Chapter 9: SHARE THE ROAD WITH BICYCLES

A bicycle rider has very little protection to begin with. The human body is not made to withstand impacts at speeds faster than running. A suitable helmet and protective and brightly coloured clothing can offer improved safety for cyclists As a driver though the unexpected movements of a cyclists, especially young riders can surprise us. Some drivers have the attitude that they own the road and deliberately drive too close to cyclists when overtaking them to try and teach them a lesson. When overtaking a cyclist from behind a safe driver thinks "what if" and creates a buffer zone of at least 1 metre if possible 2 metres to allow for a sudden movement by the cyclist. Remember when leaving a buffer zone your mirrors protrude out wider than the cars body. Be aware of these scenarios: When a large vehicle such as a truck or bus passes a cyclist at speed the disturbed air flow can buffet the rider resulting in sudden changes of position. When approaching a cyclist, they may hear you approaching and turn their head to look over their shoulder in your direction. This tilting and rotating of the riders head can if not allowed for by the cyclist result in the bike deviating into the lane in front of you. Cyclists passing parked vehicles might have a door suddenly opened in front of them, requiring them to take evasive action into your lane. The important thing when driving near cyclists is to remember they were never designed with crashes in mind. Plan ahead, leave a buffer zone and look for potential hazards. Above all treat the cyclists as you would wish to be treated when your riding a bike.

(Written by Joel Neilsen, Managing Director, Safe Drive Training)