.staying safe

City cycling might not be as extreme as mountain biking. We urban pedallers seldom race down 45-degree slopes with mud in our teeth and braches whipping at our faces, hopping roots and sliding round corners with the back brakes locked – but I’d bet more cyclists are killed on the roads than on the tracks.

Yes, it’s dangerous. After all, your average mountain biker in a forest isn’t likely to be hit from behind by someone gazing at their GPS. Fortunately, preparation minimises the danger. Lights, helmets and reflective clothing are obviously the basic life-savers, and the regular road rider learns from experience what to look for even before it happens.

Accidents – by their nature – may not be predictable, but human nature is. Rather than worry about the dangers of the road, it’s better to expect arrogance, stupidity and ignorance from drivers and pedestrians. With that in mind, here is a list of some common dangers on the road so that we can more easily avoid them.

.one: pedestrians crossing
No matter how bright your lights or your clothing, the pedestrian isn’t looking for you, so they don’t see you. This is especially the case when there’s other traffic about because the shape, size and noise of car is what the pedestrian is aware of – not the silent speed of your bike. A bell or just a loud cough often wakes them up before you take their leg off.