On-Road Cycling

1. On-Road Cycling Ed Stewart Cycling Instructor Bike Club Founder Cycling Consultant

2. On-Road Cycling • Main Topics • Reasons to not ride on sidewalks • Reasons to ride on roads • Safe and effective bicycling

3. On-Road Cycling • Reasons to not ride on sidewalks • Designed for pedestrians • Must go slow • Driveways and road cuts are hazards • Intersections challenging and hazardous • Crowded – you are a danger to others • Not all areas have sidewalks • Can be hard to get where you want to go

4. On-Road Cycling • Reasons for riding on the road • You can go faster • Easier to go where you want to go • Safer – fewer hazards

5. On-Road Cycling • Effective and Safe Road Riding • Knowledge • Skills

6. On-Road Cycling • Knowledge • Traffic Laws • Become aware of how accidents happen • Be familiar with your route

7. On-Road Cycling • Skills • Lane Positioning • Hazard Avoidance • Lane Changing • Bike Handling Ability

8. On-Road Cycling • Knowledge • Traffic Laws • Your bike is a vehicle. With it you have the same rights and responsibilities of other vehicle operators. • Get the book: “Street Smarts” • Check out www.ohiobike.org

9. On-Road Cycling • Knowledge • Accident Awareness • Cyclist At Fault • Riding on right (wrong) side of road • Making a left turn from right side of lane • Exits driveway without yielding • Does not stop for red light or stop sign • Swerves in front of car

10. On-Road Cycling • Knowledge • Accident awareness • Motorist At Fault • Crosses into path of bike making a left turn • Makes a right turn in front of cyclist • Runs stop light or sign • Leaves driveway without yielding • Opens door in front of oncoming bike • Overtaking, runs into bike (2/3 at night)

11. On-Road Cycling • Knowledge • Route Familiarity • Some roads and intersections are unique • Hazard areas

12. On-Road Cycling • Skills • Lane Position • Drive your bike same as a car • When going straight stay toward center of lane • When turning, use turn lane or edge of lane to indicate your direction • Narrow lane, protect your position – ride in center of lane

13. On-Road Cycling • Skills • Hazard Avoidance • Road surface problems (rough, wet, icy, holes) • Debris (gravel, glass, roadkill, branches, leaves) • Moving obstacles (dogs, kids, joggers)

14. On-Road Cycling • Skills • Lane Changing • Check for opening to change • Eye contact with motorist • Hand signal • Be predictable

15. On-Road Cycling • Skills • Bike Handling • Ride is straight line – no swerving • Be able to ride through hazards skillfully • Turning at various speeds • Effective braking at various speeds • Fast descents

16. On-Road Cycling • Smartest thing to do • Find a Bike Ed class • www.ohiocitycycles.org • www.SilverWheelsCycling.com • www.ohiobike.org • www.bikeleague.org • Ed Stewart 440-322-7300;ed@stewartadv.com

17. On-Road Cycling • Second Smartest Thing To Do • Join a bike club • www.crankmail.com • www.SilverWheelsCycling.com • Check your local bike shop