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Safe Cycling

CYCLING CRIME SAFETY TIPS

Muggings and bike jackings on both trails and roads seem to be on the increase. Here are some tips to make sure your next ride is a safe one.

DON’T RIDE ALONE

It may take a little more organisation, but rather ride in groups. It’s very likely there will be a local WhatsApp riding group you can join. If not, get your mates together and start one yourselves!

AVOID HIGH CRIME AREAS

Always check before hand if the route you are planning is flagged as a high crime area. If you are cycling in isolated or dangerous areas, as mentioned above, travel with a group of cyclists to reduce the risk of crime.

Here’s a link to the PPA hot spots map. We update it daily, identifying cycling fatalities, accidents, close encounters with buses, trucks, taxi's etc and crime hotspots on our roads around South Africa.

DON’T USE YOUR MOBILE PHONE IN PUBLIC

Avoid stopping and phoning or texting unless you’re in a secure area. You don’t want to invite crime.

TELL PEOPLE YOUR ROUTE

Notifying your partner, family or friends of your intended route is always a good idea. If you’re not back when they expect you, they can raise the alarm and send help.

CARRY ICE DETAILS

Carry identification, contact, and medical aid details with you. Wearing an ID bracelet is best – most will have an emergency number to call should you need medical attention. It also makes it easier to contact your next of kin should you be out riding alone. Next best thing is to programme the details of your next-of-kin into your cellphone under ICE (In Case of Emergency).

CHECK YOUR BIKE

Before you head out, make sure your bike is in 100% working order. Checking your tyre pressure and brakes is crucial. The last thing you want is a technical malfunction jeopardising your safety.

REPORT IT!

If you do have the misfortune of being a victim of bicycle crime, please report it to the police, the PPA, and on your local WhatsApp cycling group. Sharing this information means it becomes an increasingly important priority for law enforcement, and your fellow cyclists get a clearer picture of where the hotspots are and can avoid them.

Safe Cycling

What is safe cycling? You’ll probably get a different answer from every website you read or any other cyclist you talk to. To me, ‘safe cycling’ relates to the combination of common sense, road rules and cycling knowledge to get you from Point A to Point B in a safe and efficient way, preferably with the journey having been a pleasant one and not fraught with danger.

What do you need in order to cycle safely?

You need the right vehicle…

Choose the right bicycle for the job. I prefer using a hybrid or mountain bicycle for commuting purposes. It is more comfortable than a road racing bicycle due to the more upright riding position and the additional gears help when you ride a bicycle laden with kit for the office or groceries. Try putting semi-slicks on the bike so that you don’t get too much rolling resistance when riding on tar, yet are still able to ride on gravel paths or road shoulders without any problems.

I do not like riding with a backpack as I prefer being able to move freely on the bicycle, so I have fitted panniers to my commuting bicycle. In addition to being able to comfortably carry my clothes for work, handbag, laptop, lunch and the like, I have found that cars seem to give me a wider berth when the panniers are on the bike since they make the bicycle appear wider. In addition, the weight is carried low on the bicycle, which adds stability.

 

If you do not like the idea of panniers, a small bicycle trailer is also an option.

Give your bicycle a quick check before you set out: Again, use your common sense here.

Regularly check the tyres for cuts or objects that may become embedded in the tyres so that you do not end up with a flat halfway into the journey.

Check the brakes – you want to be able to stop your bicycle, especially if you need to brake suddenly.

Check the bicycle for any loose nuts and bolts – you do not want your handlebars to come off in your hands as you approach a downhill intersection.

Make sure you have what you need to fix a puncture en route. And so on.

You need the right kit…

Fit lights to your bicycle. I have a red flashing rear light underneath the saddle and switch that on even if I ride in the middle of the day – even more so on an overcast day. If you intend riding at dawn or dusk, add a steady, white front light as well.

