Every country has it's own traffic rules. These rules also apply to cyclists. Cyclists have to follow the traffic laws of that country and regulations regarding safety like wearing helmets and lighting.
Apart from these national regulations there are also some unwritten cycling laws. These unwritten laws explain how cyclists should behave.
Here in the Netherlands we have a lot of cyclists. And cyclists sometimes have a bad reputation. We as cyclists can prevent this by behaving correctly when we go for our rides.
Here are some do's and don'ts each cyclist should take into account.
Don't break the law
This one is quite obvious. As a cyclist you shouldn't break the law. Be acquainted with the traffic rules in your country and follow those rules. I often see cyclists ignore red traffic lights. This can be very dangerous both for you as for the other traffic.
I also sometimes see cyclists in areas that are ment for pedestrians like shopping streets or on the pavement. This is often less dangerous but very annoying for pedestrians.
Pay attention
As a cyclists you are participating in traffic. With all other forms of transportation with different speeds it can be very crowded. And as a cyclist you are quite vulnerable, so you really need to pay attention.
Too many times I see people that aren't paying attention while cycling. Whether it is because they are watching their phone or talking to friends while cycling together; not paying enough attention is often a cause of accidents.
Another thing I witness a lot nowadays is people with headphones on. When you're wearing headphones you cannot hear the traffic around you, so you miss a lot of information.
Be sure to pay attention to the traffic around you. Especially in crowded places like cities.
Signaling
When you ride a bicycle it's a good practice to show the other traffic around you what you are about to do. You do this by signaling.
At intersections you point in the direction you are about to go. And not before you have looked over your shoulder if there is any traffic behind you. It might be good to practice riding with one hand and looking over your shoulder first.
Speed and priority
In some cases you as a cyclist have priority, but always check wether you are given priority by others; especially when dealing with cars.
I always make sure I have eye contact with the driver that needs to give me priority, so I know they have seen me and they stop.
Also adjust your speed as you approach an intersection or other crowded places so you have the time to see the other traffic and vice versa.
Visibility
Visibility is very important in traffic! Cyclists are sometimes overlooked by other drivers, so it's very important that you are visible. Years ago I always wore dark cycling outfits, but I switched to fluorescent colours a couple of years ago. Now I'm way more visible than I used to be.
My clothes and cycling bag also have reflective stripes to make me even more visible on the road.
And last, but not least; when you go cycling in the dark, dusk or dawn, always make sure you have proper lights on your bicycle.
Proper lights can really save your life when cycling in the dark.
Any comments or additions?
Do you have any comments or additions to the suggestions I mentioned above? Please let me know in the comment section.
Good behavior while riding your bicycle is important for your own health as well as the image people have about cyclists.
(Note: All photos in this blog are from Pixabay!)
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