Bicycle Etiquette:

A simple guide to cycling manners.

Welcome friends to the "Bicycle Etiquette" section of Get-Into-Cycling.com. You're riding along, enjoying your new bike when all of a sudden, another cyclists flies right by you at near-mach speed, startling the living daylights out of you.

Or worse, you're riding on the street and the signal light changes to red, so you stop. But you stop right in the middle of a right turn lane, blocking traffic, when there is plenty of room for you to move over to the left and let traffic move. Now you have some irrate motorists honking at you and thinking that all cyclists are rude.

Courtesy towards others.

We sometimes take for granted that as cyclists we are the only ones getting harassed by motorists, pedestrians and other cyclist when in fact, we sometimes are the aggressors. For example:

- We have intimidating tendencies towards pedestrians by not stopping for them.

- Being verbally aggressive towards pedestrians and motorists.

- Crossing the intersection without any regard for the signals lights.

- Cycling in an aggressive fashion thus becoming a danger to those around you.

The end result of this type of behavior will put cyclists in a negative light with the public and will lessen their support for us. But there are ways to remedy this:

Mind your manners.

Remember when your mom used to always remind you as a kid, to not chew your food with your mouth open? Or to wash your hands before you eat? Or to say "please" when you asked for something? Well, if you listened to your mom (and we're sure you did) you found out that all these little rules of etiquette actually were beneficial.

Like the old saying goes: "You can attract more flys with honey than you can with vinegar." And just as important, learning bicycle etiquette is a must for all those who want to get into cycling. Knowing these simple manners will be beneficial for you and those around you. Here are some suggestions:

- Learn and use hand signals.

- If possible ride on designated bike lanes and trails.

- Avoid riding on sidewalks (unless you absolutely have to, for instance, because of road construction or no shoulder to ride on).

- Try to keep on the right side of the road or trail.

- Make yourself known to others by announcing your location (example: "rider on your left").

- If you are riding in a slow pace, stay on the right side closest to the shoulder.

- Follow and observe traffic signs and signals.

- Alert and point-out hazards ahead of you ( examples: rocks, pot holes, sticks, cars, animals and people).

- Do not follow other riders too closely. Give yourself sufficient distance.

- Do not ride against traffic.

- Do not block traffic.

- Remain in control. Try to keep a straight line. Do not weave back and forth.

These are just some examples of bicycle etiquette. If you want to know more, visit your local library, the world wide web or check your local laws. Remember, bicycle etiquette is a necessary part of being a cyclist. Whether you like it or not, the actions you do while riding your bicycle are a representation of all cyclist. Don't give yourself and other cyclist a bad reputation by showing your worse.......mind your manners.

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