Color Me Cautious: Defensive Fall Riding Tips for Cyclists

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Thursday, November 06, 2014

Üma Kleppinger, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Lately I've been witnessing a disturbing trend among urban riders who weave in and out of the road to "hug the gutter" in between parked cars, thinking that's the safest place to ride. The behavior looks like this:

Where there is an absence of parked cars, they ride as close to the curb as possible. Then, as the rider approaches parked cars, they veer back into the traffic flow to move past the parked vehicles, then veer right again, to hug the curb. On some streets this can be a never ending proposition, with riders weaving in and out the entire length of the road.

There are two problems with this method. Motorists also don't share a cyclist's perspective or assessment of the road, so this behavior creates confusion in motorists, who may think the cyclist is about to merge into traffic. Motorists are also likely to then expect ALL cyclists to behave in this manner. From a motorist's perspective this can be nerve-wracking as they must interpret the cyclist's behavior.

The second problem is that those wet leaves along the edge of the street in the gutter reduce traction, leaving cyclists more vulnerable to sliding out and taking a nasty spill. Fallen leaves also obscure other hazards like glass, gravel or metal grates. When you add up all these hazards and add turning skinny tires on poor roadway conditions, it's more likely to slip and slide out, resulting in a crash on the side of the road.

So, what to do?

It may seem illogical to many riders, but holding your line consistently in the same location on the roadway as you would passing parked cars is safest. Stay out of the mulching, slimy leaves. In fact, even in the absence of leaves this approach is best.

Slimy mold and mildew also reduce traction and are harder to see, especially at night or in reduced visibility. And holding a straight line in the flow of traffic rather than weaving in an out sends a clear message to motorists that you are in control of your bicycle.

So when you're out and about by bike, enjoy the crisp fall air, and the reds, golds, and rusts of fall foliage…from the lane, and not from the gutter.

 

 

Üma Kleppinger is a Portland-based copywriter, author and bike addict. She is a recovering sesquipedalian who writes about life in the saddle and outdoor adventure. She is also the author of BikeYoga, a yoga program designed specifically for cyclists. When not writing, she can be found riding and racing her mountain bike throughout the Pacific Northwest.

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