Cycling Tips

Cycling can be fun, safe and enjoyable when you do it right.

Bicyclists can follow simple tips to make their riding safer and more fun. For additional tips and diagrams visit our website www.sharingtheroadinvirginia.org

Ride in a straight line

Bicyclists should generally ride single file. Be predictable. In particular, don’t weave in and out of parked cars – bicyclists may disappear from motorists’ sight when weaving, and get squeezed when they need to merge back into car traffic. To increase visibility and predictability, occupy more of the travel lane (see “Take the Lane” below) if it is narrow or if traffic is moving slowly.

Likewise, motorists should stay in their lanes and not swerve into bike lanes.

Take the lane

If there is no shoulder or bike lane, and the travel lane is narrow, take the lane by riding closer to the center of the lane. This will prevent motorists from passing you when there isn’t room. You should also take the lane when you’re traveling at the same speed as traffic. This will keep you out of motorists’ blind spots and reduce conflicts with right-turning traffic.

Riding side-by-side

Two bicyclists may ride side-by-side, but only if they don’t impede other traffic, or if they need to “take the lane” as described above. If traffic doesn’t have enough room to pass, ride single file.

Keep your distance

Don’t ride too close to parked cars. If you do, you risk having a door open in front of you! Ride 3- to 5 feet from parked cars to say out of their door-opening zone. Be alert as to whether a motorist is in a parked car in front of you, and ride slower if necessary.  If streets are narrow, take the lane.

Ride right

Like motorists, it is important that bicyclists use the right lane to ride with traffic instead of against traffic. Bicyclists should not tightly hug the curb or road edge since hitting the curb or slipping off the road edge could cause a bicyclist to lose his or her balance and fall into traffic. Bicyclists may ride on the shoulder.

Choose a lane

Like motorists, bicyclists should stay in the lane that is marked for the direction they are traveling. Don’t ride in the turn lane if not planning to turn.

Never ride against traffic

Wrong-way bicycle riding is against the law and is a leading cause of crashes. Bicyclists may think they are safe if looking at on-coming traffic, but it is more dangerous because if hit the impact would be greater. Also, wrong-way riding gives bicyclists and motorists less reaction time. In addition, when wrong-way riding, bicyclists can’t see street signs and traffic signals, and motorists are not expecting bicyclists approaching from that direction.