Bike Commuting Safety: 15 TIPS for a Smoother Ride to Work

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About this video:
Bike commuting has become more popular due to its cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness, not to mention the opportunity to keep fit. However, biking to work can be very dangerous if safety tips are ignored. Here are 15 safety tips that can help you have a safe and healthy commute:
Ride with traffic and obey all traffic laws, as ignoring traffic laws will make you appear irresponsible and increase the risk of a collision.
Pack your bike bags properly with essentials such as a spare tube, pump, and puncture-proof commuter tires, and avoid overpacking your backpack or panniers.
Plan your bike commuting route using apps such as Google Maps, Komoot, and RidewithGPS.
Wear bright colors to increase visibility to drivers, including a reflective vest, fluorescent booties, and reflective bands.
Never drink and bike, as alcohol impairs judgment, making it unsafe to bike to work, and it's illegal.
Ride on bike lanes, bike trails, or less busy streets, especially in areas with fewer cars or other cyclists.
Keep at least one hand on the brakes at all times, as you never know when a car, cyclist, or pedestrian might come into your path.
Make sure your bike is in good working condition by checking brakes, tires, and chain before riding.
Use hand signals to indicate turns or stops, ensuring that other cyclists or drivers are aware of your intentions.
Keep your eyes on the road and avoid distractions such as listening to music, checking emails, or texting while biking.
Stay alert to potential hazards such as potholes, gravel, or wet leaves on the road.
Use lights or reflectors on your bike, especially when riding in the dark or low-light conditions.
Adjust your bike seat, handlebars, and pedals to ensure proper posture and comfort while riding. Use a helmet that fits properly and meets safety standards to protect your head from injury. Consider taking a bike safety course or joining a local cycling group to improve your biking skills and knowledge.
Biking to work is an excellent way to stay fit and help the environment. However, your safety is paramount, so following these tips will make your bike commute a safe and enjoyable experience.
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[@Bigbossperson]

16: Wait for all cars to stop before proceeding through a green light. I almost died when someone ran a red in front of me. The extra 1 second to wait for traffic to stop is entirely worth it.

[@Snaily]

To add on to this, it's common for drivers to speed up when they see a yellow light to try and beat the red light, whether or not they've actually got the time to do so.

[@epicsdrummer2010]

Don’t be a candidate for the No Bell prize. Put a bell on your bike and ring it when overtaking other cyclists.

[@Snaily]

Absolutely, but it's important to remember that a sudden bell noise a couple of metres behind pedestrians can spook them, likely due to how often they're overtaken suddenly by someone travelling over 10mph, at least around here. I tend to use the bell or my horn about 10-5 seconds away depending on the ambient volume, and if they haven't noticed me I'll slow down to not much more than their walking pace and specifically say where I'm going. If they still haven't heard me then I assume that either they're wearing headphones or are deaf, and proceed accordingly.

[@renaud_bt]

Good advice but I will add you should ride further away from parked cars, you're putting yourself in the door zone! When biking in traffic it's important to be assertive, aware of your surroundings and to take your space early.

[@bikepushcom]

The camera may be a little deceptive, but in real life I was at least the width of a fully-opened car door away from the parked cars. I totally agree with you though, it's important to be assertive with taking space and not be intimidated by other road users 👍

[@acbenepe]

The greater danger than getting doored is swerving to avoid that impact only to get hit from behind by incoming traffic.

[@JoeL-wk5ut]

new KZbinr, nice!!

[@papa_gowon]

Here in Sydney the road rules don't keep us safe. For example: bonkers dangerous bike lanes that we're technically required to ride in, or not being allowed to cross with pedestrians, or the extremely high fine for not wearing a helmet (Australians are too helmet obsessed), or waiting at a red light forever because the sensors only detect cars. My rule is: be slow and careful around pedestrians, extremely defensive around cars, assume any driver might run you over, then do anything you need to do in order to get around safely. It's certainly not the best attitude to have, but if we had proper infrastructure like in Europe none of this would be necessary.

