Technique: How to stay safe on your ride to work

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By Dan Joyce & John Whitney | Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 9.00am

“You must be brave!” Cycle to work and someone will say that, or at least imply it, because cycling on today’s roads is ever so dangerous. Except, actually, it isn’t.

Per mile, more people get killed walking than cycling according to the UK's National Travel Survey and you’re more likely to suffer an injury requiring medical care while gardening than on your bike. Cycling is statistically safe. “Per year, there are 10-15 fatalities due to people falling off bikes with no other vehicle involved,” says safety expert and co-author of Health on the Move, Malcolm Wardlaw.

‘Around 200 under-65s each year die in falls while walking. I don’t remember the last time I read a newspaper report of a pedestrian killed falling down steps, yet far rarer cases of cyclists killed in falls get a lot of media coverage – together with whether the cyclist was wearing a helmet or not.”

Even when you throw motor vehicles into the mix, cycling remains stubbornly safe. It’s a little more risky than driving in the UK, taken as an average, but not much. And it’s not like UK cycle commuters are constantly running the gauntlet compared with their counterparts in the Netherlands. Malcolm Wardlaw says: “The difference in risk between UK cyclists and Dutch cyclists is less than the difference between French drivers and UK drivers. French drivers face higher long-term risks than British cyclists.”

So why are UK cyclists and would be cyclists so paranoid about safety? “Minority status generates fear,” he says. John Franklin, cycling skills expert and author of Cyclecraft, agrees that the perception of cycling risk doesn’t match the reality. “There’s nothing in life that’s risk free,” he says. “It’s about the management of risk, not simply the fear of risk.” As a cycle commuter, managing risk means being assertive, and behaving like traffic so that others will treat you as traffic.

“Cyclists need to learn how to influence others on the road,” says Franklin. “That’s largely determined by how and where you ride on the road. What you try to do is ride in a way that deters other people from starting to put you at risk. If you’re coming up to a side road where quite a lot of traffic turns left and there’s someone driving harshly behind you, there’s a good chance he’ll try to overtake and cut across you to turn left. So you ride in a way and place that if he does do that, he's forced to make a much wider movement to give you more space. And it makes the manoeuvre more difficult for him, so he’s less likely to do it.

“Good positioning is key. Position yourself as a driver with the rest of the traffic, not hugging the kerb. The ‘primary position’ is in the centre of the moving traffic lane. You’re obliging others to acknowledge you as another user of the road and not someone they can ignore. You’re causing them to think." Franklin recommends taking a skills training course. "When people take cycle training, fear is addressed in a rational way," he says. "It’s like removing chains from them.”

8 tips for safer cycling

Riding assertively and with confidence will make you safer too: riding assertively and with confidence will make you safer too

1 Learn the skills

Cycling training today isn’t aimed solely at kids. National Standards training is a three-tier programme covering everything from basic bike control to complicated urban journeys. To find out more or locate an instructor, see www.ctc.org.uk/cycletraining. The bible for safe, skilled cycling is John Franklin’s Cyclecraft (£13, www.tso.co.uk).

2 Get out of the gutter

You should always be at least 50cm from the kerb, and sometimes further. Positioning yourself in the middle of the lane is called ‘the primary position’ or ‘taking the lane’. It makes you more visible and forces cars to overtake properly or wait until it is safe to do so.

Get out of the gutter: get out of the gutter

3 Eyeball drivers

Eye contact with a driver lets you know they have seen you. Look purposefully right at them. Have they clocked you? Good. There’ll be no “sorry, mate, I didn’t see you” moment. It’s useful for almost any manoeuvre, whether you’re turning right or approaching a junction.

4 Signal like you mean it

Signalling broadcasts your intentions to other road users. You’re not asking their permission; you are telling them unambiguously where you’re going. Check over your shoulder early so you can change position smoothly and predictably. If there’s following traffic, eyeball the lead driver, signal clearly and begin your manoeuvre.

5 Magic roundabouts

Highway Code rule 62 says “you may feel safer keeping to the left”. Rubbish, you won’t. You’re less visible to traffic on or entering the roundabout. Take your lane as you approach. Take it on the roundabout too, even if you’re going left. Check, signal, then peel off the roundabout at your exit.

Magic roundabouts: magic roundabouts

6 Traffic light tactics

Don’t jump red lights. It infuriates drivers and you may get T-boned by someone accelerating for an amber. Wait, behind the advance stop line if there is one, and not in the gutter. Take your lane. That way nothing can squeeze dangerously past or left hook you.

Traffic light tactics: traffic light tactics

7 Filter tips

Overtaking on the right is best for visibility. Only filter up the inside if the traffic is stationary – watch for doors opening and pedestrians crossing – or moving at walking pace. Never go up the inside of a long vehicle: you could die. Once you’re past, get back in your lane.

Filter tips: filter tips

8 Safer slip roads

Where the slip road joins your road: cross carefully over to the slip road at the hatch markings before the slip road joins the main road, stopping if necessary, then follow the slip road onto the main road. At an exit slip road: take the slip road until you can carefully rejoin the main road at the hatch markings.

