Destination Positioning

Cycling, like most anything that requires you to be in a certain spot at a certain time, has certain basic rules.

There are those in this world that think the rules don’t apply to them and actually try to live outside those rules.  They may get away with flaunting the rules for a long time, but those rules will come back to find them.

In the case of cycling, those times could likely prove to be catastrophic.  This year alone, there have been several times where the cyclist has been killed due to errors made.  That isn’t to say it was wholly the fault of the cyclist, or for that matter wholly the fault of the driver.  I am going to venture a guess that the answer is somewhere between those two points.

 The CAN-BIKE program also has some basic rules.  Those rules are the cornerstone of safe defensive cycling.

We have spoken previously about the first set, the Four Core Values –

               Manoeuverability, Visibility, Predictability and Communication

I have also referred to these as   

                   See, Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Predicable.

For those of us that are spelling challenged.

 The rules I want to refer to in this installment is Destination Positioning.

These are the Five Basic Traffic Cycling Principles.  They are adapted from the book Effective Cycling, by John FORRESTER.  Effective Cycling is now into its 8^th edition.

1)      Ride on the right side of the roadway

2)      How and When to yield to crossing traffic

3)      How and When to yield to same direction traffic

4)      Destination positioning at intersections

5)      Positioning between intersection

 

Attached below is a copy of the list that I put into each training manual that I give out at each CAN-BIKE course that I teach.

 

FIVE BASIC TRAFFIC CYCLING PRINCIPLES

(Adapted from EFFECTIVE CYCLING by John FORESTER)

 

 

All drivers regardless of the type of vehicle they drive, follow the same basic traffic principles.  The size and speed of your vehicle may influence how you apply these principles, but the reason is the same: to reduce conflicts between road users.

 

Understanding the following basic traffic principals will enable you, as a cyclist, to ride safely in MOST traffic situations.

 

01)       Ride on the right side of the roadway.  DO NOT RIDE ON THE LEFT, OR ON THE SIDEWALK. Cyclists who ride facing traffic are more vulnerable because other drivers do not expect wrong way traffic.  Sidewalk riding is also very hazardous because each driveway or laneway becomes, in effect, an intersection. It’s also against the law in many places, and people are not expecting a cyclist on the sidewalk.

 

02)       How and when to yield to crossing traffic. Yielding means deciding if you must yield and, if so, waiting until it is safe to go. There are two basic rules for drivers who meet at intersections: (a) the driver on the minor street or lane yields to the driver on the main street, (b) at an uncontrolled intersection, the driver who arrives first, goes first. The driver who arrives last, yields, or if the vehicles (this includes bikes) arrive simultaneously, the one on the left yields.

            FIRST IN..  FIRST OUT....

           ALWAYS YIELD TO PERSON ON YOUR RIGHT.

 

03)       How and when to yield to the same direction traffic.  Every driver who wants to move into a new line of travel must yield to the traffic already in that lane.  Before moving sideways on the road   YOU MUST LOOK BEHIND YOU (SHOULDER CHECK)          TO ENSURE THAT IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.

 

04)       Destination positioning at intersections. This depends on your intended direction beyond the intersection.  At a simple intersection, start a left turn from near the centreline, and a right turn from near the curb. At a multiple-lane intersection, choose the right most lane that serves your destination.

 

05)       Positioning between intersections.  Your positioning, while travelling between intersections depends on your speed relative to the rest of the traffic. Also on the usable width of the road.  On a lane that is too narrow to share, ride in the middle.  On a wide lane, if you are the slower vehicle, move to the right.  If you are the faster vehicle, pass on the left.

      DO NOT SQUEEZE BETWEEN THE MOVING VEHICLES AND THE CURB.

  It is okay to pass a left turning vehicle, if it’s safe, on the right side.

I felt this topic was timely after watching cyclists riding about all across the Greater Vancouver

Region, and that does include the City of Vancouver.
I have added the explanation above to show there are rules to be followed.

These rules were written by the father of modern safety, defensive, traffic cycling, John FORRESTER. 

I refer to John FORRESTER as the Guru of safety cycling in North America. I use this term with the greatest of respect to John FORRESTER and what he has written.

Please remember, the CAN-BIKE program, along with Police, EHS, and Security cycling across North America is based on the teachings and principals of John FORRESTER. It shows that his principals are accepted by the main stream of the millions that do cycle in traffic. Need I say more?

