BIKING SAFETY AND ETIQUETTE

(Contributed by Marc Vroman)

The main function of the Bay Shore Bicycle Club is to bring people together that
share a common interest in bicycling and in having FUN! Safety is a key part of
having fun. Having a person injured is definitely NOT fun. A secondary
function of the club is to promote bicycling in the community. Consequently, the
club endeavors to promote good cycling habits such that cyclists are viewed
positively in the community. Please take a moment to take our "top ten" quiz to
review your cycling style.

Hopefully, the answers should be obvious, but please read the additional
information about that particular point. Thanks. Have fun and ride
safely!

1. What is one of the most important aspects of bicycling on the road?
a). Having a really cool pair of sunglasses.
b). Having ice in your water bottle
c). BEING VISIBLE.
Although A & B are necessities, being visible is the first safety
device that a bicyclist has. Wear bright clothing, and have
reflectors, lights, and blinkers on your bike.

2. As a cyclist, what is your most important job?
a). Keep the pedals moving.
b). Wave at cute/handsome pedestrians.
c). BEING ALERT FOR CHANGING CONDITIONS.
Being alert is an offensive safety tip. Anticipating the moves
of other cyclists and motorists can literally be a life
saver. Also, road conditions can vary dramatically. Being
alert for railroad tracks, storm gutters, pot holes, and debris
can prevent a spill.

3. What should a cyclist do when riding in traffic?
a). Grab hold of the nearest vehicle to get a free ride.
b). Ride against traffic, so the cars can see you.
c). RIDE IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT IMPEDE TRAFFIC.
Allowing traffic to pass is not only a courtesy, it is the law,
and it is also important to your personal safety. Not impeding
traffic depends on the situation, as the correct action
depends on the road and the number of cyclists. On a wide road,
riding single file is preferred, as the cars should be able to
pass without difficulty, while staying in the same lane. On a
narrow road, it may be dangerous to ride close to the edge.
This may encourage the motorist to try to squeeze through, even
when there is not room. Remember that a motorist and a cyclist
have different perspectives on how much passing room is
comfortable. Consequently, on a narrow road it is critical to
hold your lane. Do not, do not ride the edge of the pavement.
When riding the edge of the road, it is easy to go off the edge
of the pavement. If this occurs, it is likely that the bike
will tip over. Tipping your bike over, right in front of a
moving car is not a good thing! Holding your lane on a narrow
road will force cars to wait until there is a proper passing
lane. If cars start backing up behind you, get off the road and
let them pass. Similarly, large groups of riders are also
difficult to get by, even when riding single file. Take
consideration of the cars. Get off the road if necessary to let
cars go by. They will appreciate it, and you will have a safer
ride.

As an additional point, bicycles are to ride with traffic, not
against it. Motorists are not expecting bicycles to be coming
at them. Consequently, they are not looking for bicycles
coming from that direction, especially at intersections. This
is one of the leading causes of accidents between cars and
bicycles.

4. What is a key component of having a great riding style?
a). Always using your biggest gear, as this impresses people with
your leg power.
b). Having all your gear color coordinated.
c). RIDING IN A PREDICTABLE MANNER.
Riding in a predictable manner is key for safe riding, both in
traffic and with other cyclists. Use hand signals to forewarn
others of changes in direction. Ride in a straight line, do not
follow the edge of the road. Often the road widens, especially
at intersections. If the cyclist follows the edge of the road,
it may give others the impression that the cyclist is going to
turn, when they are not. This can cause GRAVE issues when the
cyclist tries to return to their original lane. When riding in
groups, make sure to slow down cautiously, and to signal people
that you are slowing down, so that riders behind you do not hit
you.

