| Riding a bicycle in the suburbs presents challenges to | | | | invisible and no one sees you. This idea will go a long |
| cyclists and drivers alike. While the wider streets and | | | | way in keeping you out of trouble. |
| lower concentration of cyclists make the suburbs | | | | While assuming that no car is looking for you, also |
| seem like a safer place to ride, the suburban | | | | assume the worst when keeping track of a vehicle. |
| landscape can actually be a no-man's-land for cyclists. | | | | What does this mean? Let's say a vehicle is heading |
| Whether you're on your bike or in your car, these | | | | toward an intersection. Let's say the car stops without |
| observations can help prevent accidents and | | | | activating the turn signal. Normally, we would assume |
| annoyances on the road. | | | | that the car will continue driving straight. Stop! Instead, |
| Bicycle laws do vary by state. Nevertheless, with | | | | assume that the driver is the type of person who |
| some exceptions, cyclists should obey the same | | | | doesn't use the turn signal and that it's equally possible |
| traffic laws as motorists. This generalization is not as | | | | that he will turn left or right. Assume that drivers aren't |
| obvious as it sounds. How many times have you | | | | paying attention, that they're distracted, texting while |
| cyclists crossed against a red light when no cars were | | | | driving, eating a Big Mac, painting their nails, and so on. |
| coming? On a bike, it's easy to feel unrestrained by the | | | | This will help you predict the movements of many |
| rules of the road. Unfortunately, this attitude can | | | | motorists, especially suburban motorists. |
| provoke motorists who aren't sure how to react to | | | | The wide boulevards, regular lanes, and enormous |
| bikers that, to them, appear out of nowhere and do | | | | intersections of a suburb provide a predictable driving |
| unpredictable things. | | | | environment, perfect for sleepy drivers. In contrast, the |
| In the suburbs, the ratio of cars to bikes is much higher | | | | narrow lanes, sudden changes, and frequent stoplights |
| than in the city. Suburban motorists are not so | | | | of a city force urban drivers into a more alert state. |
| accustomed to seeing cyclists. Most are more | | | | Therefore, suburban cyclists ought to make up for the |
| concerned about other cars than cyclists and are | | | | alertness that motorists lack by following the rules of |
| surprised to see them. Therefore, as a suburban | | | | the road, staying visible, keeping aware, and predicting |
| cyclist you should take extra care not only to follow | | | | the behavior of all nearby vehicles. |
| the rules of the road, but to make believe that you're | | | | |