DucVDuc

Here's a link sent around my work place by the powers that be. The idea was to educate those of us who bike commute to work. I'd be interested in what you think of the tips. Keep in mind we drive/ride on the left in this part of the world.

I think some of the advice is good, some of the advice is misguided, eg, item 5, and some is plain weird, eg item 15, 17b.

enjoy

Machka 

Looks fine to me!

Nothing wrong with Item 5, except that it is probably better to ride out of range of the doors all together wherever possible.

Nothing weird about 15 and 17 either. That's what I do ... or I come to a complete stop, wait for the traffic to do its thing, and then go.

rajman

Seems specific to conditions in the UK.

I liked the 'refrain from obscene gestures' tip

pityr

They are Australia specific...

Those are seem reasonable and proper. Nothing misguided or weird about them at all.

Tom Stormcrowe

Looks good to me, just on the wrong side of the road from my viewpoint!

pluc

About point 3... I'm doing exactly what's said is not best, and I've been doing this for over 2 years, even in front of policemen, and nobody ever complained or hit me. I'm just taking the lane as a car waiting to turn (signaling) and proceed when I find a hole in traffic. I keep looking behind too for any incoming car who might not have seen me. Am I the only one doing it this way? I don't find the suggested way to be any better or more secure, plus you'll have to do a strange move to get behind the stop stripe.

OhiOH

I just have to ask: what is a ‘P’ plate driver?


#17 ….. (usually a 'P' plate driver)

kemmer

If there is a turn lane, I do it just as I would in a car. If there's no turn lane I do find that sitting there waiting for oncoming traffic to clear is a vulnerable place to be. If I anticipate being able to turn reasonably quickly, I just do it like you do. If not, I do it the goofy way.

atbman

"P" is Probationer - one who has just passed a test. Don't know about Oz, but in the UK they are green P on white background.

Disagree strongly with (3). Except on a handful of occasions in last 25 years, have always taken the crown of the road and waited, even in fairly heavy traffic. See advice in Cyclecraft, John Franklin, pub. Stationery Office (UK)

ghettocruiser

I actually like tip 16. I might already do this subconsciously.

slowandsteady

Looks good to me. Nothing odd.

Machka 

In heavy traffic I do an advanced form of Point 3.

Make the left turn, ride up the street a little ways, pull a U-turn when safe to do so, and then return to the intersection.

RobertHurst

Familiar-sounding 'power-weave' advice of tip #4 questionable at best, imo.

R.

DucVDuc

Here's just some things IMHO that prevent a cyclist from anticipating or responding to an opening door as advised in tip #5
1) tinted windows
2) a child in the backseat swinging a door open
3) at dusk/dawn (when a lot of bike commuting happens) it is very hard to even see inside a car
4) headrests back and front in a car hide the presense of someone in the car
5) a high number of parked cars AND passing same direction traffic make weaving out of the door zone dangerous
6) travelling quickly (say 30+ kmph) past a lot of parked cars means a very fast "evaluation" rate which distracts from actually watching the road in front of you.

That's why I simply refuse to ride in the door zone. And also because yet another person at work got doored this month.

Daily Commute

I agree. Point 4 about the door zone is also wrong. Contrary to the site's advice, you shouldn't ride in the door zone and swerve out when you notice someone in a car. You should just ride outside of the door zone.