For the rest of the kit, use your common sense: If it looks like it could rain or get cold during the day, take along something waterproof and/or warm: You cannot adequately control your bicycle if you are shivering with cold. Sunglasses (or clear glasses in the evening) will protect your eyes from dust and the like blowing into it – again, it is difficult to control a bicycle if you are riding down a steep hill, traffic next to you, and something blows into your eyes. Wear the right shoes: Slip-slops or sandals may be acceptable for a very short trip to the café on the corner, but have you thought of what would happen should the sandal get caught, or you get involved in an accident? If possible, rather wear closed shoes (again, make sure the shoe laces don’t get caught in the chain or chain ring) or – even better – MTB cycling shoes that will allow you to comfortably walk around when off the bicycle.

First and foremost, do not get onto your bicycle without putting on a decent helmet. Apart from the fact that it became law in 2004 that you have to wear a helmet whenever you cycle in South Africa, you never know when a dog will run out in front of you; when a parked vehicle will unexpectedly open a door, a pedestrian step out in front of you, and the like. So be prepared and wear that helmet!

Secondly, always wear gloves. In the unhappy instance of a fall, your hands are usually the first to hit the ground. Palms without skin takes a long time to heal.

Always wear bright, reflective clothing. Nevermind if you think you look like a Christmas tree – make sure the other road users can see you. Light, contrasting colours work well – don’t be afraid to combine red and yellow, or bright pink and white… Bright, luminous sleeveless wind jackets (gilets) or rain jackets are highly visible and well worth wearing.

You need to know something about road conditions and traffic rules

Safe cycling includes know where you may or may not ride your bicycle, what the general traffic rules are, and what your rights are as a cyclist.

According to SA traffic laws, bicycles are regarded as vehicles, which means you have every right to be on the road. Ride assertively and make eye contact with drivers who may cross your path.

Having said that, most motorists seem to think that cyclists should ride as far left of the road as possible. This is usually not the best place to cycle, for various reasons:

The far left of the road often has glass and other debris in it

There are often ‘cat-eyes’, gutters or drain covers which could cause you to fall

The road camber is often steepest or uneven near the edge of the road

Riding a metre in from the side of the road often will often force a vehicle to cross the centre line in order to pass you. This often stops them from passing when there are oncoming vehicles. Having a metre ‘free’ to your left also means you have space to swerve should a vehicle pass too closely

If it is windy, having some space on your left helps should you get caught in a gust

Where may you ride? You may ride your bicycle on any road open to cycling. This excludes freeways (like the M3, M5, N1 and N2 in and near Cape Town), and roads which are specifically closed to bicycles. Use the cycle lane if there is one

As a cyclist, you need to obey all the road and traffic rules. Jumping red lights and riding on pedestrian-only pavements is illegal and can also be dangerous and frighten other road users. Don’t do it!

Watch out for the following:

Drain covers that run in the same direction as your direction of travel

Glass, sand, water or oil spills

Wet paint

Any road debris

Vehicles that have just parked, as the driver/passenger may open a door without first checking to see if there is a cyclist approaching

Vehicles that are turning left and who may not have seen you approaching in their blind spots

What about other cyclists on the road? Keep your eyes open for children or novices, as their bicycle handling skills may not yet be up to scratch and they may get a fright should you pass them too closely. Also keep your eyes open for other cyclists when approaching intersections.

General tips

Always check your blind spots

Cycle predictably so that vehicle drivers around you can guess (correctly) what you are doing

Give appropriate hand signals when you intend to stop or turn and make sure the motorists see you

Watch out for disembarking passengers when you cycle past a bus or taxi that has stopped

Watch out for the draft from a passing bus or truck

Using a cell phone while cycling can distract your attention. Rather pull off to take the call

Give yourself extra room if it is raining so that you have enough time to stop – remember also that wet brakes are not as effective as dry ones. “Pump” your brakes a few times before reaching a stop street to remove water from the rim before pulling the brakes for stopping.

Using an iPod or radio could restrict your hearing – make sure you can hear the road users around you

Be polite…