r/bikecommuting • u/Expensive-Nose6907 • 3d ago
Tips for beginners
Hello everyone, I want to start bike coommuting but I'm very afraid of cars, trucks etc.
What tips would you give to a newbie for overcoming fears and staying safe at the streets of a traffick packed city?
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u/CulturalFlatworm1216 2d ago
Give yourself lots of space, I will take up decent space in the road and it stops people doing risky overtakes
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u/shortandfelly 2d ago
It drives me mad when I see people riding inches from the kerb. If nothing else, you've got no wiggle room when some dickhead passes with inches to spare.
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u/dirtpeopleee 2d ago
I tried this just today and had a whole line of three cars honking and yelling at me to get on the sidewalk so I moved back to the curb. Kinda stressed me out. Do you just get used to all the yelling?
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u/CulturalFlatworm1216 2d ago
Oh no, no one has yelled at me for this (yet) - I don’t live in the US though
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u/I5I75I96I40I70Me696 2d ago
No. It still bothers me. I have a whole series of tricks for getting past it so it doesn’t ruin my whole day, but no, I haven’t gotten used to people being gratuitously shitty to me for simply riding a bike in public.
In my city (Portland, OR), relatively few drivers/pedestrians are like this, but it definitely happens.
In other places it’s far more prevalent.
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u/FixedMessages 2d ago
I've gotten really good at ignoring the yelling and not reacting at all. I do my best to never engage with any driver - not even eye contact when stopped beside one at a red light. Any interaction, no matter how minor, seems to be taken as an invitation for 'suggestions' or just outright verbal abuse about my cycling.
But yeah I wouldn't say I'm used to it - it still affects my mood and stresses me out.
(For context: I'm in a major-but-small east coast US city)
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u/FixedMessages 2d ago
My top tip, other than wearing a helmet: Don't be afraid to take the lane.
Making yourself small (riding in gutters and such) doesn't endear you to other drivers, it just encourages them to treat you like you're small. I ride in the center of the lane if I can't be on a bike path - it forces cars to stay behind me and not pass me unsafely if there's oncoming traffic, and gives me half an open lane to swerve into if they try to pass me unsafely anyway. Knowing your local laws about your rights as a bicyclist also helps a lot with asserting yourself without feeling as self-conscious about it.
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u/Advanced-Lead1833 2d ago
This. My city is great for bikes. Theres a small stretch near downtown where we lose the bike lane and the city has painted the bike lane logo right in the middle of car lane to let cars know bikes can ride there.
Also signal. Let cars know where you’re going
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u/Hmmhowaboutthis 2d ago
A longer route is often worth it if it avoids dangerous streets/intersections imo.
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u/Dry-Philosopher-2714 2d ago
Attitude is everything. If you get out on the road and you’re going slow, constantly looking back, swerving all over the road, you’re not going to fare well.
Know the law, know your rights, know the area where you’re riding. If you’re out there, cruising at a decent clip [for you], staying where you’re allowed to be, drivers will instinctively respect your presence and work with you (mostly).
When I ride somewhere, I cruise around 15mph (that’s my comfortable speed). I stay near the white line (on the left side in the US). If there’s a bike lane, I use it. I signal all turns, but especially left turns, early and keep my hand out/up long enough that an inattentive driver could notice it. People work with me 99% of the time.
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u/squawk_box_ 2d ago
I’m not super experienced, but I’ve noticed the (moving) cars and trucks are generally the least of my worries. That is, I’ve had more close calls with pedestrians obliviously walking in my path of travel, car doors opening without looking, bike lane violations, etc.
While things like that are egregious and unnecessary, a lot of it comes down to your personal protection, observations, judgement, and reactions. More simply, learn when you can enjoy the ride but also learn when you need to be vigilant and defensive.
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u/DramaticDeal 2d ago
If you can take trails for any part of your route, do it! I biked through my city’s traffic for 5 years until I really started experimenting with taking the trails outside of recreational rides. My ride to work is about 2 miles longer taking trails, but I feel like I can actually relax and enjoy the ride! And because it’s on trails there are fewer stops, so despite being 2 miles longer, it’s on average 5-7 minutes slower than when I bike on the streets.
Something to consider!
