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I'm new. Advice?

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Started 12 years ago by ZenGwen
Latest reply from gembo
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ZenGwen
Member

I've been cycling to work for about a month now, and I've enjoyed it very much. But I have basically no idea what I'm doing. Seriously, I only noticed that my bike had a higher gear about a week ago.

I've been trying to be good about traffic law, obeying lights etc., no riding on pavements. I have a helmet and a high-vis jacket. I haven't been riding at night because I don't have any lights (and it makes me nervous). But I'm American, and have never really ridden for actual transport. So I don't know all the traffic law here and am completely clueless about cyclist etiquette. And roundabouts terrify me. (I'm mostly over it.)

What should I know? Any laws that are non-obvious? Things to look out for in the city? Equipment I should get and keep with me? How to be considerate to other cyclists? Useful resources?

Posted 12 years ago #
Stepdoh
Member

Erm, Tyres, if yours have knobbly bits on them, invest £25 in a pair of cheap slicks. Half the work required to go same speed. Although you may miss the purr.

Posted 12 years ago #
Roibeard
Member

It might be anathema to some, but I recommend "Cyclecraft" by John Franklin - search for it via the Amazon link on the left bar...

I read it after commuting for a few years, having previously only ever being a driver on roads. If I'd read it sooner, I could have saved myself about two years of "learning experiences"! I highly recommend it...

I'd also recommend reading the Highway Code (also available in print) - that way you should know what to is expected in terms of UK road use, but be aware that what should happen, and what does happen, are two very different things.

Finally, pick up a copy of the Spokes Edinburgh Cycle map (Amazon again, or from any local bike shop), and enjoy your cycling!

Oh, and keep posting/reading here - it's proved "useful and entertaining"...

Robert

Posted 12 years ago #
Min
Member

Firstly, congratulations on starting cycling and sticking with it and welcome to the board. I don't know if there are any non-obvious laws. Is there anything in particular that you are not sure about?

One thing that you need to be confident about is that you have a right to use the roads, you do not need to ride in the gutter and in fact it is not safe there because you are "out of sight, out of mind" plus you don't have a chance if peds walk out in front of you. On a roundabout you give way to people coming from your right but you probably know that by now.

Posted 12 years ago #
Morningsider
Member

ZenGwen - hi, hope you are enjoying being in Edinburgh. The best guide to cycling law and practice is the Highway Code - you can find the cycle specific stuff at:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069837

Other parts of the Code might also prove useful.

As for equipment, one word for you - gloves. Get several pairs, one warm/waterproof, one for milder weather and mitts for warm days. They protect your hands if you have a fall, soak up road buzz and keep your hands warm. You have never really had cold hands until you have cycled in the cold without the right gloves on.

Any sensible cyclist is at least slightly worried about roundabouts - until you feel confident I would suggest getting off and pushing around them. It's not cheating.

If you can make it, some of us are meeting for coffee at the Zazou canal boat on Harrison Park tomorrow (Friday) from 7.30am. Nothing about cycling you won't be able to learn there.

Posted 12 years ago #
ZenGwen
Member

Wow, thanks for the quick responses guys! Lots of good advice. I did have a quick look through the Highway Code but will have to get a copy of Cyclecraft as well. And invest in some gloves. I have a pair of blue wooly ones, but they have been a bit too warm for the last few days.

Also, thanks for the invite! I may well see you at Zazou, depends how quickly I get through the gym tomorrow morning. If I do show up, I will be recognizable by a bright pink jacket and bright purple hair. Re-dyeing tonight. :)

Posted 12 years ago #
amir
Member

Some employers run bike buddy schemes (e.g. Uni of Ed).
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/transport/cycling/training/bike-buddies

and the bike station does training (http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/)

Posted 12 years ago #
wingpig
Member

"So I don't know all the traffic law here and am completely clueless about cyclist etiquette"

Ride safely and predictably. Apart from being allowed to use cycle paths, enter advanced stop boxes and being able to instantly transform you into a pedestrian by fully dismounting, cycles are pretty much bound by the same rules as vehicles. Scootling along with one foot on a pedal is effectively riding, so don't scootle across lights; dismount and walk, or wait.
If you're waiting at lights, you're already accounting for the absence of a you-can-make-a-right-at-a-four-way-stop loophole.
The Highway Code will tell you who has priority in various situations, including the one about pedestrians already crossing a road you're turning into having priority - when observing this, watch out for vehicles behind you who were preparing to disregard it who might be surprised when you stop.
Cede priority to traffic approaching from the right on roundabouts, but expect to not be given way to by vehicles further round to the left.
Don't enter box junctions unless your exit is clear, but don't be surprised when vehicles form a solid line across a box junction.
If in a queue going over a light-controlled junction, leave a gap for the pedestrian-crossing channel, preferably waiting behind the stop line until your way out across the junction is clear (even when it's not a box junction - being stuck out in front of the crossing where you sometimes can't see the lights has limited entertainment value.
Learn your crossings - stripes on the road and yellow flashing lights on poles mean give way if a pedestrian is approaching, again watching out behind you for someone who wasn't planning on stopping.
Cyclists are not exempt from one-way instructions unless specifically noted, contrary to popular assumption.
Although you should signal after looking and before manoeuvring , it is more important to not be thrown off by a pothole or crater or wet cobbles, so don't try and keep your arm extended throughout the entire move out-check-brake-check-check-wait-slow down more-check-check-turn process if your stability will be put at risk.