I realise there are those that don’t hold the same opinion as I do, and that is okay. Everyone has an opinion, and you have seen mine. The above cycling traffic safety rules are time tested and work, and work very well.

With the addition of separated bike lanes and bike paths the rules are the same. The rules don’t change, just the venue. 

You still don’t ride into oncoming traffic or on sidewalks and not expect to cause yourself problems… or worse. You ride as far to the right as practicable and practicable being safe.

Safety comes in many aspects to cycling. Like a good recipe when all the parts are put together properly it works great, but leave one part out, and Nothing Good Can Come of It.  The results are not what you expect or were hoping for.

 

  Thanks for stopping by,

     Safe Ride Home

 

Chuck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Railroads Tracks, Speed Bumps, Road Depressions and Chuck holes… Hidden Hazards

I don’t know if you ever noticed, but every year on the Canadian prairies a few people and vehicles are hit and killed at railroad level crossings.  Why you ask? When the prairies are low rolling hills, and that is the high spots.  You can watch your dog run away for three days, so seeing what is happening around you should be a natural thing.

I bring this up for a basic reason, seeing what is happening around you.  I also want to talk about how to ride properly, you can read that as safely, over railroad tracks, speeds, road depressions and chuck holes.

All of these hidden hazards have a couple of things in common.  They all present a challenge that if you take them for granted.  They will come back to bite you and bring you down to ground level very quickly.  The other thing they have in common is how you set up on your bike to go over or around them.  Let’s be clear, when done correctly and given the respect they deserve, they can be handled with no problems, but get cocky, and you could likely pay a price.

The CAN-BIKE program refers to the proper procedure for crossing railroad tracks when riding as follows:

Your head is up and your back is straight, now you can see where you are going and what is happening around you !!!

1)      If moving into traffic, Shoulder check/Signal/Shoulder, signal prior to the movement on the riding surface.

2)      Stand up on your pedals, pedals set level to the ground, at 3/9,

3)      Bend your arms and legs using them like shock absorbers, keeping your balance.

4)      Go over the tracks at a 90 degree angle to the tracks, let the bike move up and down under you, keeping your centre of balance over the bike. 

5)      Roll over the tracks

6)      Move back into the proper riding position on the surface you are riding.

7)      Keep both hands on the handle bars as you go over the tracks

8)      Signal prior to the movement on the riding surface.

That should work in I would estimate in about 95% of the situations you will find yourself in.

Then I started asking myself, what about all those other bumps and depressions we as riders encounter in the span of a ride.

In my classes I added the other aspects, speed bumps, depressions and chuck holes in the riding surface.

Speed bumps, like chocolate cookie recipes come in a myriad of assorted sizes and shapes.  Some easier than others and some that are just plain ugly to ride over.  We’ve all seen the on road variety speed bump (traffic calming device) lower and gentle to go over.  Then there are the ones in parking lots, ment to slow traffic to a crawl over them.  You know the ones, they look and feel like a large tree has been cut in half and laid across the road.  Then they paint them a very slippery bright yellow, so when they get wet they are downright dangerous.

If you treat all like you treat railroad tracks, as listed above to go over them, then they can be handled much more easily, and your chances of taking an unwanted spill decrease, not eliminated, just decreased. Nothing is a sure bet.

Road depressions are ridden the same way, but be advised they are very dangerous.  If travelling at any speed you will quickly drop into the depression, then just as quickly come out.  The problem is when you come out your weight has lifted and your bike is riding with much less grip to the surface.  Down hillers are shaking their heads right now, saying they know the feeling.  That short time when you feel as if you are airborne, and for the most part you are, you don’t have control and therefore no real ability to turn or brake.  Not a big deal if you are going straight, but if you are coming into a corner, or a downhiller going around or into or out of a corner, then it becomes a very big deal. Some road depressions aren’t seen until you are in them, then you best be ready for what happens next.

All of the above hazards have hidden problems so properly setting up for them, riding them properly and knowing how to handle them becomes a skill that needs to be known and practiced.  You need to keep this in the back of your mind when riding - the hidden hazards.

Riding and riding safely is a thinking game and safety is what you work at each and every ride.

