A recent article in the Winnipeg Free Press (Bartley Kives, September 9) and some prompting from a friend started me thinking about my own simple rules to help drivers and bicycles co-exist on the roads. As both a motorist and long time bicycle commuter, I also see Winnipeg’s roads from both perspectives, but maybe a little different than Bartley. As a Can-Bike instructor and educator I definitely see some aspects that others might overlook.
I would agree with Mr. Kives’ statements that riding on the sidewalk is dangerous, the city is not overly hostile towards people on bikes and that the city still has some distance to go before it can rank as and among the best.
I would not necessarily agree that there are a lot of places that “it’s freaking horrifying to be in traffic on a bike.” With appropriate education and skills most roads can be navigated safely. While a small minority of motorists can be intolerant, the vast majority of drivers and bicycle riders are reasonable people and given the appropriate education and information, can share the road quite amicably.
Here are a few other things that motorists and people that ride bikes can do to make the streets of Winnipeg a comfortable and pleasant place to ride a bike and reduce the potential for car-bike conflict. Some are common sense, some are counterintuitive while others have simply been forgotten or never learned in the first place.
FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE COOPERATION ON THE ROAD IF YOU’RE ON A BIKE:
1. Communicate: Hand signals are not common used by people on bikes, however they are an essential part of communicating your intentions and sharing the road. Drivers cannot read your mind! Hand signals alert drivers to what you want to do and you will be surprised how often they will let you do just that. And don’t forget shoulder checking. A simple shoulder check also communicates to a motorist that you are considering a change to your position on the road.
2. Follow the rules: In order to get the respect of motorists, you must earn it. Following the same rules will go a long way to helping drivers understand that we are not a bunch of scofflaws that follow their own set of rules. As more people on bikes begin to demonstrate fair and reasonable behaviour, motorists will in turn change both their opinions and actions towards us.
3. Ride predictably and allow space to manoeuvre: The Highway Traffic Act (HTA) states that you are to ride as close as “practicable” to the edge of the road. Practicable should mean SAFE. This means NEVER hugging the curb but instead positioning yourself at least 1 meter away from the curb to maintain a straight line while avoiding the debris, potholes, cracks and manhole covers that litter the edge of most roads. In some situation such as construction or bridges with no bike lanes, practicable may mean taking the centre of the lane. Riding too close to the curb will encourage drivers to try and slide by you in the same lane, but also requires that in the event that you need to avoid a hazard, you must move left into the traffic flow.
When passing parked cars increase this distance to 1.5 meters and stay out of the door zone. Riding too close to parked cars is dangerous and the consequences of hitting an open car door can be catastrophic. And while you are passing by those parked cars, don’t weave in the out from between them. Remember riding in a straight line makes you predictable.
4. At intersections or stop signs, take the middle of the lane: At intersections many cyclists stop beside the curb and rest their foot on it. This allows vehicles to pull up beside you and if they happen to be turning right, puts you in the perfect position for a “right hook.” If you are proceeding straight, that right turning vehicle may “hook” right in front of you. If you reposition yourself to the centre of the lane as they approach the intersection, you will stay in the driver’s field of vision and allow yourself room to manoeuvre when you start up again. Would you prefer to start up with tons of steel behind or in front of you, or directly beside you. The decision is an easy one!
In heavy traffic many people on bikes will ride up along the right hand side of stopped vehicles to reposition themselves to the head of the line. This is another habit that can result in a “right hook” or maybe even getting “doored.” It annoys drivers because they are forced to once again pass by you on the road ahead. If you want to be treated like an equal, you must act like one.
5. Get off the sidewalk: Riding on the sidewalk is illegal and statistically the most dangerous place to ride. Drivers are not looking for fast moving bicycles on sidewalks, they are looking for slow moving pedestrians. Further complicating this are all those uncontrolled intersections like driveways and back lanes. At many of these intersections the driver’s field of vision is blocked or obscured by fences and trees making it impossible to see you until they have already pulled out into your path. Sidewalks are for walking, it’s in the name.
If you ride a bike you need to remember that you are a vulnerable road user, however it is also true that with proper skills and knowledge you can easily navigate the streets safely. The keys are knowledge and skills. We can all improve our bike handling skills. Take a course that teaches actual on road riding skills, you’ll find that there is much you didn’t know and much you can improve on.
FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE COOPERATION ON THE ROAD IF YOU’RE IN A CAR:
1. Stay alert for bicycles: Keep your focus on the road, especially at intersections. You’ll not only avoid accidents in general but hopefully you will see the many cyclists that are now using Winnipeg’s streets. Too often when car-bike collisions occur, drivers claim they did not see the person on the bike. This could be due to the behaviour of the person on the bike, but it can also be driver inattention. Regardless of who made an error, a car-bike collision will result in serious injury or even death for person on a bike.
2. Provide a safe passing distance: At speeds under 60 km/hr drivers should provide a minimum of 1 meter of passing distance. At higher speeds drivers should move over to the adjacent lane. In fact, if the lane adjacent to you is available, use it. For the vast majority of Winnipeg streets there is not sufficient space to pass a cyclist in the same lane. Plan ahead when you see a bike and reposition your car at least partially into the next lane in order to provide sufficient passing distance. It is a frightening experience on a bike to be passed closely by tons of steel and could cause a the person on the bike to panic and lose control. No one really wants to add another statistic.
3. Think before you react: In many cases drivers simply don’t understand what constitutes reasonable or even safe behaviour on the part of someone riding a bike. Let’s start with two of the most common misunderstandings:
– Bikes do not belong on the sidewalk: Riding on the sidewalk is illegal and far more dangerous than riding on the roadway where drivers will actually see a bike coming. Riding on sidewalks is particularly dangerous at intersections where you may have difficulty predicting or even seeing a fast moving bike on the sidewalk.
– The Highway Traffic Act states that bikes are to ride “as close as practicable” to the edge of the road. This does not mean hugging the curb. The edges of many roads contain hazards like ruts, potholes, cracks, manhole covers, and debris. While these don’t represent a problem on 4 wide car tires, they can be a significant issue while balancing of two thin tires. If cyclists are to ride predictably in a straight line and avoid these hazards, they need to maintain a minimum distance of 1 meter from the edge. On bridges with no bike lanes or through construction or other similarly narrow traffic lanes, there is no room to share and so a person a bike may need to take the centre of the lane. We’re not hogging the road, just taking enough space to ride safely.
4. Don’t honk your horn at me: Honking your horn, even if well intentioned, can be very startling for a person on a bike. They are not insulated by steel and glass and the sound of a car horn behind them can cause them to panic and lose control. Save your horn for times when you really need it.
5. Shoulder-check before opening your car door: Bikes should not ride within the door zone of parked cars, but traffic conditions and lack of knowledge result in many people doing just that. It’s easy to check over your shoulder before opening the door just to be sure.
Drivers need to remember that from inside tons of steel and glass you can’t see what a person riding a bike sees, hear what they hear, or feel what they feel. They are vulnerable road users, but with your cooperation they can be just another vehicle on the road.
On point #5 for drivers (check for approaching cyclists before opening doors), it is very useful to develop a habit of always opening the driver’s door with one’s right hand. This causes the driver to turn, making it easy to see cyclists, even when not looking for them consciously. It can quickly become an unconscious habit, which is much easier to keep up than a conscious one.
Great article Dave – and you could add visibility. We can never be to visible (blinkers, reflective vest, reflective stripes – day or night). As a 4 season cyclist (who is still alive), I disagree with #5 (no cyclists on sidewalk) – my curb-side biking zone disappears in the winter – I ride center road on side streets but take the sidewalk on busy roads – and notify/apologize pedestrians when I approach them (very few of them at minus 20).
I agree that visibility is another key. We are heading into that time of year when you need the lights and reflective accessories in order to be visible. I call it dressing for success.
Winter riding does present it challenges and sometimes roads are not the best option. I tend to use the wheel track as it is often the area that is bare pavement, but it can as well be quite icy at times as well.
Good article Dave but I’m not sure I agree with #4 for cyclists. I tend to try to get out of the way of motorists so that they CAN make a right turn on red. No need to frustrate drivers needlessly by blocking their way. I DO watch for their turn signals however to understand their intent.
In the same way that cyclists tend not to signal, drivers often forget this as well. Watching their signals may not eliminate the potential “right hook.” Personally I feel a lot more confident starting up when I don’t have a large vehicle beside me. I generally take the approach that if I were another car they would have to wait behind me, I prefer to consider my safety over a driver’s convenience every time.