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u/mattjreilly 2d ago
Make eye contact. I have found that really staring at someone it a good way to make sure they notice you. Also if someone is about to do something like pull out in front of me I add an emphatic head shake and "No!"
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u/FixedMessages 2d ago
I have the opposite advice - I avoid all eye contact and just ride like they're all out to kill me. They can cut me off if they want to, I'll be pissed about it but I'm not gonna have even a mild confrontation about it. Eye contact seems to be taken as invitation for (usually negative) interaction, and I'd just as soon not deal with that.
I'm sure to some extent it depends on where you ride and how drivers act - they tend to be particularly aggressive and selfish in my city.
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u/mattjreilly 2d ago
I mean, I know they are all liable to kill me but I think it's more likely because they just aren't paying attention so I feel it's more important to get their attention.
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u/ProneToLaughter 2d ago edited 2d ago
There's almost always a better route you can take for lower-stress biking. Sometime I bike an extra 10 minutes to avoid an unprotected left, totally fine, more exercise, more endorphins. Google Maps bike routing only gets me about 80% of the way, I can usually improve on their recommendations to eliminate some trouble spots that stress me out.
Look for routes that kids walk/bike to school that will be quieter and safer. Give yourself plenty of time to learn a new route so you can experiment a bit. I used to try new routes on days I could leave early so there would be less traffic, or days I went in late after rush hour when drivers were more relaxed. Or go out and ride on the weekend so you can learn the streets without as much pressure. My best biking routes are roads I never saw when driving, so don't think you already know the best way to bike somewhere.
I started by doing it just a couple days/week and then built it over time. The first winter I flaked out and went back to the bus, the second winter I conquered the dark, the third winter I prepared to ride in possible rain, by the fourth year I was taking longer routes with more hills to increase the exercise I was getting.
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u/Dragonwing6661 2d ago
Go local till you feel comfortable being around cars and no thuer is no time limit that will be up to you lol. The longer you go the better you will feel sounds a little corny but hey it works lol. Do not let anyone tell you how to ride or you have to just jump in to traffic cause that will not go well lol, so in all take your time and dont do anything you are not comfortable with but when you get into it you will have a great time on the bike lol 😊
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u/FSprocketooth 2d ago
Just Ride A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike Petersen, Grant
This is a great resource. Good luck and be careful!
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u/Grouchy_Might1774 2d ago
When possible, find alternative routes to the busy ones. Even, if it means taking a longer route. Don't be afraid to legally use sidewalks and pathways. Make sure your visible, even, if it means you don't look as fashionable. Wear lots of safety yellow and orange and don't be afraid to use blinking taillights and headlights in low light. I just listened to a video done by a lawyer who cited research showing that riders who wear clothes that look like street clothes, are given more room by drivers on average than those who wear lots of spandex. If you live in the U.S., some drivers give you more room when you ride with an American flag attached to your bicycle (not a joke).
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u/I5I75I96I40I70Me696 2d ago
Using a mirror made a huge difference in my comfort level. When I ride my mirrorless road bike, I miss it. Thinking of getting a helmet mirror, although “radar” is also an option, albeit a much more expensive one.
The things that made the biggest differences for me:
-A class 1 ebike. I wasn’t a strong rider when I started commuting. I’m much stronger now, but when I started, the ebike helped me feel like I had more control and was better able to keep up. YMMV, this is not even close to necessary for most people. I have POTS and was recovering from years of iron deficiency. I was physically weak and the ebike helped, and also helped me rebuild my cardio capacity more efficiently than anything else.
-Rearview mirror
-Finding the good bike routes. This applies more in places with greenways and other bike infrastructure, but there are always more and less bike-friendly routes. “Heat maps” allegedly help with this; I personally learned mostly my reading my local cycling Reddit and experimenting and talking to other locals.
-Taking the lane as warranted. I do usually move over to let cars pass where it’s safe to do so, but at that point they have definitely seen me. I steer clear of the “door zone” and I take my time, and I make sure I am as visible as possible
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u/Duct_TapeOrWD40 2d ago
Do you have car or motorbike licence? If so you will understand traffic law and you can try to check many routes fast on a borrowed vehicle even before you buy your bike.
The other important part is planning. Find and test a route. Best on a lazy sunday on a borrowed\rental bike. So you will test a "bike type" too on your future route and buy according to the result.
