? Not me... in fact, I'll be yelling, ringing my bell, and screaming at you to get out of my lane... All the while, I'll be speeding up to 20-30 mph and preparing for impact. I hope you enjoy being smashed by 225 lbs, a trip to the hospital, and a big fat lawsuit.

Wrong way rider... major "no-no."

Sidewalk is for peds, not bikes. Stay off it, you'll get whacked by cars coming out of driveways and turning into side roads.

Don't filter. Too easy to get hooked by a car that does not see you, and you'll piss off drivers who have to re-pass you. If a line of cars is stopped, line up just like you are a car.

Ride with lights, front and back, even in the daytime. Get really bright ones and they will save your ass more than once.

Ride like everyone is out to kill you.

Take the lane if you need to.

Is good advice, make sure your aware of everything happening around you. Unlike cars, we dont have the steel cage or airbags to save us.

About a meter from the curb as practically possible is about right. Learning to take the lane makes it safer for everyone.

I will start with this: https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/laws.htm

Also, Never split cars. Stay in the 'bike lane' or, 'take the lane'. While most state laws say to ride as close to the right hand side of the road, as is practicable, how close is a judgment call on the part of the cyclist, not the motorist.

I personally 'take the lane' because, I don't want to get doored by someone getting out of their vehicle and, I don't want to get run off the road by someone too ignorant to notice me.

don't blow through red lights and stop signs
don't drive the wrong way on one way streets

when do you use the sidewalk? only when absolutely necessary and not at speed - example: tough intersection and turn where you might get squeezed and piss off drivers

Do you split cars at a stop light and go to the front, or do you hang in the back where you happen to fall? - this is called filtering and is usually OK. there are some situations where it should be avoided - too many options to cover them all here

TRUST YOUR INTUITION!

Welcome to the forum!

Never be intimidated by cars behind you. You may want to pedal faster and that's fine as long as it is safe. Never go faster because of others, especially when you are on a patch of rough road or a road full of debris after a storm. Getting knock off you bike at high speed with cars behind you is a no no.

Always call out to pedestrian who may cross street or whenever you must travel sidewalk. Pedestrian do not walk in straight line. I've seen drunk driver drive straighter than most sober pedestrian walking.

Signal your turns. It's one of those minimal courtesies that we expect from motorists (and on which our safety often depends). Some will argue that you should do all your signaling with your left arm, in accordance with longstanding conventions (e.g. forearm extended upward to signal a right turn). My wife thinks that too many motorists don't understand these conventions; so I point my turn with my leading arm, whichever that might be. Do whatever you prefer, but do signal.

Clearly, it's good advice to ride defensively ...
... since we here have evidence that at least some people you'll encounter on the street are willing to crash into you for strategic reasons.

If I followed all of the rules folks listed above, it would take me an hour+ to ride home every day from work.... I split cars, filter, ride through stop signs/reds, etc...

in some instances it makes sense to feel out your commute and act accordingly

Definitely NO underwear with cycling shorts (padded).

In addition to that, I attempt to be street legal. Around here riding on sidewalks is not permitted, so I don't do that. I signal. I follow right of way rules and expect the same from others. I try to make sure I'm visible. My goal is to be as predictable in traffic as possible, boring as that may sound.

--J

Another good reason to ride defensively ...
... since it isn't only (or even especially) motorists who regard the rules of the road as valid only when convenient. I'm sure I'm not the only commuter who's discovered that one needs to be at least as vigilant about responding to the antics of fellow cyclists.

I would agree with this, and it may be because we're both commuting in fairly dense (population) areas. I filter, I cross against lights, etc... but I do it cautiously (Idaho stops, and whatnot). If I lived in an area with fewer cars, faster flowing traffic, longer distances between lights, etc, etc I might feel differently.

I'll add two:

1. Signal when passing another cyclist or pedestrian. A loud "On your left!" is courteous and will help avoiding a crash.

2. Get a mirror and use it.

Also, I know it is not legal, but I ride the sidewalk in sections of roads with lots of fast moving traffic and no bike lanes. The local police have seen me doing it multiple times and have never stopped me. I think it is just safer some times. If I am on the sidewalk, I always travel in the same direction as traffic on that side of the road, slow down, and yield to pedestrians walking on the sidewalk. You have to be really cautious about cars turning in and out of driveways and side streets.

these are all opinons btw....

