NYT: Nervous Cyclist Guide to NYC. How Does This Translate for Chicago?

Comfortable getting around on your bike in the city? What advice would you give a nervous cyclist?

Here's a summary of the NYT article. What advice would you give a nervous cyclist? 

"Protect Yourself and Your Bike"

  • Helmet
  • Bike maintenance

"Find a Peaceful Place to Ride"

  • Areas you are comfortable with
  • Ride in parks, on bike paths

"Follow the Rules"

  • Stay off the sidewalk
  • Only one earbud (or none)
  • Bike bell
  • Obey all traffic laws

"Learn to Coexist with Cars"

  • Hand signal your turns
  • Be visible to cars
  • Ride a safe distance from parked cars (avoid dooring)

"Get Help From Experts"

  • Join a club/group

Views: 1011

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maurice on April 26, 2016 at 8:35am

"Only one earbud (or none)"

 

New cyclists should not be wearing earbuds. They need to be acutely aware of their environment.

 

Hell, I'm a very experienced cyclist and would never wear earbuds.

Permalink Reply by Ivo Iliev on April 28, 2016 at 7:05am

Completely agree! Listening to music while riding not only prevents you from hearing vehicles or other cyclists that approach from behind, but also narrows your vision so you are less likely to miss a dangerous situation ahead of you. However, I believe the biggest idiots are the ones who wear a helmet and earbuds

Permalink Reply by Cody McChane on April 28, 2016 at 9:50am

I don't understand the connection b/w helmets and earbuds. Because they're contradictory in terms of safety? Because you believe a helmet to be less safe than no helmet?

Permalink Reply by Ivo Iliev on April 29, 2016 at 6:15am

1. Earbuds increase the chances of the rider getting into an accident (especially if the rider is a novice). 

2. In an accident, you are a lot more likely to injure a part of the body other than the head (broken wrist, broken collarbone, busted ribs, etc.)

3. Helmets protect only in the case of a fall that results in direct impact to the head (and even that's doubtful because a lot of riders/ rookies do not even strap their helmets properly).

Therefore it follows that you could be a lot safer not wearing earbuds and not getting into accidents in the first place as opposed to wearing a helmet that will protect you in case you fall and hit your head.

I am not saying that helmets do not save lives, all I am saying is that it is very rare when they do, and if you don't get into an accident in the first place, then helmets are useless. This conclusion is, of course, based on my personal riding style and may not apply to everyone, but wearing earbuds is still pretty stupid to me. Especially when the slow rider in front of me is blocking the entire lane and does not hear me coming from behind.

Hope that makes sense...

Permalink Reply by V W on April 26, 2016 at 9:47am
I think what often gets lost in the shuffle is the number one rule: have fun!

And the number two rule: get out there and ride!

I don't mean to be overly dismissive of all of that very good guidance- but I just think it's important to say that these are best practices- but if someone's not willing or able to conform to any or all of that at this time- I'd still rather they hop on their bike and ride instead of abstaining until some uncertain future date.

To illustrate with an analogy- take helmet laws. As many of us know there's studies out there that show that the net effect of strictly enforcing helmet laws is not that more people wear them, but that less people decide to ride bikes at all. Or something like that.

Point being that I think it's important to be sensitive to the extent that well meaning guidance comes off as finger wagging that acts as a barrier to people getting into biking. And or it can come off as daunting and or it can give a potential cyclist reasons to procrastinate.

When I got into everyday biking, I certainly didn't have the best bike etiquette, but I did what was comfortable for me, and as a result, I kept riding, and as a result, over time I started to naturally conform to all of this great guidance of my own accord.

So that would be my advice- dont let all that guidance stop you - just ride and have fun first and do what works for you because the biggest obstacle to biking everyday is just doing it and breaking in. If you're receptive to all of that guidance at the outset then great but if you're not then you will learn it naturally over time as long as you're simply getting out there. Sometimes the best way to do that is to not overcomplicate it.
Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on April 26, 2016 at 10:08am

I don't think helmet laws are where this is going so much as offering advice to help make people more comfortable. While it's not required to wear a helmet, if you are nervous, it might help put you at ease when riding your bike in the city. 

Permalink Reply by V W on April 26, 2016 at 10:30am
Yeah it was more in the way of an analogy to illustrate how well meaning guidelines or rules can sometimes have a counterintuitive effect.
Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on April 26, 2016 at 10:51am
Makes sense. :-)
Permalink Reply by Jared on April 26, 2016 at 10:02am

Oddly enough the couple in the photo are planning on cycling in New York City later this week.

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on April 26, 2016 at 10:07am

Yeah, I kinda did that on purpose. Sarah and John strike me as two people that really have a lot of confidence riding in Chicago so I added the photo I took of them during a Pierogi Fest ride. When I cross-post to FB, a photo helps make the post more visible. 

Permalink Reply by Ryan Stahlman on April 26, 2016 at 10:36am

How about we add the follow:

Be courteous to other users of the shared use paths. 

Permalink Reply by buddaa38 on April 28, 2016 at 7:30am
Take some bike safety classes from an L.C.I. (League Certified Instructor) if interested contact me:
Attachments:

RSS

Groups

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service