Commuting By Bike - Riding on Busy Streets

You can probably drive a car, maybe something bigger, but cycling in a town or built up area requires a different set of skills to driving a motorised vehicle.

• communication - show other drivers what you intend to do by making eye contact and use appropriate hand signals so your direction can be anticipated by other road users.
• do not ride in the gutter; motorists will squeeze you and the gutter is where all the road debris - such as broken glass - collects.
• be aware of parked cars and the potential for doors to be flung open as you pass. Ouch!
• watch out for potholes, manhole covers and road markings in the wet as they can be very slippery.
• do not ride on pavements, jump red lights, undertake or sneak the wrong way up one-way streets.
• be polite and don’t lose your cool if someone gives you lip or hassle.

Finally, enjoy your ride. There’s nothing like riding on a crisp, clear morning in January or February, enjoying the early spring sunshine in March or April and watching the leaves change colour gradually through the autumn months. As for riding in the summer, well you can top up your tan without leaving the country!

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