Sharing the Road With Bicyclists: How to Ensure Everyone’s Safety

Cyclists are especially vulnerable out on the road. And with cars, trucks, buses, and other four-wheeled vehicles dominating the roads, they’re seldom far from two-ton death machines.

When you’re behind the wheel, colliding with someone on a bicycle is infinitely more dangerous for them than it is for you. Because of this, it’s important to know how to share the road with cyclists properly. Here are some tips to ensure everyone’s safety on the road.

Always Give Cyclists the Right of Way

People on bikes are a lot more vulnerable than people in cars, so it’s a good practice to always give them the right of way when driving. Let them go first so they can control the pace. Adjust your speed accordingly to avoid hitting them.

Don’t Drive on Bike Lanes

Bike lanes keep cyclists safe and away from bigger vehicles. If you drive on them, not only are you being rude but you’re also limiting the safe space meant for bicycles. This could force cyclists to the more vehicle-congested parts of the road, putting them more at risk of getting into an accident.

Be considerate. Stay out of bike lanes to give cyclists a risk-free way forward.

Avoid Using Gadgets When Driving

Cyclists stand to suffer the most harm in collisions caused by distracted driving. So focus on your surroundings when you’re behind the wheel. Pay attention to the vehicles, four-wheeled and two-wheeled alike, around you.

Avoid using your phone. Sending texts or watching videos would narrow your view down to the screen and answering a call can prevent you from hearing your surroundings well.

Likewise, don’t listen to music with earphones or headphones. If a bicyclist calls out to you, you might not hear them. Instead, you’re better off using your car’s built-in stereo sound system.

Don’t Open Doors Abruptly

Whether you’re a driver or a passenger, always look both ways before opening your door. Even if you’re getting off on the sidewalk, a cyclist might be headed your way.

It’s hard for cyclists to slow down and stop in time to avoid hitting an abruptly opened door, so be considerate. Wait until the coast is clear before exiting the vehicle.

If you don’t, you could hit cyclists. Not only will you damage the car door, but you might also end up injuring the cyclist. Collisions like this have become so common that many cyclists refer to it as getting “doored.”

Drive Three Feet Away

Maintain a distance of at least three feet from other vehicles on the road — bicycles included. In fact, in some states, like Florida, drivers must give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of distance when passing them.

Failing to give cyclists adequate room makes it hard for them to safely maneuver their way out of your path. It could also pressure them to move faster, increasing the risk of accidents.

Familiarize Yourself With Bike Hand Signals

Another good way to make it easier for cyclists on the road is to learn the hand signals they use to communicate with drivers and other cyclists. Some of the signs are similar to the hand turn signals used when driving.

For example, cyclists use hand signals to indicate when they’re about to stop or slow down, when they’re about to move left or right, or when they’re about to change lanes.

In a sense, these hand signals are a bicyclist’s equivalent of using turn signals and brake lights. Disregarding them can lead to disastrous consequences, so be considerate.

Keep Your Headlights On

Bicycles aren’t anywhere near as visible as cars at night because they’re smaller. On top of that, not all of them have light accessories for night biking. This makes it hard to spot them in darkness and obscuring weather conditions like fog and heavy rain.

The best way to avoid hitting bicyclists during low-visibility conditions is to turn on your headlights. If it’s foggy, use fog lights if you have them. This way, you’ll have an easier time spotting them and they’ll have an easier time spotting you.

Park Away From the Bike Lane

Believe it or not, a parked vehicle can pose not just an inconvenience but also a safety hazard for bikers. The risk is higher when it’s parked near or on a bike lane.

For example, bikers will need to swerve out of the way, likely veering into the sidewalk or the middle of the road to get past a parked car. If they’re alert enough, they could hit a pedestrian, trip on the sidewalk, or get hit by a car.

In short, you must never park on the bike lane. As much as possible, pick parking spots far from areas that bikes use.

Be Slow and Steady

Driving slowly and cautiously when surrounded by cyclists is one of the best practices any driver can adopt. After all, in the case of a collision between your car and a bicyclist, both your speeds will determine the extent of the damage.

For example, a collision between a slow cyclist and a slow-moving car is likely no cause for alarm. At worst, the cyclist will get a few light scratches and your daily driver will get a small dent or two.

On the other hand, if you crash into a cyclist at full speed, your car might sustain heavy damage. Meanwhile, the cyclist can suffer devastating injuries and even die from the impact alone, so drive slowly.

Play It Safe

Last but not least, there’s no harm in playing it safe and assuming that every cyclist you see is a rookie. Not every person knows how to ride a bike properly and not everyone knows proper road etiquette. Because of this, give cyclists the benefit of the doubt and play it safe around them.

Treat every bicyclist the same way you’d treat a student driver or someone who’s learning how to ride a bike for the first time. After all, they might stumble or veer off-course — a mistake that’s far more dangerous for them than it is for you.