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Use extra caution when cycling in traffic with large vehicles such as buses, trucks and motorhomes. Avoid riding in their blind spots and be prepared for wide turns. |
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Be predictable and obey the rules of the road. Creating predictability is primarily what the rules of the road are for. Use your signals. Cross bike lanes with caution, and only after shoulder checking. Stop at stop signs. Drive in a straight line, in a position in the lane that leaves cyclists enough room to ride on the right.
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When approaching cross streets, especially in residential areas where you are not on a major road, slow down and watch for cyclists that may suddenly appear from the side.
Cyclists, like a lot of car drivers, often treat stop signs as yield signs and do not come to a full stop. Be vigilant and do not assume a cyclist will stop even if you have the right of way. (This is the same advice we give to cyclists regarding motorists, by the way.)
Traffic Circles
What to do at those travel circles? It seems that cyclists and motorists are equally confused about the mini traffic circles that dot our neighbourhoods and bike routes. Basically traffic circles are like four-way stops where the vehicles do not have to stop. Whoever gets there first has the right of way; a vehicle already in the circle has the right of way; if two vehicles arrive at the same time, the one on the right has the right of way; if everyone arrives at the same time from all directions—lookout! Many drivers treat these traffic circles as minor obstacles on their thoroughfare. Don't do that. Slow down and look. Be prepared to stop if necessary. Don't assume the cyclist will yield even if you have the right of way. |
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Look before you open your car door. A parked car can be just as threatening to a cyclists as a moving vehicle. Nobody wants to get “doored.”
A good habit to develop is to use your right hand to open the driver side door. That way you have to turn around and look every time. |
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Slow down! When approaching a cyclist in a car from behind, unless you have an entire clear, empty lane in which to pass, slow down as you approach. If there is no room to pass, slow to the speed of the bicycle until there is room. If the lane is wide enough, you can pass the bicycle while traffic is coming the other way.
Give cyclists space. Try to allow at least one meter clearance when passing. It may not always be possible, but use one meter as a rule of thumb.
In the City of Vancouver, there is a speed limit of 30 km/hr on streets designated as neighbourhood bikeways (aka bike routes). Respect this limit, be aware that there will be a lot of cyclist traffic, and pay extra attention. Treat neighbourhood bikeways as local access streets, not thoroughfares you can race down to take advantage of less traffic and cyclist controlled lights at intersections. |
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Remember that in BC, all traffic must yield when transit buses signal their intention to pull out into traffic. |
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Intersections and junctions--alleyways, driveways, etc.--are tricky spots and the place where most vehicle-cyclist accidents occur.
Intersections often have restricted views due to foliage, parked cars, and drivers must be able to see into the cross street to know if it's safe. Fair enough, but stop BEFORE entering the intersection, then ease your way to where you can see with caution, looking out for cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. It takes only an extra second to be cautious.
Even other vehicle drivers will often be startled and honk at a vehicle that speeds to a stop half-way into an intersection. You may know that you are going to stop. But the cyclist approaching, or already in the intersection, seeing a car zooming into the street, usually with the driver looking the other way has no way of knowing that. At the least, the cyclist has a burst of adrenalin; at the worst, the jolt could cause the cyclist to be startled and have an accident. |
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When you park, be sure to park as close to the curb as possible. Many vehicles today are already quite wide, with bulky side mirrors that threaten cyclists. When you park a foot and a half or two feet from the curb, you are forcing a cyclist to swerve out into traffic to avoid your improperly parked vehicle. |
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Watch your right! Cyclists usually ride to the right of cars in traffic. When you drive to the right of the lane you risk squeezing a cyclist into a parked car or a ditch--or clipping them with the big side mirrors that so many SUVs have.
When approaching an intersection where you intend to turn right,k shoulder check to make sure a cyclist is not there before moving to the right. Many drivers will just drift to the right as they anticipate a turn up the road, creating danger and barriers for cyclists riding in that spot. |
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Safety Tips