BIKE SAFETY & ETIQUETTE

Cycling is fun. Cycling is healthy. Cycling is low impact exercise. Cycling is practical and cost effective. Cycling is good for the environment. There is nothing in safe cycling that is mysterious or exotic.  We all use the roads on foot or drive our own cars. We have all learned to look for other road users, stop at red lights; not to stop in the middle of the road abruptly when we face a problem or want to answer a mobile telephone call, etc. We all do that when we ride our bikes individually on the road.  

Cycling in a group is slightly different, and cycling with Follow The Women is definitely a one-of-its-kind event and an exceptional occurrence.

During an FTW Ride if you engage in reckless riding, you will be forced off your bike and must ride in the coach for the rest of the day.  Examples of reckless riding: 

•excessive speeding
•swerving in and out
•riding without hands
•talking on a mobile phone while biking
•holding on to a slow moving vehicle while riding (like media truck) 
•quickly breaking or stopping without warning bikers immediately behind you “Stopping!”  

You don't have to wear special clothing to enjoy the sport of biking. But the right clothing can increase your comfort and fun (not to mention your cool factor). It can also improve your performance if you really get into spending time with road or off-road biking. More importantly, clothing can also protect you. Here's how:

• Fluorescent or bright-colored clothes help people to see you - even in the daytime. Avoid wearing dark colors like black, brown, or navy while bike riding.
• Wear lightweight clothes to avoid becoming overheated, especially in the summer.
• Drink plenty of water and keep a full water bottle on your bike.
• Make sure your pant legs aren't too loose or so long that they can get caught up in the chain while you are riding.
• Riding gloves can protect your hands, and can be purchased from any bike shop.
• If you carry a backpack while riding, make sure the straps are tied so they don't become tangled in the spokes of the wheels. Keep the backpack light - if it's too heavy, you could lose your balance.
• Wear sensible footwear. Cleats, shoes with heels, or flip-flops can easily slip off the pedals. Serious cyclists use biking shoes. But, if you're not into all the gear, good sneakers work just fine, especially ones with hard soles.

Riding on the road? Time to review all the stuff you learned in elementary school - especially if you'll be riding in traffic:

• Always ride in the same direction as the traffic. Never ride against traffic.
• Always stop and check for traffic in both directions when leaving your driveway, an alley, or a curb. Some people in cars just don't see cyclists.
• Watch traffic closely for turning cars or cars pulling out of driveways.
• Don't ride too closely to parked cars - doors can open suddenly!
• Stop at all stop signs and obey red lights just as cars do.
• Take special care at intersections.
• It's a good idea to walk your bike across busy intersections using the crosswalk and following traffic signals.
• If you're cycling with friends, ride single file.
• Never change direction or change lanes without first looking behind you and using the correct hand signals. That way everyone knows where you're going.
• Make sure to communicate your intentions to other road users by using hand signals, even if you can not see somebody on the road.
• If you ride when it's dark, be sure to have reflectors on your bike and a battery-operated headlight.
• And finally, don't wear headphones while biking - you need to hear what's going on around you.

Wearing a bike helmet is a must if you value your life. That's why in many counties, wearing a helmet is a law. Three out of four bike accidents involve an injury to the head, and a crash could mean permanent brain damage or death for a person who doesn't wear one while riding.

Even the best, most expensive helmet will not protect you if it doesn't fit. Make sure that you get good advice when buying one.

A helmet should:

• sit level and firmly, but comfortably, on your head and not be tilted forward, backward, or sideways
• have strong, wide straps that fasten snugly under the chin - no more than a finger's width should be able to fit beneath the strap when it is fastened correctly
• be tight enough (with straps fastened) that sudden pulling or twisting does not cause the helmet to move around on your head
• always be fastened while you are riding
• never be worn over a bandana, cap, or anything else that could cause it to shift in a crash
• After taking a serious hit, helmets lose their capacity to absorb shock. If you ever have a fall and hit any surface hard with the helmet, immediately replace the helmet.

Group cycling can be exciting and fun. You have both; a bit of independence and companionship. However, to keep it enjoyable and accident free, there is a cycling etiquette that needs to be followed for safety.