I agree Al. Point 4 is just wrong. As a cyclist I ride on the right as close as practical according to the HTA. I am NOT sharing the lane with cars. This area by the curb is my lane. The powered vehicle beside me is in a separate lane just as the car next to them in the median is a separate lane. Of course I watch for them and am careful but I am NOT sharing. Everyday I ride and am passed by hundreds of vehicles. Often I get the chance to pass them. So what? Why is it a concern who passes who. I am connizant of what they are doing and expect they are careful when getting close to me. We share the road NOT the lane. And the difference is significant. If I share the lane as in a very narrow passageway(construction?) I take the middle of the lane and NO car passes me. This is sharing the LANE – one in front of the other. Sharing the road means we drive side by side and are careful to give each respectful distances just like 2 cars driving side by side in 2 lanes.
I am not sure that we are on the same page. I am not saying share the lane, side by side, I am saying take the lane at the intersection. Unless you have a bike lane, you don’t have a lane, you are sharing the curb lane with the car. It seems to be a matter of terminology. Your understanding of sharing is that you “take the middle of the lane and NO car passes” I also take the middle of the lane but I call that taking the lane.
As for passing, I agree that occasionally you will have the opportunity to pass cars and as long as it is done on the left, then it is appropriate. Passing on the right by slipping along the curb is dangerous and is also a quick way to anger drivers who are again forces to get past you.
Great points Dave!
One thing I really like to do while riding my bike is make eye contact and smile at motorists. Or maybe if it’s a hot day and the windows are down strike up a conversation. I like the idea of building community on the road and it works well to remind drivers that you are a living breathing human on that bike.
I agree. I tend to try and control my frustration or anger when a driver passes me too close or cuts me off and instead try to acknowledge only the drivers that are courteous. Just a simple wave or thumbs up is better than the 1 finger salute. Think I’ll try the smile too!
Nice points, Dave. I generally find motorists quite respectful. In fact, I see more ignorance from cyclists than from car-drivers. The riding on the sidewalk thing is so ugly.
The ignorance you speak is often I believe the result of a lack of understanding. There are a small minority of cyclists that will flaunt the law but many simply follow the lead of those that they see on the road. Cycling education is a key ingredient to sharing the road.
Yay! My main problem (as both a motorist and a bicyclist) is that bikes, especially on campus in Madison, do not stop at stop signs. Somehow they don’t think the rules apply to them. And that in turn irritates motorists and causes them to assume all bicyclists are crazy. Sigh. I almost feel that bike safety should be a required course in college!
What is needed is progressive cycling education in schools so that kids grow up better understanding not only the rules but also develop the skills to ride safely. This would lead to better drivers when they finally reach the age where they get behind the wheel of a car. Add more cycling related education into the driver training program and you have the foundation of building a better overall cycling culture.
Reaching the existing cyclists and drivers is another challenge that needs to be addressed. I’m not sure that you would see much buy in for compulsory cycling training at the college level, but having courses that are both available and affordable could reach a fairly broad audience and as we start to see more cyclists displaying better habits on the road, other cyclists will begin to follow suit as well.
Existing drivers also need to be educated on how to reasonable interact with the growing number of cyclists on the road. Many of these drivers do not understand a cyclists rights on the road and see us only as an inconvenience. We need to change the culture of cycling and that will take time and patience.
I agree with Dave Elmore. I’ve been commuting to work for 30 years now and have found motorists have only become more tolerant to cyclists. I’m sitting here in Madison Wisconsin where cyclists rule- I thought I was in Amsterdam or Copenhagen. Cyclists everywhere. Although a little chaotic at times with cyclists going every which way, I’ve not heard a horn since I arrived 2 days ago. Wionipeg has come a long way and will catch up.
I couldn’t agree more with your rules.
I would however add an extra rule, don’t ride your bike on major traffic ways if an alternative street is a block away.
We are on our bikes for exercise so don’t alway take the quickest take the safest which is not a major traffic way.
I also tend to use the routes less traveled but occasionally it works best for me to take the direct route down Portage or another major thoroughfare, even in rush hour. Everyone needs to understand that this can be done safely if you have the right combination of knowledge and skills. Cycling does not have to be viewed as dangerous.
Thanks for the feedback.