Posted 12 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"contrary to popular assumption"

That's an assumption....

CEC used to have a policy of including contra-flow bicycle lanes when they created new one way streets.

But it didn't last very long!

Posted 12 years ago #
wingpig
Member

An assumption based on observation, and not just of couriers and students, though when I was a student it was one of the things my colleagues frequently assumed.

Posted 12 years ago #
ZenGwen
Member

Lots of really useful info, thanks. Two questions:

1. Where do I actually look for one way signs? This may sound silly, but as a pedestrian I never paid much attention to them and I can't recall where I've actually seen any, even though I know I used to live on a one-way street.
2. I've noticed some stoplights have bike-logo lights bolted on to the side... what do these signify, exactly?

Posted 12 years ago #
Morningsider
Member

The pedestrian crossing lights that have a green bike attached to them are known as a Toucan crossing. They are advisory (i.e. you don't have to wait for green if the road is clear) crossing lights that can be used by both cyclists and pedestrians. Not to be confused with cycle crossing lights, which look fairly simlar but are seperate from any pedestrian crossing.

One way signs should be posted at the entrance to a one-way street. The Highway Code will show what these look like.

Posted 12 years ago #
Darkerside
Member

One way signs are at the 'wrong' entrance to the road on both sides (red circle, white horizontal line) and at the other end there's normally a blue sign with a white arrow indicating direction of travel. Blue signs are repeated at any point where joining traffic might attempt to go the wrong way. Other clues include road markings, all the parked cars facing one way, and an oncoming bus in the right hand lane :p

Contraflow cycle lanes will (always?) be on the left, and should be fairly clearly marked. Unless you're in Glasgow. Where they will be hidden by parked cars and dodgy street furniture, the paint will have worn away, and the whole thing becomes fairly lethal

Posted 12 years ago #
hippetyhop
Member

When I first started cycle commuting in the early 70s my big brother gave me one piece of advice that has served me well down the years. When you're riding along a street with parked cars every now and then, don't dip in and out (ie ride in the gutter, see Min's advice above). The effect is for you to disappear from the drivers' view and then suddenly reappear. Ride in a straight line so you keep your visibility.

Re the one-way streets, I had my own shock last night - why are all the arrows on the road suddenly pointing AT me? ARGH! (Haymarket mayhem, underlining the importance of research before changing your route, paying attention to news reports and reading the cycle forum regularly. ahem.)

Posted 12 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

There is a contra flow bike lane on the right hand side beside the Citizens Theater in Gorbals.

It's just possible that Glasgow didn't follow the rules.

Posted 12 years ago #
Darkerside
Member

Interesting, hadn't spotted that one. There's also one if you streetview "50 howard street, glasgow". The fetching barriers are now gone, and the parked cars stretch all the way along. Always entertaining!

Posted 12 years ago #
Kirst
Member

When I returned to cycling after a break of decades rather than years, one thing I found really helpful was to go out on a couple of group rides - I think I did a TryCycling ride and a CTC ride (and the least said about that one the better, I'm still furious at how I was treated). My particular problems with that one ride aside, it was very helpful for me to be with other people in traffic who could advise me, support me, protect me a bit and just show me where to position myself and how to deal with roads and traffic. So I'd recommend going out with a group a few times. And walk the scary junctions if you feel you need to.

Posted 12 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

The Gorbals one is on Cleland St. It might be an issue for people coming out of the Citz car park not looking to the right but nobody gets out of there in a hurry.

Well… not in a car.

Posted 12 years ago #
Dave
Member

My advice would be - don't bother with the Highway Code!

Or at least, understand that nobody else on the road is following it, and there are times where its advice will help and times when it will hinder.

The most important thing of all is to be predictable. Don't dip in and out. If you need to enter the traffic stream (for instance to pass a parked car) don't be half-hearted. You need to own the section of road you are riding on, and take advantage of the fact that whatever you are wearing, you are extremely visible. You aren't trying to help people see you, you're trying to stop people who can see you taking advantage. This is a huge mindset shift (if you ride like you're invisible you will just be asking for trouble).

Think about what really contributes to safety - don't bother signalling left, but always consider signalling right, if you want to force a following/overtaking traffic stream to yield.

For most things, pretending you are in a car is a great bet. You wouldn't try to drive your car down a narrow gap between a bus and railings. You wouldn't go around the outside of a roundabout with cars from the inside lanes cutting across you. etc.

Posted 12 years ago #
Uberuce
Member

http://www.magnatom.net/2012/01/advanced-stop-lines-spawn-of-satan.html

This one here is pretty darn good. I'd extend the basic premise of it to all cycle infrastructure - just because it's there doesn't mean you're obliged to use it.

Some cycle lanes are so badly surfaced and dotted with drain covers that it's just better to ignore them and use the lane adjacent.