What else can be done?

While good cycling technique is a vital part of staying safe on the roads, it isn't the only answer. We asked three cycling advocates what they felt should be done to improve cyclist safety.

Phillip Darnton, former chairman of Cycling England

"Most people, when asked why they don't cycle, will say, 'it’s too dangerous'. The perception or the fear of danger on the road is the major deterrent to getting more people cycling. There's no one measure which can overcome this and CE has consistently explained that behavior change requires a whole range of interventions.

"It needs proper cycle training like Bikeability; it needs secure cycle parking both at home and at the end of the journey; it needs more consideration by motorists giving space to cyclists as vulnerable road users. It would also benefit considerably from a default speed of 20mph in urban areas – speed and volume of traffic are the biggest single deterrent to people taking up cycling, particularly women."

Jorren Knibbe, barrister and blogger, UK Cycle Rules

"For me there’s absolutely no question about this – cycling will only be safe enough when it's a normal mode of transport for everybody, and it'll only ever get there with a comprehensive network of fully segregated cycle lanes. When I lived in Germany I had no hesitation at all in cycling, didn’t even think of wearing a helmet, and I remember being outraged that the segregated cycle path I took to university cast me out onto the road at a junction for about 20 metres before starting up again. We need to create that kind of atmosphere – an expectation of excellent, continuous, segregated facilities and the safety they provide. I don’t believe a proper cycling revolution can happen in this country without that kind of investment."

Andreas Kambanis, blogger, London Cyclist

"We need to step things up when it comes to cycle training. This needs to be far more widespread and freely available. It drastically alters your riding style  on busy roads – for example, taking a primary position and not riding on the inside of lorries. I truly believe this would help to lower the number of cyclist deaths and injuries. Other than that I believe more effort needs to be put into creating on-road segregated cycling infrastructure.

"The [London] cycle superhighways, for example, could easily be segregated along much of the route. Finally, training also needs to be stepped up when teaching new drivers. This way the next generation of drivers on our roads will be more aware of cyclists. This could be phased into the driving test and potentially require a new motorist to spend part of their lesson on a bike to get a different perspective of the road and how you do feel vulnerable."

The new look Cycling Plus is available now, and this month’s issue features a free 36 page commuting guide full of features like this. To subscribe to the magazine, visit www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/cycling/cycling-plus-magazine-subscription.

You can follow BikeRadar on Twitter at twitter.com/bikeradar and on Facebook at facebook.com/BikeRadar.

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User Comments

There are 37 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 30 of 37 comments

  • A bit town centred, but there are many more hazards there. Love to see "How to avoid the rat runner on a narrow country lane using the mobile while trying to emulate Colin MCrae"

  • If I hear one more car driver saying that "I dont pay road tax" i'll bloody well scream!!

  • @jones1467

    Strange. All I hear when a motorist opens their mouth is a load of meaningless ape-like grunting. And I expect at any moment for them to start throwing faeces.

  • I like that all those photos are Oxford, they have used my commute as an example!

  • @jones1467: It's a very simple argument to win.

    (1) No one pays "road tax". The tax on cars is vehicle excise duty - it is a tax which is in proportion to the polution your vehicle creates. So some low-poluting cars pay no tax either.

    (2) Vehicle Excise duty is a central tax collection - it does not fund road building or maintenance in the same way as "Alcohol Tax" does not fund the building of more pubs or "tobacco tax" does not fund facilities for smokers.

  • Treat every driver as if they may kill you is one tip and watch out for brainless Addison Lee drivers.

  • I did some work for Addison Lee. Great place to work. Lovely people.

    And I commute in London by bike.

  • Sorry I can't agree with segregation unless every cyclist is going below 15mph. I am frequently cycling between 20&25mph and I need to be on an open road that is designed for these speeds. I can frequently match car speeds through towns and a cycle path would and does represent a barrier. I appreciate that every cyclist is not in that position but I don't want to be told I can't go on the road which has happened and would be ridiculous.Segregation is a complete side issue and avoids the real issues about the car culture which sees cyclists as second class citizens.

    Where segregated cyclist paths and roads are created they are frequently designed for much lower speeds and even combined with walkers paths.

    I do strongly believe that the key to safety is to claiming space and only have problems when I have failed to do this and drivers try and squeeze past - Yes you will get a beep and a few words but at least you will be visible, considered and safe.

    And regarding road tax, many people who cycle do have a car. A cycle is not a second class form of transport - it is often simply the best.

    Random thoughts - Tom

  • Never really been able to sign up to the 'eye contact' advice. Tried it when I first read about it years ago and flirt with it still but my experience is that there is a significant proportion of drivers who take the eye contact to mean, "right, he's seen me and knows he'll take the damage if we collide so will get out of my way".

  • @TomBombadil

    "Segregation is a complete side issue and avoids the real issues about the car culture which sees cyclists as second class citizens."

    Quote of the day. Sums up my thoughts better than I would've.

  • +1

  • Someone aught to tell the girl in the pink shirt that wearing sandals on a bike is one of the fastest ways to trim your toenails, just be prepared to not have any toes either.

