Good safety tip

[Ann G]

I just read such a good safety tip that I'm putting it here:

"When riding country roads, do your part to draw attention to yourself when vehicles are approaching from the rear. Move slightly left 6-8 inches when a vehicle is coming up behind you, yet still at a safe distance, then move back to the right 8-12 inches. This is an excellent way to make a visual connection, plus if the motorist sees you moving back and forth, I have found they instinctively pass further to the left than if you are riding on a straight course. A rider in a tucked position and riding straight ahead doesn’t look much different than a distant road sign to the motorist. How many times have we heard drivers who have hit a cyclist say? “I just didn’t see him/her.” So, don’t be afraid to move slightly left to right to draw attention to yourself. It may just save your life."

This is from an article by Gordy Mosher about rider safety on the RAGBRAI website. The rest of the article can be found here:

http://ragbrai.com/index.php/2009/06...ps-for-riders/

[RolliePollie]

Anything to make yourself more visible! I would be a little cautious doing this move though...you'd need to be sure the car was far enough behind you that you have time to move back over towards the shoulder, and if you're going really fast, a quick little "swerve" like that could be dangerous if you hit a pothole or chunk in the pavement.

I ride country roads 90% of the time, and what I tend to do is ride out in the lane...like where a car's driver's side tire would be. I have a helmet mirror, so when I see and hear that a car is coming, I move over. I figure this makes me more visible because I'm moving across the lane, and it also lets the driver know that I am making an effort to get out of their way. The other reason I like to ride out in the lane is because the pavement around here is so atrocious that you get beat to death if you try to ride way over to the right.

One thing I see a lot around here that surprises me is riders wearing dark or drab colors that don't stand out. I wear orange, red, yellow, and hot pink. I want to be seen!

[MartianDestiny]

I'd much rather ride out 6-8 (more like 12) inches into the road to begin with rather than swerve in and out of "traffic" however light it may be when the shoulder is not wide enough to give me ample protection.

I'll gladly yield that foot or so to a car as they pass me safely (or be glad I have it as they pass me unsafely).

But it seems that moving farther left as they are approaching could be construed as a jerk cyclist move and an attempt to prevent a pass (which, incidentally is illegal in many (most?) vehicle codes (at least the ones I've been reading recently)). Doesn't sound like something that's going to earn us many "share the road" points, and we need them. Safer or not (and I'm not convinced it's safer than just riding in the lane to begin with) I think it would serve mainly to earn us more ill will amongst drivers.

[OakLeaf]

If I understood the OP correctly, I think she was talking about moving out when she hears the vehicle, before car and bicycle are visible to each other.

I definitely do that when I'm running (cycling, not so much). That way they see me at the earliest possible moment, and I still have plenty of time to get back into my usual "groove" at the far left.

[MartianDestiny]

If I understood the OP correctly, I think she was talking about moving out when she hears the vehicle, before car and bicycle are visible to each other.

Well maybe I need my ears checked, but 9 times out of 10 when I hear a car well enough to pick it out from the background and discern direction they can see me.

It also seemed like part of the point was for the driver to see you "weaving" rather than stationary and possibly not in the road at all (which I admit is an eye trick that could occur if you hold your line)

What do you do if it's a Prius (silent little buggers)? Surely they can see you before you hear them...frankly sometimes I don't hear them at all until they are right up on me or passing.

If you are going to move left before a car even sees you why not just ride in that line to begin with? Asphalt is typically better there anyway and it solves the "Prius problem".

[Ann G]

Maybe I should point out that both the writer of the article and I are live in Iowa and he was talking about country roads. The vast majority of country roads in Iowa are as straight as a ruler, and he suggested this maneuver when you first notice a car back there. I use my mirror and lot, so most of the time on a straight road, I notice a car when it's 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile behind me. But let's use an example where it's 1/2 mile back there. If the car is going 60 mph it's going to take him 30 seconds to go from point A (where I first notice him) to point B (where I am now). If I'm going 15 mph on the bike, I'm going to travel another 660 feet in that same 30 seconds (another 1/8 mile). So, I've got plenty of time to move to the left for a few seconds, then move back to the right. The point is to clue the driver onto the fact that I'm not a traffic sign or something like that up ahead. This isn't something that I'd do after the driver has begun to move to pass me. Then, clearly he knows I'm there, and shifting around would only be an annoyance at that point.

I tried this out on yesterday's ride and I liked the results.