SAFETY ISSUES
Pinch Points
More and more local governments are relying on lane-narrowing techniques as a way as a way to lower traffic speeds. These "solutions" contribute to hazardous conditions for cyclists and do little to slow down traffic.
Sidepaths
Despite the fact that the dangers of these have been proven, they are still being built all over Central Florida.
Bike Lanes
Ironically, bike lanes benefit motorists more than they benefit cyclists! The wider lanes improve traffic flow by giving cars more room to pass cyclists. The cyclist may have less anxiety knowing she's not impeding traffic. But there are many places where bike lanes offer a false sense of security and actually increase the danger. It is important to be mindful of the limitations of bike lanes, and to know when to leave one in order to avoid common collisions.
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Traffic Safety
The Five Layers of Bicycling Safety
Enhanced by Mighk Wilson,
Metroplan Orlando Bike Ped Coordinator and
Cycling Instructor with the League of American Bicyclists
Layer 1: Control Your Bicycle (Don’t fall or collide with others)
If you can skillfully control your bike by starting, stopping, and turning properly, you will not fall down all by yourself or run into others. Do this and you cut out about half of your injury risk. To ride in groups, a cyclist must have good bike handling skills.
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Filling in the Layers:
Most group riders have layers 1 and 5 covered. Some groups are very good about following the rules of the road... others, not so much. Most cyclists today are unfamiliar with layers 3 and 4. Taking a Road I class is the best way for new riders to learn these skills.
The BOBbies will soon be offering a short course in Vehicular Cycling and crash avoidance for experienced riders. Stay tuned.
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Layer 2: Follow the Rules (Don’t cause traffic accidents)
Follow traffic laws, obey signs and signals, use headlights and taillights at night, and use the correct lanes for turns and through movements and you won’t cause a collision with a motorist. About half of cyclist/motorist crashes are caused by cyclists who violate the basic rules of the road. But you don’t do that, right? Combine Layers 1 and 2 and you cut about 75% of your injury risk.
Layer 3: Lane Positioning (Discourage other driver’s mistakes)
Knowing when to use the full lane or to share a lane is something few cyclists fully understand. Your position in a lane is the best way to make yourself conspicuous, to tell drivers what you are doing, and to discourage them from making unsafe movements. Many of these effective lane positioning principles have been forgotten by the modern cycling community, so they may be contrary to what you’ve been taught! Combine Layers 1, 2 and 3 and you cut out about 99% of all potential crashes.
Layer 4: Hazard Avoidance (Avoid the other driver’s mistakes)
There are evasive maneuvers you should know that can help you avoid major motorist mistakes or dodge obstacles. Knowing how to stop and turn quickly helps you avoid motorist mistakes that aren’t discouraged by lane positioning. These skills are not instinctive and must be taught.
Layer 5: Passive Safety (Protection when all else fails)
This is actually the least effective layer. Helmets and gloves protect your most vulnerable body parts as a last resort in case of the very rare failure of Layers 1 through 4, but they do nothing to help you avoid crashes.
The BOBbies offer Road I
Several BOBbies completed Road I classes in December and January. For comments, view this thread on our message board. There are photos of the skill drills in our Gallery.
You can become a safer, more confident cyclist! Learn to avoid crashes by following the rules, knowing common mistakes motorists (and cyclists) make, and practicing emergency handling drills.
Check the Message Board for summer courses.
The BOBbies are committed to safe cycling and will continue to support and promote Road I to the Central Florida community.
Rules of the Road
Florida Law (short version) (long version)
Interpretation:
State Law says you must ride as far to the right as practicable. It does not say as far to the right as possible. There are several situations in which you do not have to keep far to the right and where you should not be so far right.
- When overtaking and passing another vehicle,
- When preparing for a left turn,
- To avoiding hazards such as debris, gravel, broken glass, etc., parked vehicle doors, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards (potholes, drain grates, railroad tracks, etc)
- Or when the lane is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane.
In Florida, the last exception applies to lanes less than 14 feet wide. It allows you the full use of the lane, even if you delay traffic a few seconds. Hugging the edge of a narrow lane encourages motorists to try to squeeze by. If you believe the lane is too narrow, don't invite the traffic behind you to attempt to prove you wrong. It is important to be predictable and consistent, therefore it is appropriate to chose a lane posistion that encourages overtaking motorists to change lanes, and stick to that position. The best spot is often between the right tire track and the center of the lane.
A 14-ft lane, known as a wide curb lane (WCL), is not a common occurence (see map of metro-area WCLs overlaid with popular cycling routes). Most of our lanes are 11-12 ft wide. This may appear wide enough to share with a small car, but it is not wide enough to share with a large SUV, box truck or landscape trailer (see diagram). To be predictable, a cyclist should ride in a consistent lateral line. A cyclist should maintain the majority of her attention forward to avoid the most common conflicts from crossing and turning traffic. Therefore, to be predictable and forward-focused, ride far enough left to encourage vehicles of all sizes to see you and to change lanes. Doing this, you will get far more lateral clearance from the majority of passing vehciles and find that your cycling experience is more enjoyable and less stressful. And if someone does pass too close, you have plenty of space to move right.
Other good resources:
Great lane position video by Dual Chase
Freedom from Fear by Mighk Wilson
Cyclist Inferiority Complex by John Forester
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LINKS
Our Florida Advocates:
Florida Bicycle Association
Bicycling Street Smarts (There are a few things described in the group section that we do differently. But this booklet contains good, over-all information for riding on the road with traffic.)
This is a nice intro to Vehicular Cycling:
Cooperative Cycling: An Introduction To Bicycling Safely With Traffic
There is some good information and stats on road riding here:
Bicycle Transportation Institute
This site is full of great info and essays on cycling safety and advocacy:
Bicycling Life
If you believe in creating a community of safe and educated cyclists who are able to coexist in an equitable and friendly environment, visit:
LAB Reform
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