Tips you need to know when cycling on a busy road
Though many cities strive to give cyclists a more convenient access to bike paths, it is inevitable that you’d still have to cycle on the road…with the cars.
For a first timer or even a seasoned cyclist, it can be quite intimidating to cross the road on your bike, especially if you’re alone. Cars, trucks and motorcycles are all sharing this path with you and it’s best that you stay vigilant, confident and prepared to cross an intersection.
But how?
If you’re new to cycling and you’re used to roaming the empty streets of a private subdivision or a public park, the thought of getting hit at an intersection may scare you. Just remember that there’s nothing to be afraid of if you do the right thing and make yourself a visible unit on the road.
Be visible
It is extremely important that, if you’re cycling out at night, place reflectors and blinkers on your bike and if possible wear something reflective too. Blinkers are cheap and can cost around 100pesos to 300pesos.
Look both ways before crossing
This applies to anyone crossing the road because safety is priority. Please don’t take this one for granted.
Use hand signals
While cars and motorcycles have their signal lights, cyclists, at most, have their arms. Thought it may be possible for you to purchase high tech gear to inform drivers on the road that you’re going to turn, most of us just don’t have that kind of money.
When you’re riding out solo…
Turning (Figure 1 and 3)
This takes practice to master correctly. It can be quite difficult if you’re using a drop bar, so when doing this, be sure to hold onto the straight part of your drop bar.
When turning, raise your arm up and wave to the direction you are turning to.
Stopping (Figure 2)
When coming to a halt, be sure to raise your hand up with a fist or open , this is the universally known symbol for halt, also used in the military.
Let others know there’s a road hazard(Figure 4)
It is highly advisable that when cycling in a group, you point at road hazards that you happen to pass by such as potholes, road cracks and glass shards. This will help prevent other cyclists from getting hurt or getting into an accident from not noticing those road hazards sooner. Riding safely in a group is a definite priority.
(Figure 4 — universal hand signal for stop, but in the Philippines Figure 2 is more commonly used because it’s more visible on the road compared to figure 4)
When in a group…
Bump on the road
The thing about cycling in a group is that there are more eyes to see what’s on the road. If you spot something like a bad crack on the road, simply point to it and (this is optional) shout it out to your friends. Doing so will avoid any collisions keeping the group safe. Also, if you notice a cyclist in front of you pointing at potholes, etc., do the same thing to cascade the information to the rest of the group.
Form number of lane
A group of cyclists can take up one whole lane of the road, but there are certain instances how many cyclists should be determined to stay on the lane. If the road is quite wide, 3 lines should do, if it’s a bit narrow, 2 is best, and if it’s a tight road, only 1 line should be observed.
Stay vigilant
Stay alert, many things happen on the road and keep your eye out for any obstacles. You’ll never know if a speedster might decide to stop in front of you or pass by you while you cross the intersection. Also, if you feel sleepy, tired or weak while riding, stop. Do not force yourself if you feel your body cannot take it.
Ride safely!
It may seem pretty basic, but these are essential things to do to ensure your safety on the road. Accidents can still happen but you can reduce the probability of it happening by doing the tips mentioned in this article.
That’s all for now, thanks for reading!