FTW etiquette:

• To ride your bicycle safely and efficiently, it is important to have equipment operating smoothly and properly.
• Make a habit of checking your bike before you get on it in the morning. Please check the air in your tyres, check that the breaks are not rubbing against the rims, and take a short ride in the compound, if possible, to make sure that all is functioning properly.
• Check that your water bottle is sitting firmly in its place.
• Check that there are no loose items around that can get dangled in the chain or spikes of your bike.
• Check that your helmet is in good condition (no cracks or bends) and sits firmly on your head. We ladies have different hair styles on different days and the helmet may need adjustment since the previous ride. You don’t really want to stop, once you have started to adjust it for comfort.
• Check your bike at the end of each ride and point any faults or defects to the technical team so that they have time to fix it before your next trip.
• Get familiar with your gears and switching.
• Since signalling requires only one hand to be available to hold the handlebars, practice doing it in a safe area to ensure you can maintain a straight line.
• Practice stopping as quickly as you can to get a feel for how much distance is needed at different speeds and under different conditions. You will need considerably greater stopping distances during wet conditions.
• Never use the front brakes when going down hill. Please practice using back brakes all the time. Not all bikes have the brakes on the side you are used to. Get to know your bike… (most of us are renting our bikes, so introduce yourself to it)
• DO NOT hang anything (especially, not your Helmet, that should be on your head) or carry loose loads on your handlebars, while you are cycling as they can upset the control of your bicycle.
• Middle East is rather a dusty region and locations where we ride are mostly without pavements. Please be wary of sand on the roads and slow down round corners to avoid sliding.
• Rain makes roads slippery, especially after a long dry period. Leave extra room for manoeuvring and stopping in wet weather.
• Leave extra room and be prepared for sudden stops or swerves by other cyclists.
• Do not try free cycling down hill, particularly round bends, especially for non-experienced cyclists.
• Ride on the right, in the same direction as other traffic. Ride no closer than one metre from parked cars to avoid being hit by an opening door.
• The single most important rule is to remain alert and be prepared for unpredictable moves or mistakes by others. Ride DEFENSIVELY.
• Teamwork - Give a helping hand, watch for problems, and help each other to be safe and enjoy the ride.
• Communicate - Use hand and verbal signals to communicate with members of the group and with other traffic.
• Change Positions Correctly - Generally, slow traffic stays right, so you should try to pass others on their left. Say "on your left" to warn the cyclist ahead that you are passing. If you need to pass someone on the right, say "on your right" clearly since this is an unusual maneuver.
• Hand Signals - Hand signals for turning and stopping are essential for safety of the group you are cycling with (see details at end of document).
• Verbal Warnings - Along with hand signals, verbally warn cyclists behind you of your changes in direction or speed. The lead rider should call out "left turn," "right turn," "slowing," stopping," etc. Announce a turn well in advance of the intersection, so that members of the group have time to position themselves properly.
• Move Off the Road When You Stop - Whether you are stopping because of mechanical problems or to regroup with you companions, move well off the road so you don't interfere with traffic.
• Road surface hazards - Keep an eye on the road well ahead of you to see if there are potholes, gravel, glass, drainage grates or other hazards coming up. If you have to move over into traffic to avoid these, look over your shoulder first and use a hand signal if necessary. To abruptly swerve into traffic can easily lead to a collision.
• Announce Hazards - When riding in a tight group, most of the cyclists do not have a good view of the road surface ahead, so it is important to announce holes, gravel, grates, and other hazards. Indicate road hazards by pointing down to the left or right, and by shouting "hole," "bump," etc., where required for safety. Everyone in a group should be made aware of hazards. However, not everyone needs to announce them.
• Parked cars - Ride no closer than one metre from parked cars to avoid being hit by an opening door. The doors of some vehicle types can swing far into your lane.
• Think and plan your next 30 seconds - Anticipate behaviour and movements of other road users and dangers that might appear. Make eye contact and observe the traffic on the road ahead, behind and around you. Practise this so that it becomes automatic behaviour.
• Gear shifting - The basic rule is that low gears are for slow speeds, using a small chain-ring in the front and a large sprocket in the rear. High gears are the opposite. Always shift into a low, easy gear before you stop. Check ahead and shift into a lower gear well in advance of hills. On the level, use a gear that gives you a fast comfortable spin ('cadence') of around 70-90 rpm. Pedalling in a gear that is too fast can tire you more quickly. However, pedalling in a gear that is too hard can cause strain in your knees and lower back.
• Be assertive - Be assertive, but remember that a conflict between a cyclist and a motor vehicle usually results in injury to the cyclist. It is best to remember that, when in doubt, do not cycle beyond your confidence level.