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EXTRAS

Bike safety

• No sudden accelerations or slowdowns.
• Sharp braking should be used only in emergencies.
• Do not move out to pass the rider in front of you without checking to be sure that you don't have another rider in your 'blind spot' coming up behind you on the left.
   

If you're getting too close to the rider ahead:

• Shift into an easier gear.
• Pedal less.
• Sit up higher to catch more of the wind.
• Avoid following directly behind another bike and always give others enough room to maneuver.  If the front wheel of one bicycle touches the rear wheel of another while they are moving, a double crash is usually guaranteed.
• Try not to coast.  When the riders behind you see you coasting, they will slow down too and this may cause an accordion effect.
• If you need to slow down even more, then feather your brakes (don't hit them hard all at once, but tap them lightly then release, tap and release).
• It's better to roll over minor obstacles like small holes or sticks than to make a sudden move or slam on your brakes.

Give cars room to safely pass.  When cycling in a large group, up hills or on narrow roads you want to make sure that cars have ample space to pass you safely.  Break your large group down into smaller groups of two to three persons.  Allow a two to three car length gap between each small group.  This way cars may safely pass sections of your group and don't have to attempt passing the entire group all at once.

Communicate to other with hand signals and verbal alert.

• Always hand signal your intentions when you turn, slow or stop.
• Use verbal alert, for obstacles approaching from behind "Car back" or for obstacles ahead "Walker up" (pedestrian ahead), or “Car up".
• Riders in the front of the group can verbally communicate upcoming stop signs to those in the back by announcing: "Slowing”, or "Stopping".  If you need to slow down suddenly because of trouble up ahead, or for any other reason let other riders know.
• Announce hazards.  Indicate hazards by extending your arm downward and point with your finger in the direction of the hazard, and verbally announce it, “hole”, or “glass”).  Be sure to give others ample time to avoid the hazard, so warn them as soon as you see it.

What is a verbal alert?  "Car back," is an example of a verbal alert.  This alert is usually initiated by the last cyclist in a group, who spots a car approaching from behind.  The rider will announce "Car back" and each subsequent rider positioned ahead of him/her will one by one repeat the "Car back" alert, until it reaches the front of the group.  Car back literally means that a car is coming up behind the group, and the group should respond accordingly.  After the last rider calls out "car back," he or she should follow that up with "single up," or "single file."  If cyclists are riding two abreast, they should then arrange in single file to let the car pass safely.

Call out "passing on your left."  Use this verbal alert when you plan to pass another rider on their left.  This is so easy to say and will avoid a crash situation.  Bicycles are quiet vehicles.  The cyclist you are overtaking may not even be aware of your presence. Startling an un-expecting cyclist, may cause a collision.  Never pass on a rider's right.  Faster vehicles, be they bicycles or automobiles, should always be passed on the left.  If you're in a situation where passing on the right is unavoidable, let the rider know.  "Passing on your right."

"Pulling off,” the road.  Sometimes, something happens and you need to pull off the road.  Let people know what you're doing. "Pulling off, pulling off."  Make sure to get your bike completely off the road as quickly as possible.  A bicycle stopped suddenly in the middle of the roadway is a sure way to cause a pileup.  Use the same technique if you want to take a photo, say "Photo stop”, and pull completely off the road.

Wait up.  Be considerate of other riders in the group.  If the entire group doesn't make it through a stoplight before it turns red, slow down or pull completely off the road, to wait up for those who didn't make it through.  That way riders won't feel so pressured to run a red light if they know the group is going to wait.