A few bicycling ideas to keep people safe on their bikes.
- Be seen - bright colours, flashing lights, get in the way of cars at junctions - positioning yourself in front of a queue of traffic at lights can be quite an easy way to get seen
- Stop at traffic lights - nasty things happen when you don't, including giving other cyclists a bad name. One such horror story saw a cyclist clip me whilst I waited at a set of lights only to be caught by a lorry going across the junction - cyclist was OK, but his bike was a mess. A lucky guy!
- Wear a helmet - you might look like a complete tool, but safety first. I cycled onto Woolwich Ferry in the wet and caught a patch of oil on the wooden deck; the bike slid out sideways and my head hit the deck so hard that it cracked my helmet; had I not been wearing a helmet...
- Be polite - seems easy enough, but incredible how not acknowledging someone can cause an issue. A wave of the hand does wonders!
- Be confident - if you're aiming to go in a direction, go in that direction, don't dither. Motorists do see what you're going to do and make decisions based on this - if you then change your mind all sorts of things can go wrong
- In the bus lane, bus stopping, then stop yourself - unless it's absolutely safe to do so and you're completely aware of your surroundings, don't go around the bus as oncoming traffic, or traffic overtaking the bus has a little more oomph and can get out of the way quickly.
- Don't stop in front of other bikes at traffic lights - if a bike has already stopped, don't get in front of them, just wait your turn. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a bike in front of you that isn't as quick as yours. Results can be bikes swerving around and traffic hitting you from behind
- Avoid the pavements - it is tempting to get up on the pavement to avoid traffic queues, especially in London, but people use pavements, so if you absolutely have to cycle on the pavement, take it very slow to allow yourself time to stop before hitting someone walking out of an alley or doorway - I've done it, I know!