If you love cycling, then heading out on the open road can be a bit daunting. The following tips will make riding your cycle out in the open traffic a bit easier.
Without further ado, let us jump into the list of traffic-handling tips as a cyclist.
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Maintain a Dominant Position
The first tip that you should follow is to keep in mind your positioning while riding on the open road. Never make the mistake of feeling like you have to hide somewhere on the side only because you feel like you don’t have the right to use an open road.
The fact of the matter is that you do have the right to use an open road like everyone else. When riding on clear lanes or streets with slow-moving traffic, when you approach junctions, you can take a bit more dominance with your road positioning.
By doing so, you can prevent other road users from passing you when it is not safe to do so.
On the other hand, when riding on bigger roads where there is faster-moving traffic, you should ideally position yourself half a meter out from the road’s edge. By positioning yourself like this, you will allow yourself to be fairly dominant on the road.
Also, it will allow you to swerve away from any potential potholes, thus keeping your safety intact.
Awareness Makes a Big Difference
This one goes without saying, but you should always be aware of your surroundings, especially other road users. Roundabouts make a good example of the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings as a cyclist. If you follow the rule and you know that you have the right to make your way through the traffic, especially around the roundabout, you cannot automatically assume that other road users will stop or move out of the way to let you go.
On that note, you should be aware of your surroundings and other road users 100% of the time and always take every situation with a little bit of caution. The point is that when you are cycling out on the roads, you should never assume anything. Never assume that someone has seen you and someone is not going to do that really dangerous overtake.
No matter what situation you are in, you must ensure that you have enough room around you to react without crashing into another cycle or vehicle.
Turn Around and Signal at A Junction
When you are out on the road on your cycle, and you are approaching a junction, you should signal as clearly as you can. You can do this by putting your arm out to the side and going in whatever direction you are planning to go.
Now, as you will be approaching a junction on your cycle, you should have a quick look behind you. You can stop signaling if you don’t feel comfortable while looking behind you. But – you should look behind you to check the intentions of the approaching cars – if they are going to do a quick overtake.
Making eye contact is crucial here so you can convey and get their intentions without having to say something to each other. The point is that at a junction, you should turn around quickly for a quick check and then carry on signaling as you come to a stop.
The thing about junctions is that these are often dangerous, and most accidents happen here. So, in case of an accident, you should contact a lawyer, such as the Las Vegas Bicycle Accident Lawyers, right away if you reside in Las Vegas. This way, you will get legal help for injuries and any other damage that might have occurred due to the accident.
If the intersection is clear, you can move out into the middle of the road as you come to a stop. Make sure that it is cleared both ways and wait for the cars to pass you – if it is not clear. Hold out your arm and signal in the direction where you want to go one more time, and then edge out while you keep looking.
Filter Around Traffic
When it comes to filtering through traffic, you should know that it can sometimes be safe, but on some roads, you can find designated spots for bikes right away at the front by the traffic lights. If you are lucky enough, you might find designated traffic lights for cyclists so that cyclists can get moving before the cars.
You should keep in mind that you should only filter through traffic if you feel that it is safe to do so. Filtering through traffic and intersections will help you prevent getting caught up in accelerating traffic. Also, filtering will keep you safer, but only filter at low speeds, preferably less than 15 miles per hour, and when you find that it is really safe to do so.
If you feel the need to overtake a vehicle, make sure that you only overtake on the inside and when you are completely sure that it is safe to do so.
Be Cautious When Riding in Group
You want to be extra cautious when you are riding with a group of other cyclists. When riding with other cyclists, you should be mindful of the road and other road users. Bigger groups can take up a lot of space on the road, and if you are part of such a group, you should be mindful of other road users and accommodate them when you can.
Be cautious, and maybe let other road users know when the path is clear. Put your hand up when it is not. Also, when it comes to riding in a group, watch out for potholes and inform the other cyclists through a hand signal when the path is not clear so that they can avoid an accident.
On that note, if you aren’t comfortable with relying on others to tell you about road safety and potential potholes, the best thing you can do is to maintain enough distance between you and other cyclists so you can stop or swerve in time to avoid potholes or uneven roads.
