How your location on the road can keep you safe; or, Be Assertive, Not Aggressive

One of the main reasons that bicyclists feel unsafe riding on city streets is that they don’t feel there’s enough space for them to stay safe. If you try to ride as far to the right as possible, when cars pass you it feels like you’re getting pushed off the road- or into parked cars.

Riding on city streets, it is best to stay to the right if there is enough space (or if there's a bike lane...such as the soon-to-be-striped, buffered lanes on Spruce and Pine!).

But remember: the farther from the curb you ride, the better motorists can see you- whether they're in your lane, oncoming, or on cross streets. Riding farther from the curb keeps cars from passing dangerously close, and from turning right immediately in front of you. It gives you more room to avoid car doors, debris, and potholes. Avoid the door zone video.

And it makes you feel comfortable, which is important for safety too! As the video above mentions, even if you’re far enough away from a car door that it won’t hit you, a suddenly opening door could scare you and cause you to swerve into traffic.

If drivers don't have room to pass you safely, they shouldn’t try. As a vehicle on the road, you have the right to take enough space in the road to be safe- which means riding a safe distance from the curb or from parked cars. If you ride all the way over to the right, you invite cars to pass you where the road is too narrow and where you will get squeezed off. Motorists don't mind slowing down for a predictable, visible bicyclist nearly as much as they mind a bicyclist who swerves out in front of them. That’s what we mean by “Be Assertive, Not Aggressive”.


Taking The Lane

Often, taking enough space in the road for your own safety means 'taking the lane', or riding in the middle like a car. It's safest to take the lane when: you're moving at the speed of traffic; there isn’t enough space for cars to pass you safely; or you're avoiding potholes or the doors of parked cars. If you come to a dangerous area, such as a bend in the road that you can't see beyond, ride in the middle of the lane to be more visible. Always check behind you before taking the lane.

While taking the lane, there's nothing wrong with slowing down or pulling over to let an impatient driver pass you. If a driver is being unsafe, it's better to let them get out of your way than stay behind you where they're dangerous. Similarly, if a line of cars builds up behind you, there's nothing wrong with letting the cars pass and then taking the lane again. This will make you safer, less anxious, and show courtesy to drivers.

If this still sounds scary, check out our Basic (and Easy!) Skills for Confident Urban Bicycling.