Street Skills

…or Why don’t we do it in the road? Skills Skills Sharing the road with cars Sharing the road with cars Principles that apply to all road users Principles that apply to all road users Avoiding hazards Avoiding hazards Etiquette on the bike Etiquette on the bike The big picture The big picture

The Basics: Street Skills Most accidents do not involve cars! Learn to keep control of your bike Be alert and avoid hazards Maintain your bike properly Know how to respond to road and weather conditions and weather conditions Ride carefully around other cyclists

Street Skills Learn to keep control of your bike

Street Skills Be alert and avoid hazards

Street Skills Know how to respond to road and weather conditions. Know how to respond to road and weather conditions. Be visible at night! Be visible at night!

Street Skills Know how to maintain your bike Know how to maintain your bike in safe operating condition. in safe operating condition.

Street Skills Ride carefully around other cyclists!

Every cyclist should be able to: Execute an emergency stop Execute an emergency stop Make an emergency right turn Make an emergency right turn Dodge a rock Dodge a rock Hold a line while looking over her shoulder Hold a line while looking over her shoulder Change a flat, use a chain tool Change a flat, use a chain tool Be self-sufficient Be self-sufficient Extra credit: Bunny hop Extra credit: Bunny hop

Sharing the Road with Cars Laws that Pertain to Cyclists Signage Your On-road Placement Time of Day Considerations Interactions with Drivers Road selection

Laws that Pertain To Cyclists Rights And Duties Of Bicycle And Motorized Bicycle Riders Every person riding a bicycle or motorized bicycle upon a street or highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle

Laws that Pertain To Cyclists Riding To Right, Required For Bicycles And Motorized Bicycles Every person operating a bicycle or motorized bicycle at less than the posted speed or slower than the flow of traffic upon a street or highway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as safe, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction, except when making a left turn, when avoiding hazardous conditions, when the lane is too narrow to share with another vehicle or when on a one-way street. Bicyclists may ride abreast when not impeding other vehicles.

Laws that Pertain To Cyclists Riding Bicycle On Sidewalks, (1)No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district; (2) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk,such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian

Laws that Pertain To Cyclists And Overtake Bicycles At A Safe Distance (NEW) The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, as defined in section ,RSMo,shall leave a safe distance, when passing the bicycle, and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle. (2) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of an infraction unless an accident is involved in which case it shall be a class C misdemeanor. The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, as defined in section ,RSMo,shall leave a safe distance, when passing the bicycle, and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle. (2) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of an infraction unless an accident is involved in which case it shall be a class C misdemeanor.

Laws that Pertain To Cyclists Shoulder Riding, Allowed But Not Required For Bicyclist Operators (1)A person operating a bicycle at less than the posted speed or slower than the flow of traffic upon a street or highway may operate as described in section ,or may operate on the shoulder adjacent to the roadway.(2) A bicycle operated on a roadway, or the shoulder adjacent to a roadway,shall be operated in the same direction as vehicles are required to be driven upon the roadway.(3)For purposes of this section and section , “roadway,” means that portion of a street or highway ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.

Laws that Pertain To Cyclists Bicyclists May Signal Right Turn With Right Arm (NEW) The operator of a bicycle shall signal as required in section ,RSMo,except that a signal by the hand and arm need not be given continuously if the hand is needed to control or operate the bicycle. An operator of a bicycle intending to turn the bicycle to the right shall signal as indicated in section ,RSMo, or by extending such operator’s right arm in a horizontal position so that the same may be seen in front and in rear of the vehicle.

Laws that Pertain To Cyclists Riding Bicycle, By Attaching To Another Vehicle, Prohibited No person riding upon any bicycle, vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway.

Full lane signs

Your On-road Position General principles of all traffic: Slower traffic moves to the right Always move in the direction of traffic Signal intentions and be predictable Discussion Topics: Ride on the right Directional Positioning Speed Positioning Visibility Take the lane Extra wide lanes

Your On-road Position. Ride on the right -Yield to traffic in busier lanes -Yield to traffic in destination lane But… Only as far over as is safe Only as far over as is safe Prepare for moves to the left Prepare for moves to the left

Your On-road Position. Directional Positioning -Position yourself in the right-most lane that goes in the direction of your destination - Ride in the right third of the lane - Ride in the right third of the lane - Avoid being overtaken in narrow-lane situations by riding in the right third of the lane

Your On-road Position. Speed Positioning Position yourself relative to the speed of other traffic Position yourself relative to the speed of other traffic - Left-most lane is for fastest moving traffic, right most for slower traffic - Left-most lane is for fastest moving traffic, right most for slower traffic - Yield to faster moving vehicles by staying to the right in the lane - Yield to faster moving vehicles by staying to the right in the lane - Take the entire lane if traveling the same speed as traffic or in a narrow lane - Take the entire lane if traveling the same speed as traffic or in a narrow lane

Your On-road Position. Visibility -Always ride in or near a travel lane; stay visible by riding where drivers are looking - Wear bright clothing at night as well as during the day - Do not pass on the right - Use lights during dusk and dark hours of the day

Your On-road Position. - If there is insufficient road width for cyclists and cars -If traveling the same speed as other traffic -If hazards narrow the usable width -Before intersections and turns to assert your position on the roadway Take the lane

Your On-road Position. -Do not ride completely to the right; you will be more visible 3-4 feet away from traffic -Do not ride completely to the right; you will be more visible 3-4 feet away from traffic -Right turning cars and cars entering will be more likely to see you before they turn -Right turning cars and cars entering will be more likely to see you before they turn -Be careful of motorists passing on the right around left-turning vehicles -Be careful of motorists passing on the right around left-turning vehicles Extra wide lanes

Time of Day Considerations Traffic flow and peak hours -Waiting 10 to 20 minutes can make a big difference in the number of cars -Waiting 10 to 20 minutes can make a big difference in the number of cars -Most roads have small peak periods -Most roads have small peak periodsLighting - Sunrise and sunset-be extremely cautious of those driving into the sun. - Sunrise and sunset-be extremely cautious of those driving into the sun.Off-hours - Most drivers are not looking for a cyclist at 4am. - Most drivers are not looking for a cyclist at 4am. Slow down and give drivers notice Slow down and give drivers notice

Interactions with Drivers Reporting accidents Local Police Local Police Missouri Bicycle Federation Missouri Bicycle Federation Trailnet Trailnet Why to report Statistics Statistics Insurance Insurance Alert authorities to a known hazard a known hazard Try to Keep it Cool

10 ways to avoid getting hit

Don’t hug the curb. Moving a little into the lane makes you more visible and gives you room to maneuver.

10 ways to avoid getting hit

Etiquette

Etiquette Obey the law Obey the law Don’t be disgusting Don’t be disgusting Be self-sufficient Be self-sufficient

Rural etiquette Buy local Buy local If you use a business’ restroom, buy something If you use a business’ restroom, buy something Respect people’s property and time Respect people’s property and time Be friendly Be friendly

Multi Use Path Etiquette Keep speed down Keep speed down Yield to walkers Yield to walkers Announce yourself Announce yourself Don’t stop on path Don’t stop on path

Paceline Etiquette Know your skill level Know your skill level Introduce yourself Introduce yourself No aerobars No aerobars Take your turn Take your turn Call out hazards or movements Call out hazards or movements Maintain the pace Maintain the pace Food, drink, other needs only at the back Food, drink, other needs only at the back

Be an ambassador Think of the next rider Think of the next rider Support advocacy Support advocacy Get involved Get involved Consider commuting! Consider commuting!

Be safe, and you’ll keep riding for a long, long time. Thanks!