Bike To Work And Stay Safe With These Quick Tips!

Rena Ragimova Sat, 15 May at 12:51am
Photo by Rena Ragimova.

Photo by Rena Ragimova.

 

 Happy Bike To Work Day, Oakland!  This month has already seen a lot of energy from long-time bikers and their inspired, soon-to-be two-wheeled compatriots.   

For many of us, riding a bike is, well, not always "just like riding a bike".  As cycling becomes more and more popular as the main mode of transport around Oakland, we will be seeing more newbies on the road.  Sadly, we're also seeing many Ghost Bikes around the community.  Oakland Local wants to make sure that you get to work, to class, to the store, or to the bars in one piece.  But how do you do that exactly? We put the question to the East Bay Bike Coalition online community and here are some of the answers they gave us.
How do I watch out for cars?
  • "At an intersection watch the front wheels of automobiles.  Are the wheels straight? Are the wheels turned left?  Are the wheels are turned right?  Are the wheels starting to move?!"
  • "The law says bicyclists have the rights and duties of drivers of vehicles. So act like a driver! You're entitled to full use of a lane, so use it! Pull right to allow faster traffic to pass only when it's safe! Stop for stop signs and red lights! Yield to pedestrians! And don't pass right turning cars on the right!"
  • "Bike predictably, yield the right of way when appropriate, and always signal your turns."
What are some best practices I can use as road rules? 
  • "Be patient, take your time, and give yourself enough time to get where you are going safely. Many accidents occur when the cyclist is in a hurry. Plan ahead and know your route before leaving the house.
  •  The best route to bike is usually not the straightest and almost never the same route you take when driving."
What if I want to pass a motor vehicle?
  • "Change lanes to pass. For motorists, that's about all they need to know for same-direction cyclists.  For cyclists, a lot of safety tips can be derived by applying that concept."
Cars need to follow the rules too!
When I asked about safety on the road, one respondent stressed motorist vigilance and the need for improvement in traffic engineering.  
  • "The problem with this type of question is it puts the cart before the horse. Primary responsibility for road safety is with motor vehicle operators, and (to lesser extent) traffic engineers."
For more information about staying safe on the road, read 10 Ways To Not Get Hit By A Car.
Get some classes to be super safe!
If you'd like some hands-on-handlebars confidence, we recommend you sign up for one of East Bay Bike Coalition's road safety classes.  Laura McCamy, 2009 Alameda County's Bike Commuter of the Year, and contributor to Oakland Local, wrote a great article about her experience at a safety class last month.   As you will read, EBBC's Traffic Skills 101 class is useful to beginners and seasoned bikers like McCamy alike. 
Join the community
And if after all that you still think you know it all, challenge yourself and take the Bike Safety Quiz presented by EBBC.
Once you know your way around, join and support the East Bay Bike Coalition.  On their website you find out about upcoming events and classes, as well as information on getting involved in bicycle advocacy in our city and in the Bay Area.
Be safe, and enjoy the ride!  
Follow OL's bike coverage here: http://oaklandlocal.com/tags/bicycle

 

About Rena Ragimova
Rena Ragimova is a writer and photographer living in Oakland. See her personal blog at http://renaragimova.wordpress.com.