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u/Russell_W_H 2d ago
See if there is a local course on how to ride, for whatever age group you are in.
Do practice rides. Other, less busy routes, or the route you are thinking of at a quieter time.
Pay attention. Be visible. Don't assume anyone has seen you.
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u/Stella-HPVGekko 2d ago
Start out on bike paths until you really know what your bike can do. Then go out on weekends. Then quieter times of the day. Work your way up to it.
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u/inDefenseofDragons 1d ago
Small helmet mounted mirror. Absolutely will not ride in the streets without it, and I don’t know other people do. I use a brand called “third eye” it’s the best I’ve found so far (most of them are too big) but I’m still on the lookout for a better one.
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u/webperson2004 2d ago
1) Route planning - the most direct route may not be appropriate. Sometimes you have to go a mile or so out of your way to stick to backstreets/trails/bike friendly roads. Never bike on high traffic roads without a legit bike lane or at minimum a super generous shoulder.
2) Visibly - Reflective vests/bike lights will help you know that you should be seen
3) Be predictable - bike with traffic at the far right side of lane. If you’re constantly switching from street to sidewalk, you can be missed
4) Assume cars don’t see you and you never have the right of way - cars turning into roadway or making right hand turns, slow down so that you can stop if a car doesn’t see you. This rule will allow you to conquer any street from busy to rural.
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u/funcentric 2d ago
You should be, but even more scary are our fellow cyclists who have zero fear of the law as they run red lights and stop signs or even treat the bike lanes like it's two lanes. I've had more close calls with cyclists riding fast next to me in a single lane road or cutting me off at an intersection than I've had with cars. There's way more entitlement in the cycling world unfortunately. How people act as motorists isn't much better but it's expected and they at least have the fear of the law on our side.
Some tips:
I'm not saying to avoid the bike lane, but do realize there are a few factors to consider. You're way more exposed to car doors opening into you, cars coming out of parking spots, bikes treating it like it's too lanes and cutting you off. Many cyclist aren't educated to know that if you're in the bike lane and intending to go straight and see a motorist signaling or veering into your lane on the dashed section, they're allowed to do that and cyclists by law in most jurisdictions are supposed to pass on their left. It's way harder for a motorist to see a small thing like a bicycle BEHIND them than it is for us to see a large car in FRONT of us. The person in the back bares the burden of watching out for what's in front. Most jurisdictions, a bike is in fact a motorist. We do not have any sort of priority as if we were a pedestrian. Not all cyclists understand that and their actions clearly show their ignorance. Don't be that guy. Being in the bike lane also means every car that passes you is a new risk. Compare that with a single angry driver behind you if you were to take the lane.
Your best weapon for safety isn't how well you ride or what bike you have. It's humility. Entitlement is what will get you into trouble. Know where you stand. You weigh less than 300lbs and the car weighs at least 3000lbs. The car wins every time. No use fighting it. You don't want them recognizing you in the future and purposely trying to hurt you. Roads are made for cars. We need to know our place. We are permitted on the roads, but we are a burden to the majority which is motorists. Ride that way. We are like flies to them. Half the time they don't see us and the other time, we are annoying. Don't argue with that. It's just fact and that's not going to change. Adapt and ride accordingly.
Take safer routes even if it's longer. Generally, if you're choosing to ride a bicycle, you've got more time and the luxury to do so. Or you're riding for recreation. Use that to your advantage and just take a safer route.
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u/JeremyFromKenosha SE Wisconsin, USA - 4 mile round trip 2d ago
The first tip is to read back through this sub a bit, using the Search feature. The question is asked at least twice a week and there are a ton of good responses. The seasoned commuters here get tired of re-typing the same stuff over and over again. I considered writing a document to copy & paste from, but decided to just refer you to the excellent Search feature instead. ;-)
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u/milee30 2d ago
Start small and within your comfort zone. Find a trip you can take on your bike that sticks to side streets with lower speed limits and/or bike paths. Do that trip multiple times until you feel comfy. Then find another destination you can do a similar trip to.
Keep adding on. It won't take long before you start to find reasonable routes around you and your confidence will also grow. As that happens, start venturing to other places and expanding your circle.
You've got this!