Advice for newbie cycle commuter

PrettyFlower90

So I have just started cycling to work this week, it is so much quicker than both walking and driving! I also want to get fitter so thought this would be a good way to get started too.

However I am not confident to cycle on the roads, my journey to work would be full of roundabouts with rush hour traffic both ways to and from work. This week I cycled on the path, there is usually little to no pedestrians. However I am aware I am not supposed to do this. I have got shouted at once so far by someone but I wasn't speeding past them or anything at all.

Any advice to give someone who is new to cycling on the road to try and help me start?

Thanks!

esuhl

As with driving, the most importing thing is observation. If you are fully aware of other road users and can predict what they might do, then you can avoid a lot of trouble.

And you yourself should try to behave predictably: riding in a smooth line, with clear unambiguous hand-signals, etc.

But still, it took me a little while to get used to cycling on roads today. I started off with the idea that cyclists should always stick close to the kerb to let motorists past, but (counterintuitively) it encourages reckless behaviour. You're to the side of the immediate line-of-sight of drivers (so they don't notice you), and they will often try to overtake when there is oncoming traffic.

It really is safest to ride a few feet out from the kerb, and a doors'-width away from parked cars.

When there's more than one lane, ride in the centre of the lane. Again, it means that drivers will see you, and they can easily overtake safely if other lanes are clear.

Junctions are particularly dangerous. You should never let a motorist overtake you on a small/mini-roundabout. On approach, make sure you are in the centre of your lane and hold the lane until you exit the roundabout.

Equally, if you need to come to a stop (in heavy traffic, at a zebra crossing, traffic lights, etc.) make sure that you are in the centre of the lane. Again, this makes you visible, and prevents vehicles overtaking when there isn't room and trying to push you into the kerb.

I think it's well-worth getting some decent flashing lights for use in the daytime.

And I absolutely love having a rear-view mirror at the end of the handlebars. I can see cars approaching without taking my eyes off the road ahead.

Much as I resisted the idea at first, I also bought an AirZound air horn for my bike. It's as loud as a car horn and has saved my bacon a few times when cars have started to pull out right in front of me.

But with all that in mind cycling is great fun!!!

Oh -- and cycling on less-busy roads is a good way to build up your confidence and skills before taking on rush-hour traffic.

Hope you enjoy cycling to work!

PrettyFlower90

Thanks so much for your detailed reply!


I think the issue I have most afraid of is the roundabouts. If it was a straight stretch of road I would feel okay at first, but having to stop and start at roundabouts really puts me off, as its rush hour, you literally have to dart out when you get a second clear, and I don't think I'd be able to do that =(

Norman_Castle

Cycling carefully on quiet pavements is acceptable. Give pedestrians priority, ride slowly and keep your distance. There are a miserable minority who will always find a reason to moan about a cyclist.
http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/3319.html

Look for cycle training in your area.

dacouch

Do you drive a car?

I ask as I find this helps a lot if you then ride a bike as it helps you work out what other motor vehicles are likely to do.

You may find that your local council offer free courses on cycling, this could really help you as well as giving you confidence

Nasqueron

Roundabouts - check car indicators (remember people don't always indicate or indicate correctly) and wait for a safe spot, don't feel like you have to take the first small gap that comes along

brat

Is there no alternative quieter route, perhaps one that takes a little longer, but with less aggressive traffic and fewer roundabouts? What about cycle paths? Are there none at all? As has been said, cycling on quieter roads initially should allow you to build up confidence to then tackle busier routes.

fred246

PrettyFlower90 wrote: »

I have got shouted at once so far by someone but I wasn't speeding past them or anything at all

I put my commute into google maps. Part of the cycle route is along a canal towpath. It's about 2 miles long and because I go to work at the same time I always meet the same man and his dog. The path is deserted. I never meet anyone else. He always stops me and says 'no cycling on the towpath my friend'. I always say 'OK' and carry on. I giggle to myself and wonder how long this will go on for. I always wonder if he really wants me to give him some abuse.

esuhl

fred246 wrote: »

I put my commute into google maps. Part of the cycle route is along a canal towpath. It's about 2 miles long and because I go to work at the same time I always meet the same man and his dog. The path is deserted. I never meet anyone else. He always stops me and says 'no cycling on the towpath my friend'. I always say 'OK' and carry on. I giggle to myself and wonder how long this will go on for. I always wonder if he really wants me to give him some abuse.

Ha ha! Some people are funny. I stopped to let an elderly woman pass me recently. She stopped too and asked, "Is this a path?".

"Erm... I suppose.", I replied. "WELL GET OFF YOUR BIKE THEN!!!" she screamed. I just laughed at her.

I guess she hadn't noticed the toucan crossings on the "path" and had never heard of a "cycle path". And if she thought I was going to ride on a four-lane 70mph dual-carriage way, then she's clearly an idiot.

Another bloke stepped into the road right in front of me, causing me to swerve round him. "Slow down!" he bellowed... as I was riding uphill at 12mph in a 30mph zone. Very odd. Presumably he spends most of his time shouting at every car that goes past him.

parking_question_chap

Try and look for an alternative route. It might be longer, but it might be worthwhile. I could cycle 3 miles to work on the roads, but do a 3.7mile route on mostly cycleways.

What about starting work earlier? will be fewer cars about.

As a general rule, be very careful and consider that the person in the car next to you could well be a moron, so position yourself safely above all else. Every now and then you will be correct.

alexanderalexander

fred246 wrote: »

He always stops me and says 'no cycling on the towpath my friend'. I always say 'OK' and carry on.

Are you sure that is even true? In my area (London) cycling is explicitly permitted on canal towpaths (but the signs do say that you should give way to pedestrians, which I always do).

There are some people desperate to find fault with people cycling. I have several times been wrongly accused of red-light jumping by pedestrians who haven't grasped that cyclists have a separate lights phase from motor vehicles in some places on London's new cycleways.