| When you are cycling in traffic and have to contend | | | | Guarding against the Hook is very difficult, since the |
| with other road users, it's a jungle out there. Even | | | | car driver is making a split-second decision about |
| worse, sometimes it feels like the laws of the jungle | | | | whether he can get past you and turn right. So as the |
| apply rather than the traffic laws and regulations. This | | | | vulnerable party, you will need to use your awareness |
| might be okay when the two rucking drivers are | | | | as you approach junctions. Look behind for vehicles |
| protected inside reinforced vehicles. If you're a cyclist | | | | indicating an intention to turn right. Finally, be prepared |
| though, you can get hurt very easily by the slightest of | | | | to take evasive action if necessary - keep your hands |
| collisions, and being on two wheels also makes you a | | | | near your brakes, slow down and be watchful. |
| less visible road user. Here are five classic situations | | | | The Door Opener |
| where cyclists need to be on their guard. | | | | The Door Opener truly is a classic. It is the result of |
| The Emergency Stop | | | | busy lifestyles and drivers being in a hurry. It goes |
| When you are cycling in traffic, give other vehicles | | | | something like this: a car driver overtakes a cyclist |
| loads of room to maneuver, and especially keep your | | | | safely but is in a hurry. He parks a little further down |
| eyes peeled for local danger spots. These might be | | | | the street, grabs his briefcase and swings the car door |
| near a school, where children can rush out into the | | | | open. The oncoming cyclist, possibly travelling at speed, |
| road and cause the traffic in front of you to stop | | | | would not have had any time to react, and usually |
| suddenly to avoid hitting them. Or there might be an ice | | | | ends up somersaulting over the handlebars of his bike |
| cream truck parked at the roadside, and you can | | | | and the car door, and subsequently needs hospital |
| expect youngsters to appear out of nowhere and | | | | treatment. Again, although you can argue that the |
| cause havoc. As a cyclist, keep your hands near your | | | | driver should have checked his mirror first, he is not the |
| brakes when you spot potential dangers like these, and | | | | one who is going to get injured. So keep an eye out |
| also try to anticipate by looking ahead, past the car in | | | | for this scenario next time you are out cycling. If a car |
| front of you. It is no excuse that they did an | | | | passes you and parks, check behind you to make |
| emergency stop and you crashed into them - you | | | | sure you can position yourself wide of the parked car; |
| need to be aware and give yourself enough time to | | | | slow down if you can see the driver has turned |
| stop safely under such circumstances. | | | | towards the door. Be on red alert until you have |
| The Hesitant Driver | | | | passed him. |
| This example follows on from the Emergency Stop | | | | The Junction Pull-Out |
| described above. Watch out for vehicles that are | | | | This is the most dangerous hazard, one which kills |
| driving slowly in front of you, or if they are stopping | | | | many motorcyclists every year. It happens when a car |
| and starting or continually changing lanes. The driver is | | | | driver is in a side street and wants to join the main |
| probably lost or trying to find a particular side street or | | | | traffic flow. He will see the school bus or the RV and |
| address. Do not allow yourself to lose your temper | | | | focus on that to determine whether he can pull out |
| with them and attempt to overtake. You may end up | | | | safely. Thinking there is plenty of time, he goes, having |
| doing so just as they find the street they were looking | | | | not focused at all on the much smaller and narrower |
| for, and since their concentration is elsewhere, they | | | | two-wheeled target. The cyclist will hit the side of the |
| are likely to steer right into you. | | | | car at speed and generally suffer severe injuries, since |
| The Hook | | | | unlike a car door which will absorb some of the energy |
| The Hook is a very common danger for cyclists who | | | | of impact, the car itself is immoveable. The solution to |
| put some power into their riding. It is an example of a | | | | this danger for the cyclist is to make sure you are |
| car driver miscalculating the speed of a cyclist when | | | | seen. Wear very bright cycling shirts when out riding in |
| approaching a junction, where the driver wants to turn | | | | traffic. Like most motorcyclists, you may want to |
| right but the cyclist wishes to go straight on. Typically | | | | consider switching your front headlight on even when |
| the driver will accelerate past the cyclist and then cut | | | | riding during the day. Do anything to make sure you |
| back across to take a right turn (assuming you drive | | | | are not "focused out" by other road users. |
| on the right - in the UK and other countries, this danger | | | | To make sure you do not end up in the emergency |
| will be a "left-handed" one). The cyclist has only two | | | | room because of any of these cycling dangers, take |
| options: to collide with the vehicle and risk injury, or to | | | | these items with you every time you get on your bike: |
| turn right with the vehicle and stop. The usual option is | | | | a very eye-catching cycling shirt, a hefty dose of |
| to turn right and stop, and since no collision occurred, | | | | paranoia and some normal common sense, and you |
| the driver will always deny they did anything wrong. | | | | should be alright. |