GOOD Lights for the rear are not only for your safety, but also kindness to drivers. If they see you and have plenty of time to get over you are both better off than them running up on you before seeing your tiny little $.99 reflector blinky. They may be able to get over... but then leave even less time for the car behind them. Lights bright, and Lights high.

Sidewalk is only used if I am going REALLY slow AND it's empty (waiting on something, getting out of the way to make a call/stop), OR if I'm going the wrong direction. I'll only do that if it's one downtown block, or my last job had a section along the frontage rd to a major hwy... I sidewalked it... don't think i EVER encountered someone else on the hwy sidewalk. I admit... I didn't go slow at that point.

I filter at lights if the line is long enough that I would hold up others from getting to the light. In that case, I split the lane or take the right until I reach the light, or the traffic starts moving... then move into place in traffic. NEVER enter an intersection next to a car. My reasoning.... I can get through a light without holding up cars.... but if I'm waiting far back in line, I would more than likely make cars miss the light because they are stuck behind me. I can do the 25mph that it take to clear the inersection (usually faster than cars)... but I can't do the 35-45 that it takes to make the light from the back of the pack without holding up cars.

For the record... there are various laws, and strong feelings for and against this. I don't care... that's how I ride. And when I'm in a car... I speed too. so ha!

Never assume a driver sees you.

Learn to read the "body language" of cars to tell when they're about to turn. For instance, edging slightly to the side of the lane, irregular braking patterns...there are probably other things I cue off of that I'm not even aware of.

Related to the above, be aware that drivers almost never signal for a turn until they've actually started turning. Lack of a turn signal does NOT mean that a car isn't going to turn.

Watch for turn signals anyway.

If you are passing a line of stopped cars (especially if you are in a bike lane and in commercial areas), watch for breaks in the line. It often means that a "courteous" driver is letting someone from the other direction turn left in front of them. You may not be able to see that car and it will not see you. The break in traffic is often your only signal.

Line up left at intersections, don't pass on the right, and for a good reason.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7X8sdmcX6E

Don't ride on the sidewalk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7zoOBqsJzQ


Don't ride your bike in the crosswalk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6chOGQ2KMo

Don't ride to the right on a narrow lane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6vdJxccuNY

Don't hog a wide intersection
https://www.youtube.com/bodybait#p/u/107/9dMUE3G8hD8

Don't ride in the door zone even if there is a bike lane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RkLziUW7Lo

Don't stare at pretty girls (or boys!) walking on the sidewalk when you are riding in traffic. OK, do, but just be careful!

I always look at the wheels of cars, ones stopped in traffic and ones that are parked. For some reason, it's easier for me to detect when a wheel rolls an inch or two vs the entire car moving an inch or two. Also, any front wheel pointed towards my intended path is a red flag for me.

re: "watching wheels"

my cats watch my feet to see where I'm gonna go

All of the above and: do not ride against traffic / wrong way.

I ride on the sidewalk in 3 different places...1 block each location. Temporary construction issues, volume and speed issues make the areas too dangerous, as I transition around canals to alternate side streets....other than that I never ride on a sidewalk. I do filter up along traffic on certain roads. These lanes are extra wide. If the light turns and I have not filtered all the way up, I'll stop and stay with traffic flow, even though the cars are moving slowly, rather than continue to filter up......Other sections of my commute are on narrower streets and I do not filter up at all there... Overall, I'll filter if I feel I have about 3 ft of pavement width before the gutter.

I run a Dinotte taillight 24/7, you can't have too bright a taillight. At night, I run the brightest headlight I can get....if cars in oncoming lanes are blinking at me, then I figure the light is bright enough. I also run dayglo side lights normally....my battery died, so will risk another 2-3 weeks until my morning commute has daylight, but will definitely have a new one next fall for my dark winter commutes...If you can see me, then I figure I have a fighting chance.

A rearview mirror is mandatory.

In time you will work out how to ride your commute. There are lots of opinions about sidewalks, helmets, lights and all that stuff. If any ride the same route as you, listen. Otherwise..... well, your new here and you will find out. It's not pretty.