Bicycle Driving Seminar

by Fred Oswald, League Cycling Instructor #947

www.cycle-safety.com www.labreform.org www.bikelaws.org

Fitn ess

Commute to work ir a Ride for n th eal ea l H errands C Red Touring & hip uced ns Qu cong nio Recreationmpa iet estio n Co Sport Cycling

En jo y

Fred Oswald, Apr 2010

Bad News
Safest

methods are counterintuitive Much "Bike Safety" teaching is wrong! Most think unsafe methods safer & vice versa Most people unwilling to learn better ways

Fred Oswald Oct 2008

Worse News
Some

traffic laws discourage safest practices Cyclists greatest duty staying out of the way Bicycle facilities" encourage unsafe behavior Bicycle Friendly is often cyclist unfriendly

Fred Oswald Oct 2008

Great News
You

can eliminate >90% of your risk Best practices not hard if you are willing to learn Driving a bike is >90% same as driving a car You already know how to drive a car

Fred Oswald Oct 2008

Common Bicycling Fallacies

of the Car Culture
1. Fear from the rear (Fear of traffic passing from behind). 2. Roads are for cars / Cyclists do not belong on the road / Greatest duty staying out of the way 3. Rules of the road do not apply / Cyclists do not need (or cannot learn) to follow the rules of the road. These are compounded by the fallacy that there is nothing to learn about cycling

Fred Oswald Mar 2010

Beware of GOOD ADVICE

from the Car Culture

1. Stay out of the way of cars 2. Always ride on the sidewalk 3. Ride as far right as possible 4. You could be dead right 5. Ride as though other drivers can't see you
Dont repeat bad advice just because it sounds good
Fred Oswald Mar 2005

Who teaches children Bike Safety?

Who taught us when we were young? -- Compare cycling with swimming Bike Safety
Qualifications Skill/ Experience Required Instructor Training Authority figure None None

Swimming
Certified instructor Pre-class written & swim skills test 36 hour class, master skills, written & swim exam. Red Cross water safety prog.
Fred Oswald, Jun 2002

Syllabus

None

Break the cycle of misinformation

Child riding wrong way

Safe Routes to School cover
DOT HS 809 497, Sep 2002.

The Guiding Principle:

Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
SAME ROADS, SAME RULES, SAME RIGHTS following best practices Operating by pedestrian methods and in unexpected places is often dangerous

Photo above from Chicagos Bike Lane Design Manual

Fred Oswald Feb 2003

Urban Bicycle Crashes

DOOR w/ANIMAL

Single Veh. (fall) -- 45% Collision with Car -- 18%

Collision w/BIKE

Collision with Bike -- 17%

FALLS

Collision with Animal -- 8% Hit Parked Car (door) -- 4%

Collision w/CAR

Hit Pedestrian -- 1%

Most bike crashes do not involve cars!

Source: Kaplan, Characteristics of the Regular Adult Bicycle User
Fred Oswald Apr 2000

Car-Bike Crashes, Who is at Fault?

OVERTAKING (2/3 at night) DOOR NO YIELD @ driveway RUN LIGHT or SIGN RIGHT HOOK LEFT CROSS
Motorist fault

Misc. WRONG-WAY

About HALF are caused by cyclist error! 90% involve turning & crossing traffic.
Cyclist fault

L-TURN FROM R NO YIELD @ driveway RUN LIGHT, or SIGN

Source: BikeEd Instructor Manual Based on Effective Cycling

SWERVE

Fred Oswald Jun 2002

ER visits per year

70 0 0 ,0 0 60 0 0 ,0 0 50 0 0 ,0 0 40 0 0 ,0 0 30 0 0 ,0 0 20 0 0 ,0 0 10 0 0 ,0 0 B a 'b ll Be ik s Bd es Ca s h ir Rg us

U.S. Fatalities per Year

70 0 0 ,0 0 60 0 0 ,0 0 50 0 0 ,0 0 40 0 0 ,0 0 30 0 0 ,0 0 20 0 0 ,0 0 10 0 0 ,0 0 H at er Cn e a cr S oe tr k Ln ug B eCa h ik r s

Frank Krygowski

Effect of Experience on Cycling Crashes

Elementary School

College Adult

LAW Club Cyclists

~ 30% improvement ~ 80% improvement

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

CTC Club Cyclists

Accidents per Million miles

Knowledgeable & experienced cyclists are ~ 80% safer than the average adult.
Adapted from: John Forester, Bicycle Transportation, 2nd Ed., MIT Press, 1994 Orig. sources: Chlapecka, et al.; Schupack and Driessen; Kaplan; Watkins
Fred Oswald Nov 2000