           Part of that safety is    See  Be Seen  Be Heard  Be Predictable

Knowing what is around you, getting the big picture and being prepared will greatly assist you.

A great ride, and getting home in one piece is the object we strive to achieve.

Please go over the above steps in your mind when you see them, for going over those things that we can’t avoid and go over.

Like everything else in life, being prepared for what could come is the responsible thing to do.  Being prepared is being safe when riding.

 

  Thanks for stopping by,

      Safe Ride Home

City Cops and Cyclists

As I have mentioned previously I have a police back round.  I say that because of the topic and those who were gracious enough to provide the information.

 I was at traffic court in Vancouver recently and while there I came across a couple of City traffic motor officers.  I have gotten to know one in particular from my times at traffic court and we speak regularly.  I have come to respect him for his dedication to his profession, his professionalism and his sense of humour.

You have to understand that Police have a different sense of humour than most people, other than maybe nurses. It comes from the fact that both of these professions overlap.  Police are first on the scene of collisions.  They are the first responders along with the Ambulance personnel who deal with what has occurred and now work at figuring out what happened, and at times have to deal with the families when the collision becomes fatal.

Nurses get the injured in assorted states of broken and are tasked with dealing with the injuries and the families of those injured, and sometimes worse.

I have been there, dealing with the collision scene and at the hospital and again at the home of the families saying those words that no one on earth wants to hear, and even fewer want to say.

I asked these motor officers what was there biggest “pevs” with cyclists.  Their looks changed and I saw two traffic guys that deal with the same things from the cyclists. These guys are at the top of their game at what they do, so when they spoke I listened.

 I will list the items that makes their blood boil.  That wasn’t how they phrased it to me, but I won’t use what they said here.  I asked for the top two items if they could change what would they be.  Here is what they told me:

1)      Helmets

2)      Red Lights / Stop Signs

1)      Traffic Control Devices

2)      Sense of Entitlement

Helmets – cyclists that don’t wear their helmets, because they don’t feel they need to, the law is stupid, or they just don’t feel they will never have an accident/collision.

Red Lights / Stop Signs – cyclists that don’t stop at red lights/ stop signs and don’t even cruise through them but blast through them.  I was told that slowing down and “California Stopping” (just barely moving, looking both ways then moving on) stop signs can be lived with, but not blasting through.

Traffic Control Devices – Cyclists that feel, no believe, that the traffic control devices in the City don’t apply to them, cause after all they are cyclists.

Sense of Entitlement -   Cyclists that believe they can ride where they want, how they want, the way they want, at any speed they want and disregard the above items mentioned, like helmets, lights, traffic control devices.

There are those cyclists for whom the rules of the road just do not exist, for whatever reason(s).  They get upset and point one finger at drivers, yell and swear at drivers, and will pound on vehicles then speed into the masses, and they believe they are right and it’s their position in life to make drivers lots in life as miserable as possible, because after all they are cyclists.

I suspect that in this we can include the fact that cyclists in the city just don’t or won’t stop, again, because they don’t think the rules apply to them.

THESE PEOPLE ARE FOOLS, AND GIVE A VERY BAD NAME TO THE OTHER 85 % OF THE CYCLING WORLD.

I am going to add my pet pevs now:

1)      Riding on sidewalks

2)      Riding against traffic

3)      Helmets attached to something other than the riders head

4)      No reflective articles including lights

 It is the law that cyclists, just like all other vehicles, MUST stop at stop signs and stop lights.

Stop signs, stop lights, traffic control devices, those include signs such as One Way, and no entry, apply to every vehicle using public roadways.

A bicycle falls under the definition of a vehicle.

 ** Information Tid Bit One - when you are stopped under the Motor Vehicles Act, in this case in British Columbia, you are required to identify yourself to the satisfaction of the Officer stopping you. If you don’t, then you could be arrested until identity can be established.

   I have accepted a Costco card, because it has a name and a picture, albeit it a bad picture, but a picture. If your marks/scars/tattoos are listed in the Police data base, then this can work also.

On the down side, those same marks/scars/tattoos can be used to identify a body.

 

** Information Tid Bit Two - An intersection is that area of the travelling surface, where those surfaces interconnect. Roads, round-abouts, allies, paths, bike paths, sidewalks, at any angles that those using that surface may come into conflict.