  • I'v spent the last 40 or so summers riding in sandles and never had a problem

  • Additionally - I would say, don't forget to use the road skills that you take for granted in your car on your bike. Be aware of your environment - shoulder check when manouvering/changing lanes or are unsure of anything (like another cyclist) being behind you. Be confident and take primary when required...being quick and fit helps too!

  • I had a pig ignorant middle aged man threaten to run me over for the first time a week or 2 back on my own road, which was pleasant (been riding 15 years). I commute 17 miles each way on rural roads, and have at least 1 near-miss a day.

    The problem in this country relates to the high volume of traffic on the road, and the frustration this causes motorists, who then take it out on cyclists they see as slowing them down.

    Until we educate (generally older male) drivers on how to treat cyclists and what road tax is actually used for, they'll continue to drive aggresively like they own the road and abuse cyclists at every given opportunity.

  • The advice in this article was all well and good, but across the pond over in my home state of California, drivers seem to be so oblivious to cyclists I would not recommend being assertive and "taking your lane". It may make you look a bit childish, but the safest place is still the sidewalk in suburban areas.

  • @agg25 - "Treat every driver as if they may kill you" +1

    I was taught this by my motorbike instructor. What applies on a machine that can generally keep up with the flow of traffic would equally apply to a bicycle.

    My commute takes me along a major stretch of A-road that connects mid-wales with the valleys, so this is advice taken every day. I'm learning to take the lane so people see me, moving over wher I feel it safe to do so.

  • always include a glare/scowl with the eye contact advice, shows your not scared and that you know the car has seen you and knows your not gonna get out its way.

  • Wouldn't it be great if a free pamphlet with these tips was given away with every bike sold along with a list of local training providers.

  • It really is no different when driving a car, you have to think for the other drivers and anticipate what an idiot may or may not do.

    "Positioning yourself in the middle of the lane" sounds like a recipe for disaster, one day a driver will genuinely not see you and you will be brown bread.

    As a driver and cyclist, what really pisses me off as a driver, is when cyclists are two abreast, it's little wonder cyclists get much sympathy tbh

  • After being (obviously) slower to start moving from the traffic lights, the driver behind me pulled alongside while the passenger shouted at me to "use the cycle lane". This cycle lane was a metre-wide pavement with a large no cycling sign put up on the left hand side.

    I asked if she'd ever read the highway code.

  • If you are not seen you will be 'brown bread' wherever you are on the road.

    The importance of cycling more towards the centre is that there is a greater chance a driver WILL see you. You of course have to be wearing bright clothes, not dark clothes and not be trying to camouflage yourself.

    Not only are you more likely to be seen you can then also avoid all the lethal potholes that are normally more kerbside.

    I feel that many cyclists show their cultural driving heritage in how they ride and think about bikes...........! It does no necessarily mean that they are safer or better riders.

    Tom

  • In South Wales you can get trained with Cycle Training Wales, we trained over a thousand children and young people this year - plus we're a not for profit business too.

    There are lots of other organisations besides the always hyped CTC

  • @ZZiplex - two abreast cycling is perfectly legal - check out the highway code.

    No wider than a tractor and trailer, equally as fast/slow and easier to overtake. Of course two abreast cyclists need to be aware that if they cause a fair sized queue behind, they should move to single file, in much the same way as a tractor driver (or similar eg horse and trap) would be expected to pull over to clear the queue.

  • cycling would be a lot safer if every driver is also a cyclist, even if for one day a year, for one day a year they will be "forced" to cycle a couple of miles on the road. since i started doing a regular commute, while driving i give cyclist a lot consideration when passing them.

  • This article (as well as many of the comments) is making the same old mistake ...... the advice is assuming that all cyclists can cycle at speed.

    They CANNOT , the average cyclist averages 8-12 mph, many less than that.

    Expecting cyclists (the majority) to take primary is totally unrealistic and in my opinion unsafe .

    If you can cycle at (or above) 15 mph then taking primary is far easier, if you're plodding along at just twice walking speed then you will find yourself in trouble if you stick yourself in the middle of the road.

  • @Zziplex

    You're a cretin and haven't got a clue, clearly you know nothing about the rules of the road so kindly remove yourself from it.

  • Zziplex

    Perhaps you could direct me to the part of THE HIGHWAY CODE that says cyclists cannot ride two abreast?

  • Most of the drivers that have given me verbals over the years have been fat f*****s - maybe they are jealous of my athletic physique in sexy lycra???

    Just kidding - but seriously - they are more likely to die b4 I do!!

    As BLUR succinctly put it: "Cut down on your pork life mate - get some exercise!"

  • Too many drivers just seem to look for a big painted box with two headlights before making a manoeuvre, much like the guy in the new mercedes estate who "never saw me" as he pulled out in front of me the other day, pretty lucky that my brakes are sharp though my high visibility vest clearly isn't that highly visible !

    Can someone please manufacture some neon signs that hover above you like on that cycle awareness advert so I can ride with one maybe that will do the trick ?

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