Principles of Traffic Law

1. First Come, First Served 2. Drive on the Right 3. Obey Traffic Control Devices 4. Observe Speed Positioning 5. Follow Intersection Positioning
The standard rules of the road give cyclists a huge safety advantage. Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
Source: Effective Cycling & BikeEd Instructor Manuals
Fred Oswald Jun 2002

Your lane is ON the road. Dont ride wrong way or on sidewalk! Stay in traffic lane to be seen

Prima r

y zon e of v

igilan ce

z ary d on ec S

e on

STOP

Fred Oswald, Jun 2002

Bicycle Sidepath / Sidewalk Unsafe at (almost) any speed

"...Sidewalks are typically designed for pedestrian speeds and maneuverability and are not safe for higher speed bicycle use. Amer Assoc. of State Highway Trans.
Officials, Guidelines for the Development of Bicycle Facilities
Photo by F. Oswald, Jun 1999

Sidewalk and Sidepath Hazards

Riding on sidewalk/sidepath compared to riding on road increases collision risk by a factor of:
1.8 (California; Wachtel and Lewiston 1994) 2.7 (Eugene, OR, 1979) 4.7 (California, 1974) 3.4 (Sweden; Linderholm 1984) 2.4-8.6 (Finland, Sweden, & Norway; Leden 1988) 3.9 (Denmark; Jensen, Andersen, Nielsen 1997) 1.7 to 5 (Germany; Schnull, Alrutz et al 1993)

In general, the designated use of sidewalks (as a signed shared facility) for bicycle travel is unsatisfactory.
--- AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities

Riding against traffic on sidewalk or sidepath is significantly more dangerous.

Paul Schimek, 2001 D. Gutierrez & B. P. DeSousa, 2003

Vehicular Cycling Layers of Safety

1. Dont CAUSE collision (follow rules of road) 2. Assertively deter motorist mistakes 3. Drive defensively to escape hazards 4. Mitigation (helmets, gloves, etc.)

Fred Oswald, Jul 2008

Vehicular Cycling Safety Skills

1. Look Back (Scan) for Traffic 2. Rock Dodge 3. Hard Braking (panic stop) 4. Quick Turn
These skills can prevent YOU from causing a crash or allow you to escape someone elses error. They require instruction & practice.
Fred Oswald, Apr 2002

Proper Lane Positioning

An essential skill for cyclists

Narrow Lane Road or Downhill Use Full Lane

Cyclists have legal right and safety obligation to use the full lane if too narrow to share with motor vehicles

Photo by Wayne Pein

Photo by R. Woodward, Jan 2000

Fred Oswald, Aug 2003

State of Ohio on Bicycle Lane Position

Ohio Revised Code 4511.55(A) says:

ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable

Note practice-able. DOES NOT SAY as near as possible!

4511.55(C) says:

This section does not require ride at the edge of the roadway when it is unreasonable or unsafe to do so. when necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, surface hazards, or if it otherwise is unsafe or impracticable to do so, including if the lane is too narrow for the bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
Ohio Bicycling Street Smarts says:

On a road with two or more narrow lanes in your direction -like many city streets -- you should ride in the middle of the right lane at all times.

Fred Oswald, Apr 2010

Wide Lane Room to Allow Passing

but dont ride in the gutter

Fred Oswald Sep 2008

Defensive Driving

Be Assertive for Your Safety

See and be seen Deter unsafe passing Prevent motorist mistakes Stay out of the door zone Avoid road hazards Keep safety zone to your right

Defensive Driving

Beware the Right-Hook Hazard

Stay out of turn lane unless turning. Stay away from truckers blind spot!

Right from --CommuteOrlando.com

What is Assertive Cycling?

--- the sweet spot between being aggressive and passive.

Aggressive:
Uncooperative, pushy, selfish, combative

Assertive:
Standing up for ones rights, while also respecting rights of others.

Passive:

Inactive, submitting without resistance

Avoiding Hazards on the Right

Below you almost never need to dodge drain grates if you ride far enough left.

Above you never need to dodge car doors if you ride far enough left.
Fred Oswald Jul 2008

Dont Get the Door Prize

Beware bike lane hazards
Door Zone Bike Lanes. Dont assume a bikelane is a safe place to ride!