Controlled intersection lights, yield signs and those that are mentioned in the BC Motor Vehicle Act are to be adhered to and to be dealt with as they are posted.  That includes speed zone signs, school zones, any sign that is directed to the safety of those who are using that piece of space.

 ** Information Tid Bit Three - There is only one group that is legally able to disregard the motor vehicle act.  If you are around Vancouver you will notice license plates that are white letters on a crimson red back round.  Those are diplomatic plates, those plates usually start letters “CC” – Consular Corp.

 Helmets are required for cyclists when riding in 6 of the 10 Provinces in CANADA.  What changes is the age level of those required to wear the helmet.

I am of the opinion that helmets, worn correctly, safe lives.  The rider is still likely to be injured in a crash or fall, but they are also likely to survive. 

 ** Information Tid Bit Four - Falls account for just under 60 % of all cycling injuries.

So wearing a helmet can assist with lessoning the injuries and the subsequent associated problems.
Intersections is where you are more likely to find Stop Signs and Stop Lights.  Most collisions involving cyclists and vehicles are at intersections.  Anywhere to roads come together, is an intersection.

 The roads were designed for cars by people who didn’t think about cyclists, that we know.  It is up to those of us who ride and teach riding skills to make sure that we can work with the rules as they have been laid out, and make the changes both sides can and accept.

We can be part of the problem or part of the solution.  I believe safe cycling is being part of the solution.

Please ride safely and don’t over ride your abilities, and please wear your helmet and reflective vest.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

     Safe Ride Home

 Chuck

Distracted driving- vehicles and bikes

Blog Entry. 2013-08-30

  Distracted driving- vehicles and bikes

 

This morning is a great morning to be out !!

  It's the last day of August, high wispy clouds, and dry roads.  A perfect day for a ride, be it a local ride, a training ride, or a trek type outing.  I am on my way to Vancouver Island to visit family, and no I am not riding, I am driving.

As I was headed out to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal I did pass a number of riders out on this glorious BC morning.  None of them had lights to the back of their bikes, that I saw.  Only a couple had reflective vests, or anything reflective worn. I will pull out the silver lining, that being that all were wearing helmets.

If you have followed this blog you will know that helmets, reflective vests and lights are a common theme of mine. Safety first, safety last, safety always.

  The radio warned about accidents on this long weekend, saying there will be about 2200 in total, and I am regretfully certain some of those will be fatal in nature and some will involve cyclists.  I am truly sorry for the families that lose a loved one, especially if it didn't have to happen.

  That brings me to the point of this entry- distracted driving.

They said distracted driving is now the single biggest cause of accidents, passing impaired driving. I spoke with an RCMP traffic officer the other day and he said one in three accidents are from distracted driving. Cell phones and electronic devises are the core of this epidemic.

 I must admit that I have looked down at my phone, and I have answered my phone while driving. I am putting my phone aside and leaving it until it is safe to answer. If the President of the United States, or the Prime Minster of CANADA want to call me I am sure they will make contact via hands free for both sides.

 Distracted driving either in a vehicle or on a bike can take many forms. I have spoken about vehicles, so lets refocus back on bikes and cyclists in particular.

Riding is an endeavour that takes full concentration at all times, in my opinion that goes without saying.

   The four core concepts of CAN- BIKE

Manoeuverability   visibility  predictability  communication

   Also referred to  as

SEE,   BE SEEN,  BE HEARD,  BE PREDICTABLE

 I see riders with their ear buds in both ears all the time.  I can only assume they have their favourite tunes going. I won't ask what the sound level is at.

Drivers that use their cell phones and electronic devises are a danger on the road and not watching for and being cognizant of other road users, especially cyclists.

Cyclists that, God forbid, use electronic devises while riding, are as big a danger and hazard as the car drivers.
 Cyclists that use and listen to ear buds in both ears are just as big a danger, and just as distracted. In fact I believe even more of a danger/hazard because they can't hear the vehicle coming up from behind you.

 Bottom line distracted driving and more over distracted riding can be the cause and is becoming the cause of more accidents both vehicles and cyclists from minor to fatal.

Take the time to enjoy your surroundings when you ride.

Listening to tunes is great and has a time and place, but that place isn't while cycling.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

   Safe ride home.

 

Chuck