FREE BIKE HELP

This post wraps up our series on lane position, which started with Four Reasons to Avoid the Edge of the Road , and continued last week with Lane Position Choices . This week, we'll take a look at two of the most dangerous situations that unwary cyclists can find themselves in. Spoiler alert: Both of them can be avoided by taking a position away from the edge of the road. 1. How to Avoid the Right Hook This is when a cyclist hits, or is hit by, a right-turning car. This can happen in two ways . Car passes cyclist, then turns right Cyclist passes stopped cars on their right Both of these can happen with or without a bike lane. And as with all intersection crashes, a bike lane does not protect you here. In too many cases, bicyclists may feel safe because they're in a bike lane, and ride right up into a motorist's blind spot. The problem is made worse when the bike lane has been physically separated from the travel lane, such as by bollards or parked cars. Th...

As a cyclist, you are driving a narrow vehicle. As such, when riding on roads, you have a choice about where to position yourself. Car drivers don't have to think about this; they just aim their vehicle between the lines. But you do. Three weeks ago, we presented Four Reasons to Avoid the Edge of the Road : Hazards Intersections Visibility & Vantage Better Passing In that article, we introduced the concept of choosing a lane position when riding on roads, and noted that lane position can also serve as communication. In this article, we revisit lane position specifically in terms of how wide or narrow the lane or road actually is, and what that means to you bicycling on that road. Shoulders Let get this one out of the way. Should you ride on paved shoulders? Definately maybe. Adequately wide (at least 5 feet) paved shoulders on rural roads provide a comfortable place for us slower travelers to ride without worrying overmuch about the faster motorists behind us. Pav...

In the months since we went into shutdown mode, I have been noticing a wide variety of bicyclists passing by my house. While I write this blog mostly for adults, I'm mindful that, as always, lots of children are out there too, starting with the crew who live right across the street from me. If you have children in your life, or just in your neighborhood, you may be wondering about advice for them. So this week's post is about children. How Young is Too Young? Parents who are very into cycling themselves usually can't wait to get their babies on bikes, starting with a child trailer. Pediatricians caution that the baby needs to be old enough to hold their head up by themselves, while wearing a small helmet that fits them snugly. The baby must be strapped in. When you are towing a trailer, be aware of your wider turn radius, so that the trailer doesn't hop a curb or go over a grate or debris while turning. Riding in the street will provide a smoother ride than on the ...