Today, I’m feeling a bit bad about myself. I’m new to cycling, and to be quite honest, I was going too recklessly and almost got myself hit by a car or two. I could absolutely learn how to check my turns better.
What are your favorite tips for learning how to cycle safely in the city?
One tip not listed yet. The best route for a bike might not be the one google maps gives you. There is a 35mph road that is very direct between my home and downtown and seems like the obvious bike choice. The problem is every 2 miles there are on ramps to the highway that makes biking crazy unsafe. I’ve found a completely different route that would take 3 times as long if I was in a car but maybe 5 minutes more on a bicycle and I feel much safer.
There are new rules in my area where roads that are one-way for cars are now two-way for bicycles. It’s likely Google Maps has a hard time keeping up for adjustments like that, and also can’t account for “unwritten rules”, like nobody on a residential street caring if a cyclist takes the wrong way along their usually-quiet street.
Still, just for scenic reasons I really prefer if I can find dedicated bike paths heading in my intended direction.