Brothers In Blog

Warm weather has finally come to New England which means I can start biking again. Yes, that’s right. In my recreational time I am one of those spandex covered two-wheeled Lance Armstrong wanna-bes. And, if you’ve ever encountered one of us two-wheeled road warriors while driving your car, you know the aggravation we can cause; however, cyclists don’t have to be such a road nuisance if both bikers and drivers follow a few simple common sense rules of the road.

A Bicyclist Code of Conduct (common sense guidelines for riding on the road)

1. Obey the rules of the road: Common sense without a doubt, however, this simple rule routinely gets ignored. As a cyclist on a public roadway you assume all the same rights and responsibilities as automobile drivers, and are subject to the same State laws and local ordinances. Sorry fellow bikers, we are NOT exempt from traffic laws because we don’t have an engine. A stop sign means stop. Use hand singles to indicate which direction you are turning. Ride with the flow of traffic.
2. Don’t make a car pass you twice: Yes the thin profile of your bike allows you to slip between a car and the curb with ease, but that doesn’t mean you should. When you come to a line of cars at a stop or other traffic situation, don’t cruise to the front. Pull out a little further into traffic and assume your rightful place in the line of traffic. Most cyclist won’t agree with this rule; however, if you practice this simple rule, I guarantee drivers will notice. Then, the next time they encounter you on the road, they’re more likely to you a little extra room when they pass because they’ll know they only have to do it once. If, however, you make cars repeatedly pass you because you slip to the front of the line, then you’ve undoubtedly aggravated the driver. Next time they have to pass you they’ll give you less and less room making your ride more dangerous than it already is.
3. Ride single file: It’s great to ride with friends and family; however, when you ride in a group, ride single file. When you’re out with your riding friends, try to keep in mind, it’s NOT the Tour De France and YOU are NOT part of the peloton.
4. Be predictable: Despite what your speedometer might say about your top speed, a car is always faster. Cars passing you on the left are a fact of biking. Make it easy for cars to pass you quickly and safely by being predictable while you ride. Potholes and road debris often force you to drift further into traffic than you should; however, if you have to pull further to the left to avoid an obstruction, try to do it at an even pace. Always look ahead and adjust your position on the road at a steady pace. Don’t abruptly swing left. Slowly pulling further into traffic might aggravate a driver but at least it won’t scare them like a quick swing one way or another might do.
5. Ride as far to the right as possible: This rule is another one most bikers won’t agree with. They will claim that they are safer further to the left because there is less road debris and the drivers will see them more easily. While I agree with the point of road quality, I disagree with the statement about visibility. Drivers simply don’t like to pass bikers. For that simple reason I suggest staying as far right as possible to make it as easy as possible for them to pass. Take notice that I said “as far to the right as possible.” That statement takes into consideration road quality. If the edge of the road is filled with sticks, glass, loose dirt or sand, then by all means stay further to the left. But only as far as necessary. I have come across far too many bikers that were almost riding in the center of my lane while the easement of the road was clean, dry, and smooth. Under those conditions there is no excuse for riding far to the left.
6. Acknowledge polite drivers and ignore the means ones: When a car has shown you some “road courtsey” acknowledge what they’ve done with a quick wave, smile, or nod of the head. Make it quick and do NOT let it distract you from the road. When someone passes you too close, yells at you, or does some other offensive road behavior, just ignore them. Do a quick mental check of your riding behavior. Are you following the rules of the road and the other guidelines outlined here? If so, then just ride on. Responding to offensive behavior only makes matters worse.

A Drivers Code of Conduct

While the focus of this article was on a bicyclist’s road behavior, there a few points for drivers to keep in mind:

1. Pass far to the left: You may think you are giving a cyclist ample room when you pass. For the cyclist being passed, however, it can feel much different. Don’t make a game of it and see how close you can cut it. Pull as far to the left as you safely can when you pass. And above all, be patient when you pass. If on coming traffic prevents you from pulling to the left, then slow down and wait a moment. The traffic will break and you’ll be able to safely pull to the left and pass.
2. Make eye contact whenever possible: When the cyclist has the right of way at an intersecting road, try to make eye contact and wave them through. Cyclist appreciate it when a driver takes the time to acknowledge their presence in such a manner.
3. Watch those car doors: Parking on the side of the road? Look carefully before opening the door. Roads where curb side parking is allowed pose a serious danger for most cyclists. We try to avoid such roads whenever possible, but alternative routes aren’t always available. In those situations, we have no choice but to ride between the traffic and parked cars. Please look before you open.
4. Bicyclists are NOT second class citizens: Yes some cyclists might aggravate you, but they do have a legitimate right to be on the road the same as a car. Even though they often violate the rules of the road, which I am completely against, they are still vehicles on the road. Your conduct towards them is dictated by the same rules of the road that they often violate. Remember, two wrongs do not make one right.
5. Don’t demand we ride on bike paths: Pathways converted from old train tracks are fantastic places to ride; however, everyone else thinks so too. Take a ride on one of those converted trails and you’ll encounter walkers, runners, rollerbladers, strollers, and first time bikers with training wheels. Sorry but these pathways are no place for the Lance Armstrong Wanna-bes.
6. Don’t judge all bikers based on the behavior of one: This rule is a personal one. Just because you have encountered an arrogant self-centered cyclist doesn’t mean we’re all like that. There are many of us that try our best to follow the rules of the road and the guidelines outlined above. Please Do NOT judge us based on the poor actions one.

Bike riding is a great way to stay in shape, enjoy the outdoors, and get around without using a car. Unfortunately it can also be very dangerous for the biker and aggravating for the motorist. If both parties follow the guidelines I’ve outlined, we can remove some of the danger and hopefully some of the aggravation.

Barry’s 2-Cents:

Great timing for your post as I am taking up biking again as part of my weight loss regimen. I’ve lost 32 pounds to date thanks to Weight Watchers Online and only put 3 pounds back on. I picked up racquetball again, but sometimes I just need more of a view than 4 white walls. I’m also hoping that my 5 1/2 year old will dust off her new bike (5-year birthday gift) and join her daddy for a ride around Salem Lake. That’s right, I’m sticking to the bike trails.

Down here in the South, seeing how close you can come to a cyclist is a year-round sport. If there is any asphalt to the right of the roadside line it’s simply excess asphalt and not meant to be a paved shoulder or a bike lane. In fact, possum crossing the road have a better survival rate than a cyclist traveling in the direction of traffic. When interviewed by EMS, cyclists often cite the last thing they saw was the number “3″ on the back window of the truck that passed them.

A word of advice to those cyclists who feel they must don the latest spandex fashion: if you have to ask the salesperson how much the pants will stretch don’t buy them.

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