I'd agree with the above, especially JeRkY's post. I'd add:
- Check both ways crossing a junction even when the lights are green for you.
- Dont try and run amber lights as some traffic lights change pretty quickly.
- Look out for cars ducking and diving in traffic e.g switching lanes right in front of you if their line gets suddenly blocked.
- Look out for cars coming the other direction turning right across your side of the ride - if a car coming your way lets them cross they often wont look for cyclists and you can be hidden from view by cars.
- I'd plan your route to make as few right turns as possible if you're not too confident as you're most vunerable crossing across lanes of traffic.
- I also always ride flat pedals now - I once got t-boned by a kid riding out from behind a bus. I was wearing SPDs and didn't have time to get my foot out so fell over
it hurt a bit and was quite humiliating as there were loads of kids at the bus stop laughing, but I did think afterwards that I was very lucky there weren't any cars right behind me.....and the kid was lucky I wasn't a car.
- Related to that I always watch my speed. Tempting as it is to bomb along at full chat I think you need to be prepared to stop in a reasonable distance as you never know who or what might pull out in front of you.
Having said all this I think its fun riding through cities and if you take some precautions and are sensible you can minimise any risk.
- Check both ways crossing a junction even when the lights are green for you.
- Dont try and run amber lights as some traffic lights change pretty quickly.
- Look out for cars ducking and diving in traffic e.g switching lanes right in front of you if their line gets suddenly blocked.
- Look out for cars coming the other direction turning right across your side of the ride - if a car coming your way lets them cross they often wont look for cyclists and you can be hidden from view by cars.
- I'd plan your route to make as few right turns as possible if you're not too confident as you're most vunerable crossing across lanes of traffic.
- I also always ride flat pedals now - I once got t-boned by a kid riding out from behind a bus. I was wearing SPDs and didn't have time to get my foot out so fell over
it hurt a bit and was quite humiliating as there were loads of kids at the bus stop laughing, but I did think afterwards that I was very lucky there weren't any cars right behind me.....and the kid was lucky I wasn't a car.- Related to that I always watch my speed. Tempting as it is to bomb along at full chat I think you need to be prepared to stop in a reasonable distance as you never know who or what might pull out in front of you.
Having said all this I think its fun riding through cities and if you take some precautions and are sensible you can minimise any risk.