Some are so close to parking bays that you physically can't be in it without being right in the dooring zone. Dooring, being doored or becoming a doree mean someone's opened their vehicle door right in front of you and you've run into it. Lefthand at Chesser/Slateford by ASDA, hang your head in shame.

More common than either is people just parking in the damn things.

Posted 12 years ago #
LivM
Member

+1 to what Kirst says about group rides... http://www.cycling-edinburgh.org.uk/ has a useful list of free and public rides going on around Edinburgh. EasyCycle are the current TryCycling-level group. 20milers probably a step up from that, then probably CTC Short ride or a Tuesday evening ride.

Posted 12 years ago #
gembo
Member

I do like a cheeky wee shoulder check every so often. prior to quickly looking over my right shoulder to check what is coming up behind I check exactly what the road surface is like in front of me - potholes etc what the other vehicles in front and to the sides are up to.

never filter up the inside of any large vehicle - lorry, bin lorry, bus etc the driver can't see you

Posted 12 years ago #
ExcitableBoy
Member

"never filter up the inside of any large vehicle - lorry, bin lorry, bus etc the driver can't see you"

I'm half afraid to ask this, but am I the only one who will filter up the inside of some large vehicles under certain circumstances?

Posted 12 years ago #
BikeFan
Member

What certain circumstances?

Why would you want to, just to save a few yards when the hulking thing will overtake you anyway if you're both going ahead, and if it goes left . . . you're gubbed.

If you can't make eye-contact in the driver's mirrors, what makes you think he even knows that you're there.

Waggy Finger Time for you ExcitableBoy - don't ever do that again, and take a hundred lines!

Posted 12 years ago #
Uberuce
Member

If the certain circumstance is when you've seen the lights change, are familiar with their sequence and can see that beyond the large vehicle there are enough small vehicles or metres of ASZ to make you visible to the big fella, then yes.

If it's that you are wearing full Samurai armour and have just dishonoured your Daimyo, then...not so much.

Posted 12 years ago #
Nelly
Member

@excitableboy - No, lots of us do it, in the right conditions - going up inside a line of stopped traffic including buses - going up mid section of chesser avenue springs to mind - is ok if you know the road, and whats ahead.

When its daft is approaching a junction where an HGV etc may do a left turn / combined with railings, no escape - gives me the heeby jeebies when I see people doing that.

Posted 12 years ago #
LivM
Member

This is a useful video from Lothian Buses, training their drivers about how to share the road with bikes (and vice versa). http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703

Posted 12 years ago #
spytfire
Member

Well done on joining the two wheeled. You should be proud and therefore treat yourself!
You will find you are saving on bus fares/petrol/parking so...
Buy some stuff:
Gloves are important, if you do have a spill even at slow speeds you want to stop your hands getting stones in em
Bell
LOUD Horn
Personally I hate wearing a backpack - they mess with your lung capacity - get a pannier rack and a decent pannier bag that will keep stuff dry.
Oooh OOH! A Helmet Mirror glance over your shoulder sheepishly no more. Pretty effective - attaches with a sticky pad but wrap an elastic band around the arm and onto your helmet should someone (or you) knock it off accidentally (I miss mine)
Mud guards a plenty - full wheel guards if your bike will take em, add a crud catcher on the frame below the pedals for extra coverage (bike and you)
Glasses - keep the rain and road crud out your eyes
Lights - if you see cars with em on - switch em on - a Cateye for the front, and one of these for the back it has an epilepsy mode that drivers cannot fail to notice.
Add some wee ones to your helmet (maybe even two front and two back) in the dark - they look where you look and movement = visibility to drivers at junctions (and up at wing mirrors of vans and trucks)

Depending on where you live there is a thread on here somewhere that talks about shops so you don't have to follos the links I give above (but it is a cheap place and they do pretty much deliver next day if ordered before 2pm, don't buy it all at once obviously - prioritise what you feel you need most.

Hope to see you at the barge, (even though that is less than 7 hours away. Damn I should be asleep) you can see all the stuff I had bought over the years

Posted 12 years ago #
Smudge
Member

+1 for the airzound for riding in town!
Personally I prefer the niterider "Cherry bomb" back lights, (http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/Niterider-Cherry-Bomb-8888888020196/ ) but there are many good superbright led rear lights available. Buy, fit, and forget except for charging/changing the batteries every few weeks.
(or with an amazingly bright front light as well: http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/NiteRider-Mako-1-%2B-Cherry-Bomb-Set-2011083014/ )

A fair bit of good (sometimes conflicting!) advice above, the best I reckon is to keep enjoying it, and if you have any questions or queries jump on here and ask. They're a friendly bunch and if you've thought of the question then you can guarantee a lurker or two is wondering the same thing ;-)

Posted 12 years ago #
Darkerside
Member
This all makes everything sound horrendously complicated and hard work, so I've rethought my original contributions.

Bob's Basic Brainwaves for Beginner Bicyclists:
- Sit on bike
- Pedal. Push on pavements or big hills.
- Ride like a car, more or less where their left wheels are.
- Whistle a jaunty tune, enjoy the sunshine, eat more cake whilst enjoying a racing snake figure.
Posted 12 years ago #

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