Cambridge fatality
www.rwinters.com/ Chicago Bikelane Design Guide

Bike Lane Hazards

Bike lanes encourage mistakes:
Pass on right & filter forward
Drive-out at stop sign Right hook Left cross

Ever seen car roads like this?

Paul Schimek, 2002

Fred Oswald, 2010

Destination Position & Bike Lanes

Bike Lane type speed positioning doesnt work at intersections
Straight through traveling cyclists should not be at the extreme right Bike Lanes often encourage cyclists to violate destination position rule

?
Most Bike Lanes create intersection confusion by promoting common destination positioning mistakes
Lane Bike Lane Bike

Copyright 2004, D. A. Gutierrez and D.P. DeSousa

Lane Bike

Left Turn Technique

1. Look back & plan move 2. Find a gap in traffic 3. Signal & merge to L side of lane 4. Look back for gap in traffic 5. Signal & merge to next lane

Plan ahead & get into position early

Fred Oswald, Dec 2003

Negotiating a Left Merge

In tight traffic look back & signal to get the cooperation of a following driver. Merge over only if driver allows. Fred Oswald Never try to force a merge. Aug 2002

Using Vehicle Detectors

Stencil to mark detector loop.

video detector

Dipole loop sweet spots

Quadrupole loop sweet spots

Right Stop with wheels over wire buried in road.

(Most work if you find right spot.)
Fred Oswald Aug 2008

Teach your kids: Drive your Bike!

A bike is not a toy. It is a childs first vehicle.

Fred Oswald, Sep 2002

Why traffic law matters

Traffic laws shape -- How cyclists are taught to ride The safety record of cyclists How the police treat cyclists What the motoring public expects from cyclists What happens in court or with insurance adjustor if a cyclist has a collision

Uniform traffic laws promote safe, fair & efficient travel for all.

Paul Schimek & Fred Oswald, Mar 2003

Survey of Bicycle Traffic Rules in 75 NE Ohio Communities

25 20

21 have excellent rules

21 have bad rules

No. of Communities

15

10

11 have good rules

13 have dangerous rules 9 have poor rules

Excelle nt

Good

Poor

Bad

Dange rous

2006 Ohio reforms made bad local rules invalid! But local reforms are not automatic.

Fred Oswald, Jul 2002 Revised Jan 2010

Avon Lake <C+>

Keep to the right-hand curb.

A Crazy Quilt of Non-Uniform and Dangerous Traffic Laws

Avon <F->
Reqd. to ride on sidewalk Reqd. to ride on sidepath Under 11 not allowed on streets Reqd to walk across intersection of through streets

N Olmsted <D>:
Reqd. to ride on sidepath Under 8 not allowed on residential streets Under 12 not allowed on non-residential streets Cleveland <C>: Sidewalk cyclists must walk across intersection of through streetsGenerally consistent w/state law

Brook Park <A>: Fairview Park <D->:

N Ridgeville <F->
Reqd. to ride on sidewalk Reqd. to ride on sidepath Under 11 not allowed on streets Reqd to walk across intersection of through streets Reqd. to ride on sidepath Under 12 not allowed on non-residential streets Generally consistent w/state law Except brake must skid wheel

Middleburg Hts. <C>:

Generally consistent w/state law

N Royalton <A->:
Generally consistent w/state law

Strongsville <D->:
Reqd. to ride on sidepath Under 11 not allowed on streets Reqd to walk across intersection of through streets

Broadview Hts <F->:

Reqd. to ride on sidewalk Reqd. to ride on sidepath Under 11 not allowed on streets Reqd to walk across intersection of through streets Reqd to yield to vehicular traffic

Dangerous bicycle regulations

Actual local ordinance

Any person operating a bicycle shall ride upon the sidewalk rather than the roadway when sidewalks are available and not congested with pedestrian traffic.
Ohio Revised Code 4511.711 says:

no local authority may require that bicycles be operated on sidewalks.

This ordinance requires expert cyclists to imitate beginners. It is invalid because it conflicts with the uniform rules of the road.

This is invalid in Ohio following reforms passed in 2006

Fred Oswald Apr 2007

mproving Safety Through Educatio

Summary
Much of what we learned as kids is wrong. Most collisions involve turning or crossing traffic. Be assertive about your safety. Proper lane position helps avoid trouble. Standard traffic laws good; bike specific laws bad. A bike is not a toy. It is a childs first vehicle. Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

Fred Oswald, Apr 2010