[@bikepushcom]

I think the whole world is slowly, but surely, waking up to the benefits of cycling and it's getting better for us two wheeled folk. I wish progress was a little faster though! At least we're all moving in the right direction (I think)

[@KJSvitko]

Bicycles, ebikes, electric cargo bicycles, robo taxis and escooters are great options for last mile, short distance travel. Reduced transportation costs and fossil fuels free transportation. Cities need to do more to encourage people to ride bicycles by providing SAFE, PROTECTED BIKE LANES and trails. Every adult and child should own a bicycle and ride it regularly. Bicycles are healthy exercise and fossil fuels free transportation. Electric bicycles are bringing many older adults back to cycling. Ride to work, ride to school, ride for health or ride for fun. Children should be able to ride a bicycle to school without having to dodge cars and trucks. Separated and protected bike lanes are required. It will also make the roads safer for automobile drivers. Transportation planners and elected officials need to encourage people to walk, bike and take public transportation. Healthy exercise and fossil fuels free transportation. In the future cities will be redesigned for people not cars. Crazy big parking lots will be transformed with solar canopies generating free energy from the sun.

[@sherules5005]

I didnt know 7. Keep atleast one hand on break 9. Beware of drivers blind spots Thanks for the crucial info

[@bikepushcom]

Blind spots is a big one. Often drivers aren't even thinking about cyclists. I often have a front flashing light running during the daytime, in the hope that it catches their attention. Every little helps!

[@johnrcavanaugh4397]

WELL DONE! Keep it up!

[@willsbirdworld2556]

Great vid 👍😀💯🎉

[@tconnolly9820]

Great video. I have subbed to see what else you have on your channel.

[@KJSvitko]

Walking, running, bicycles, escooters, green open spaces, electric buses and trams are all parts of a good transportation system

[@KJSvitko]

Bicycles make life and cities better. Ask your local transportation planner and elected officials to support more safe, protected bike lanes and trails. Every child should be able to ride a bicycle to school safely.

[@kailahmann1823]

You can't warn enough about pedestrians - they can and do stop or turn literally on the spot.

[@Snaily]

I was gonna comment something about all of this being the bare minimum of common sense, and ask if there are really people out there who don't do these, and then I remembered all the MAMILs that crawl out the woodwork every summer.

[@siriosstar4789]

Don't forget some Bear Spray and a stun gun.

[@Kevin_geekgineering]

in our canadian city cars (drivers) usually are running the red lights, go figure. what happens to their 'reputation'? police not even give them a ticket. what a city

[@nolanr1400]

You're riding on the wrong side of the road

[@rangersmith4652]

Safety does not come first. I get so tired of hearing that cliche. If safety were really the highest priority in cycling, the way to best accomplish that would be to never get on the bike. A reasonable level of safety is important to cyclists, of course, just as to all activities. But it is not first. The primary issue when mixing different modes of travel is the vast difference in the speed they can easily achieve. If I were suddenly Lord of city traffic laws, the first thing I would do is set the speed limit on city streets to something close to the average speed that a person in a car can realsitically travel along that route on typical daytime commute or errand. The main north-south artery in my city, a typical "stroad," has a 45mph limit along its entire length, yet my testing indicates that during normal day-to-day driving one can barely manage an average speed of about 32mph due to stop lights, people ahead slowing for driveways, etc. What's the point of having a 45mph limit on such a street? You set a limit, and people automatically think that's the speed at which they are expected to travel, even when conditions (see above) make traveling at that speed impossible except in short bursts. I'd entertain the idea of having devices monitor traffic density and adjust the posted speed limit accordingly, but given the associated expense and complexity, simply setting a lower limit, at least during the periods during which traffic is dense, makes more sense.

[@zivkovicable]

One of the very first shots is a cyclist riding in the door zone. A definite no no. Not even mentioned.

[@bikepushcom]

Thanks for the comment. The camera makes it look like I was closer to cars than I actually was.

[@zivkovicable]

@@bikepushcom If you say so...To me it looks like that so called bike lane is leading cyclists directly into the door zone...I'd place that near the top of things not to do if you want to achieve a safer and smoother ride to work, much higher than "wear a helmet" for sure..In fact your whole approach isn't going to convince anyone but the fit and the brave that cycling in the same lanes as motor vehicles is a good idea. "Working out" is the first thing you mention...cut to shot with fit young athletic men wearing specialist cycling gear and a safety helmet..Most people don't identify with that image and switch off with a "that's not for me", No images of any normal people cycling in normal clothes.I didn't see any children or elderly people, no disabled cyclists, & few women...All these are lessons that European cycling advocates learned decades ago and this video seems like a distant blast from the past. If you really want to get people on bikes go to the Netherlands, take notes, and copy. All this"come on you can do it!" cheerleading will get you nowhere until you change infrastructure. Oh and discourage plastic hats, their promotion has been shown to be a barrier to mass cycling.

[@bikepushcom]

You're right about the bike lane being in the door zone, for sure. I like to ride on the outer edges of it. It's good for safety. Thanks for the input :)

[@fredcheok9199]

The narrator is so boring.