Bicis Riding Together
Riding Together
You may start out your bike ride by yourself. However, that may change when you meet your friends or other bike commuters. You may be joined by only a few or many others. Here are some tips to help you when riding with friends or in large groups.
- Ride only one or two riders across and outside of the door zone so cars can safely pass you (see photo above). Ride predictably, in a way that others will know what you are doing ahead of time without making sudden movements. When you need to slow down, stop or make a turn say your “hand signal” out loud. Saying “slowing or stopping” might feel strange at first, but the people behind you are less likely to crash into you if you use verbal hand signals as well as your regular hand signals. If you see obstacles like glass or a pothole, you can also yell out what they are and point it out to riders behind you.
2. Remember to ride on the right and pass on the left. That means you will need to shoulder check (look behind you) to make sure it is clear to go pass on the left instead of trying to pass a slower rider by riding in the door zone. You can leave the right edge or bike lane if there are obstacles like we mentioned above or you want to make a car/vehicular style left turn.
3. Keep thinking for yourself. It can be easy for people in groups to follow what those in front of them are doing. This works well if everyone is riding safely, but dangerous if they are not. If you stop deciding and riding for yourself you could crash or cause someone else to crash.
Imagine that you are riding in a group like the one below. This group has ride leaders that have decided to have everyone go through an intersection together and occupy the space that car drivers normally would. This “taking the lane” maneuver keeps the group together and discourages car drivers from trying to pass as the group moves through the intersection. Once they are through the intersection, they will return to riding in a single file line which allows car drivers can pass them safely.
How do you imagine it would be to ride in the front, middle, or back during this situation?
What do you think might be different about riding in the different positions and what do you think might be the same?