5. When riding in a group, where is the best place to stop to regroup?
a). Any convenient tavern. That way there is time for a quick one
while the slower riders are catching up.
b). At a stop sign, because the group is stopped anyway.
c). ON THE FAR SIDE OF AN INTERSECTION.
A convenient tavern is a good place to END a ride, but like
driving, drinking and cycling are not a good mix. The natural
tendency of a group is to stop at a stop sign. However, this
causes two proglems. First, people tend to congregate right at
the intersection. This blocks traffic and causes issues for
motorists that are trying to use the intersection. Second, when
the group finally decides to leave, the entire group of cyclists
must make it through the intersection. This can be difficult on
busy intersections. Consequently, the best option is to go
through the intersection, proceed a short distance, and pull over
into a convenient driveway. After the intersection, making a stop
is easy because people are still not up to speed and do not have
momentum. Going past the intersection also allows people to go
through the intersections as they arrive, not in one large group.
This is much easier and safer. It also makes it easier for the
group to stay together. If you have ever tried to follow a large
group of people through a series of stop lights, you know how
difficult this can be.

6. When stopping, where is the best location to stop?
a). Just stay on the road. That way your shoes don't get wet if there
is dew on the grass, and it also keeps you out of the poison ivy
and sometimes the ditches.
b). Corn fields, as you can take care of other pressing needs as well.
c). GET OFF THE ROAD, SO YOU ARE NOT A HAZARD TO MOTORISTS.
This is important for small group rides. It is imperative on
large group rides. Large groups of cyclists can block the entire
road if they do not make a point of getting off the road. The
best place is a driveway or similar off-the-road convenience.
This not only gets people out of traffic, but it also avoids the
poison ivy.

8. What is the preferred method of riding up and over hills?
a). In a pickup truck.
b). Be smart, avoid hills altogether by picking a flat route.
c). SINGLE FILE.
Although options A & B have their advantages, they are not always
options that are available. Consequently, when hills are
encountered, ride single file. Hills are notorious for
differentiating the difference in the capabilities of the riders.
When climbing hills, stronger riders will not to pass the slower
riders. If slower riders are two abreast, the stronger riders
are forced into the left lane to pass. Because the hill blocks
the view of incoming traffic, this can be an interesting LAST
choice. Similarly, when going down hill, faster riders are going
to be letting it go. Again, if the slower riders are going two
abreast, this will again force the faster riders into the left
hand lane. In this case, the rider can see if there is on-coming
traffic. HOwever, a car coming up behind the riders will not be
able to see the cyclists. When the car broaches the top of the
hill at 55 mph, they can find themselves on top of the cyclist
before they can slow down. Having the left lane to pass in could
be a LIFE SAVER. This option is not available if the faster
cyclists are using it as a passing lane.

9. What is the purpose of stop signs?
a). They are unnecessary evils brought forth as a plague by the
bureacracy of the DOT.
b). They are a naturally occuring phenomenon of nature, similar to
poison oak or poison ivy. There has been a movement to eradicate
them, but they are protected at the EPA.
c). THEY PROVIDE A PROTOCOL FOR TRAFFIC AT INTERSECTIONS.
Stop signs, of course, control intersections. Consequently, it is
important to stop, check traffic, and then proceed. As cyclists,
we do not like giving up our hard won momentum. This is
particularly true of training rides, where the riders may be racing
the clock to beat their best time. But remember that not stopping
at a stop sign can be a career ending decision. It is also the law.
it also does not impress the public when they encounter cyclists
that are flying through stop signs. So please give us a BRAKE, and
stop at stop signs.

10. What is the purpose of stop signs? Well, techinically this is the same
question as number nine, but I thought it was such an important one
that is is worth asking twice.
a). Provides an opportunity to catch your breath.
b). A minor annoyance, as the first rider can yell "All Clear."
c). A CHANCE TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR MORAL INTEGRITY AND COURAGE BY
STOPPING, CHECKING THE TRAFFIC FOR YOURSELF, AND THEN
PROCEEDING.
Congratulations on your being a paragon of virtue! Taking
the personal responsibility to verify whether or not you
believe it is safe to proceed is not only the morally
correct thing to do, but it may also save your life.
Each rider has a different capability, and a different
comfort level as to what is safe. However, the most
common issue is that the conditions change, and what may
have been an "all clear" for the first rider may be a close
call for the fifth rider going through. Consequently,
demonstrate your leadership capabilities by stopping at
stop signs, and by being willing to delegate authority, and
having each person check for themselves, whether or not it
is safe to proceed. And finally, do not encourage others to
go through a stop sign by yelling "All clear."