Cycling in San Francisco: How to Survive the Mean Streets of the City on Your Bike
Mindset is probably most important because simply put, bikes and cars tend not to mix well. Cars are bigger and faster and their drivers tend to feel entitled to get where they are going as fast as possible while limiting the number of obstacles. I have found that when a bike “gets in the way,” many drivers are personally affronted. They lash out and altercations are bound to occur. When I first started riding, I got into altercations with drivers all of the time. These confrontations typically started out with a driver becoming annoyed after I staked my rightful claim to a lane of traffic (in California, at least, cyclists are allowed full use of the lane, if it is deemed safer than a bike lane or the side of the road). Invariably, the driver would tailgate me while honking his/her horn. My usual response was to turn around cursing and swearing before things fizzled with the driver swerving and speeding off. A couple of times, though, drivers have stopped and exited their vehicles in such situations. Once, I got punched in the face. Since then, I have mellowed. This is why I say mindset is the key to fun and successful urban cycling.
When I ride now, I do one of two things: I either kill drivers with kindness or I nip the situation before it comes to a head. If a driver is doing something wrong, I pull up next to him/her with a smile, and ask them to change their behavior. Or when I am in the lane and someone gets miffed, if it is safe to do I just pull over and stop and let them pass. Is it worth being assualted just to prove a point, even when you are right? Probably not.
Now, with that said, one of my first tips for good, safe urban cycling is to be agressive! When you are timid, accidents and bad things happen. It is kind of like the old adage in baseball: “play the ball, don’t let the ball play you!” Beginning cyclists should take it slow, no doubt, until a level of comfort with the frantic pace of the city is achieved, but being too timid can spell disaster. One thing that frightened newcomers do is ride on the sidewalk or close to the curb. This is asking for trouble. First, you are out of a driver’s field of vision in either position. You are more vulnerable to cars pulling in and out of driveways or making turns. And in many states, riding on the sidewalk is actually illegal! You will be more visible to cars if you are firmly planted in the street and quite obviously, your best bet is to be right in front of a car; they typically cannot miss you this way.
Another tip might just be instinctive. I am not yet sure if it can be learned. When you are on the bike, you must anticipate things, lots of things. I am always asking myself, “What is that car up there, or over there about to do?” If you guess right, and it is not too hard to do, you can keep moving and still stay safe. For example, if you are behind a car and you know it is turning right, accelerate to the left of the car and book down the street. Too many times I have gotten stuck behind the right side of a turning car only to have to hop back on the saddle in traffic and get going again from zero. This is a dangerous and vulnerable situation to be in. Trust me, you are much better off being in the flow of traffic.
Along similar lines, beware of parked cars. They open doors abruptly and this can kill or seriously injure you. They quickly pull out of parking spots, which is an obviosu hazard. One way to anticipate the movement of parked cars, or even a moving car is to look at wheels. Which way are they pointing? Is it mechanically possible for that car to get in your way or run into you within the time you need to pass it with its wheels pointed toward the curb? You need to constantly ask yourself such questions.
Although many avid cyclists are strong advocates of bike lanes (and they have been shown to increase levels of cycling), I am not a huge fan. There is no doubt that on-street bike lanes can be a nice asset, but often the bike lane is where all of the gravel and glass on the street gets pushed to. This is dangerous. Additionally, being in the bike lane can make you a target in certain situations. You have the right, at least in California, to get out of the bike lane; when the situation arises that you need to, leave the bike lane and take an auto lane. Hours and hours of riding will teach you when this action is appropriate. Off-street bike paths are nice as well, but you still need to be careful on them, especially when the path periodically crosses side streets. Cars turning onto to side streets do not always look for people and bikes entering the crosswalk.
From a sightseeing standpoint, urban cycling cannot be beat. I do it because I love the city, but also because it is a fine workout. Keeping up with the frenzied pace of the city and sometimes doing it because you have to (in order to stay ahead of the cars!) without even thinking, helps you push your body a little harder than you would otherwise. In a gym, there is usually not two tons of tin behind you demanding that you push harder and go faster! On the streets of the city, it is commonplace. And with a little advice to start and some real live practice, urban cycling can be a fun and exhilarating experience.
