It is a well known fact that cyclists sharing a road with motorized vehicles and have a run-in or collision never win. Precautions can be taken, of which one of the most important ones is COLOUR, according to the mantra “Be Seen/Be Safe”. Bright clothing, such as yellow, hot pink, white and bright, or similar; and more importantly a white front light and a flashing red rear light. When I cycle, out of twenty or more cyclists I meet on the trails maybe one only has bike lights, and they are on. Better invest in a $20 light than loose your life. The second precaution is: “do not only rely on a rear view mirror (if any), but look over your shoulder frequently”. Meaning, do not rely on vehicle drivers paying attention to you as a cyclist. Be prepared ! [Most probably, the only reason that not many more cyclists are run down by cars is, that a car owner likes to avoid getting scratches in his nice paint coat.]
With the current heat wave it is also important to stay cool. A simple thing I do is, have a small scarf/kerchief around my neck, which I soak in cold water frequently. This prevents heat rising to your head and ‘knock you out’. In addition, any T shirt or tank top, also soak in cold water. Around here, we are lucky to find water fountains along the bike trails.
Tag Archives: bicycling
Cycling – Be Seen – Safety
It is a well known fact that cyclists sharing a road with motorized vehicles and have a run-in or collision never win. Neither do motor cyclists win against heavier vehicles as a result of a collision.
Precautions can be taken, of which one of the most important ones is COLOUR, according to the mantra “Be Seen”. Two colour items can save lives: Bright clothing, such as yellow and hot pink or similar; and more importantly a good white front light and a good strong red rear light.
When I cycle, out of twenty or more cyclists I meet on the trails maybe one only has those lights, and they are on. This should be a legal requirement, same as daylight permanent lights on any North American motorized vehicle. Better invest in a $20 light than loose your life.
Be Seen and See. The second precaution is: “do not only rely on a rear view mirror (if any), but look over your shoulder frequently”. Meaning, do not rely on vehicle drivers paying attention to you as a cyclist. Be prepared !
Grand Theft Bicycle
Incredible how many bicycles are stolen, because of insufficient safety measures. Easy enough to install: (1) Use of two bike lock chains. One to secure the seat (which gets easily removed) together with the rear wheel, and/or helmet. One to secure the frame and the front wheel (if it can also be easily removed) to a fixed bike store facility.
(2) When cycling take your bike papers with you including the Serial Number. So, that when your bike gets stolen you can call in with the details incl. Ser.#. I also always have a photo of my bike on me together with the documents. That is what I do.
[ http://www.cpic-cipc.ca/index-eng.htm ].
Small tit-bit: During hard times or war, when bicycles are valued at a premium, many governments resorted to treating bicycle theft as a criminal offence.
Cycling – the royal way
Another one down. Just yesterday one cyclist got killed while cycling along one of the major highways [ http://www.peninsulanewsreview.com/news/273844471.html ]
Best always, not to ride a bike along that highway – because of the tremendous vehicle noise which is distracting and also the chance to get into a major collision should several vehicles collide on that highway, the major route (from and to the BC Ferry Terminals) on Vancouver Island. Also there are alternate cycling roads parallel to that busy highway, and meant for bicycles. That is neither here nor there.
Coincidentally, just last weekend – while the Royals were visiting Victoria – I myself encountered just such a cyclist being on the wrong side of the road. While riding up to the Greek Fest 2014 [ http://greekfest.ca/ ] with my bicycle on a major shared road where cycling paths are painted in the road itself. Shared roads are always dangerous. I was on the right side (which is not left, like in England). Another cyclist came at me on the wrong side of the road, stopping in front of me, and then started shouting obscenities at me about my driving, while he was obviously wrong. So, my thinking was, either he was here from England also, where they drive on the left side, or he was a mental case. Either way, always be aware and careful and anticipate such incidents.
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