Doug Mink's Bicycling Essays: Taking Charge of Traffic</h1> <center> <h1>Taking Charge of Traffic</h1> <i>by <a href="../../dmink.html">Doug Mink</a>, June 20, 1988 <br>then president of the Boston Area Bicycle Coalition</i> <table width=60%><tr><td> Many bicyclists fear tangling in traffic composed of motorized vehicles which could easily crush a bicycle. This fear keeps bicycles in garages and basements and away from use for daily transportation, While reservations about traffic may seem well-founded, a bicyclist has advantages as well as disadvantages with regard to the automobilist. Bicyclists can have superior perception of the total traffic situation and can use this to direct the vehicles around them. <p> On a bicycle you have a 360-degree view of the road, unobstructed by pillars, doors, hoods, or roofs. To make the best of the situation, use a rear-view mirror. A helmet- or eyeglass-mounted mirror will allow scanning without blind spots, but a handlebar mirror does a reasonable job. A mirror should be the third purchase a bicyclist makes after a helmet and lock. In traffic, monitor the sound of traffic as well as the view. Sometimes you can hear an approaching vehicle before you can see it. At night, an alert cyclist has even more warning because their dark-adapted eyes can pick up headlight reflections even before a car comes into sight. You will certainly be aware of cars before they are aware of you. This gives you time to control the impression you make on the car's driver. If they're moving excessively fast or in questionable control, you have time to get out of their way. If not, you can tell them how to deal with your presence on the road. <p> How does a puny bicyclist impress a multi-ton road monster? Be polite. Give the car space to pass you if it is at all reasonable. Yield right-of-way when it's yours by law, if it's feasible. Signal by making eye contact with the car's driver and using hand motions to let them know what they should do. Signal your directional intentions using conventional hand signals. Remember that you've encountered far more cars while on your bicycle than they have bicycles while in their car. Often, at least in areas such as Boston where there are many bicycles on the road, automobile drivers are aware of how vulnerable bicyclists are. Thus they are wary around you and receptive to your signalled advice on how to succeessfully complete the encounter. <p> When making a left turn, for example, you must deal with traffic travelling in both directions, as well as traffic in the cross street. Your lane must be monitored for overtaking traffic. If there are just a few overtaking cars, be patient--slow down and wait for them to pass. If there is a steady stream of traffic, signal your turn with your left arm, using waves of your hand to let cars know you're waiting for them to pass. When you're ready to pull out, stiffen your hand as a "slow down" or "stop" command to the cars in front of which you are moving. Turn your head as an additional signal that you are moving over as well as a chance to make sure that there is room for you. As you make the turn from the left lane, turn your stiff hand to face cars in the street into which you're turning, and meet the driver's eyes to let them know they shouldnm't pull out in front of you. Be ready to swerve out of their way if they ignore your presence, however. <p> Strive to be predictable. At the same time, try to predict what the vehicles around you are going to do. Signal them with either a wave of assent to their future actions or a stern look and a flat hand to hold them off. Always remember that bicycles have as much legal right to the road as cars, and, at least in the city, more moral right than cars. </td></tr></table> <HR> <A HREF="../../index.html">[MassPaths]</A> <A HREF="../index.html">[Resources]</A> <A HREF="index.html">[Essays]</A> </center> </body> </html> </center> </body> </html>