Cycling
Confident City Cycling
Fast fact: Bike commuters who ride just four miles to work avoid 2,000 miles of driving and about 2,000 pounds of CO 2 emissions each year. So, what are you waiting for? Save money. Increase your stamina and bolster your health. See your city from a new and different perspective. Engage with your neighborhood communities. Conserve natural resources. There are so many ways that riding a bike can improve your life!
Safe riding habits can make the difference between an enjoyable commute and disaster.
commute and disaster. Remember that you are a vulnerable road user in the middle of a chaotic network of speeding missiles. Following the best practices listed below will help keep you safe. Know your rights . Bicycles are considered vehicles under Missouri and Kansas state laws. This means that bikes are subject to the same rules of the road as cars, and can travel anywhere they are not expressly forbidden (e.g. highways and business-district sidewalks). ABC Quick Check. Look your bike over every time you’re about to ride. Check the air pressure, brakes, and chain, and ensure all quick releases are secure. Ride predictably and in a straight line. Signal all turns and stops. Don’t make other road users guess where you’re headed or what you’ll do. Ride on the right side of the road, always. Most car-versus-bike collisions occur due to wrong-side traffic, and riding on the left side can double or triple the speed differential between you and an approaching car.
Take the lane. Ride in the center of the lane when it is too narrow for a car to pass you safely. By doing this, you are signaling to motorists that you know you are where you belong, and if they wish to pass they will have to wait until the lanes ahead are clear. If you stick as close to the curb as possible, not only will you have difficulty avoiding obstacles, but motorists will be more likely to attempt to squeeze past you with insufficient passing distance. I ncrease your visibility. Ride with a friend or with a group to increase your visibility on the road. Wear bright colors during the day and reflective gear at night to alert road users to your presence. Equip your bike with lights for riding in the dark. Avoid the door zone. Ride wide of the door zone found next to parked cars. Swinging doors can appear without warning and will stop you fast. Stay aware. Scan your surroundings constantly. The configuration of traffic on the road changes rapidly. Imagine the roadway as a giant chessboard and try to
Maintain your ride . Bikes are cheaper and easier to maintain than cars. With a few tools and a little knowledge, you can keep your bike road-ready and can avoid costly trips to the shop. Learn how to fix up your bike by watching DIY videos online, or by taking BikeWalkKC’s Maintain Your Ride class, offered quarterly. www.bikewalkkc.org/education/adult/ Install a rack on your bike to haul your stuff. This will make the ride far more enjoyable than it would be if you were loaded down with a heavy backpack. Try out bike share. If you’d rather not maintain or store your own bike, BikeWalkKC’s Kansas City BCycle has a network of more than 40 stations and more than 240 bikes to help get you around town. Annual passes are inexpensive and grant the user unlimited 60-minute trips on bikes that are continuously and professionally maintained. www.kc.bcycle.com/
Safe riding habits can make the difference between an enjoyable
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FALL 2018
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