safety

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Riding Tips - Bunch Riding

Letter from Hamilton posted 18/05/2011

Good Morning Hamilton City Cycling Members,

We have been notified by the Police that there have been threats against cyclists from residents in the areas in which HCCC race and our riders regualrly frequent. These threats indicate that harm may come to cyclists.
In recent weeks there have been a few of incidents that have reached the ears of committee about behaviour of various road users - cyclists and motorists. Motorists in some ares are becoming increasingly agressive and in at least two instances vehicles have been used to threaten cyclists. Before you take that message in too deeply, this is not a one way street - the behaviour of cyclists is often unlawful and discourteous.
With the ultimate goal of our own safety at stake what can we do? The current situation is not working so we need to change something to make ourselves safer. We cannot readily change the behaviour of motorists on the road, but we can readily change our own behaviour to make ourselves safer.
ALMOST ALL COMPLAINTS RELATE TO POOR RIDING ETTIQUETTE OF BUNCHES.
Take a moment to remember your recent bunch rides - how do people ride in the bunch? do they follow the law? Do they ride two abreast? Do they ride predictably. There are a number of bunch rides held around hamilton. Bunch rides are the cause of most frustration on the roads. We snake along two (an usually more) abreast in a convoy of up to 200 metrres long - every other road user must find this intimidating and frustrating.
We can do something about that -

1. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. Responsibility for your safety, and your riding companions safety starts with you. While the behaviour of motorists may make you angry, consider this - can you change their attitude or approach?, If there is an altercation then who wins? (Recall you are on a 10kg bike - or 7kg for the rich folks - and they are in a 2000kg vehicle). Reconsider going wide as the bunch climbs up the hill.
2. SET AN EXAMPLE. We are a road racing club and rely completely on the goodwill of residents to operate. More than that, we are one of the more experienced road users in the cycling community. We can provide leadership to our fellow cyclists in the community by demonstrating safe and effective use of the road. Stand up and be counted - call out the bad behaviour and make sure people coming into the sport know the ettiquette to keep safe.
3. PROVIDE REASONS FOR MOTORISTS TO TREAT US WITH RESPECT. You're never going to improve raod users opinion of cyclists by riding four abreast, swinging across the road or failing to follow the basic laws of stop signs, give way signs and keeping left. Your good behaviour today will reap rewards for the future cycling experiences of you and your friends. Go down to one abreast if there is a lot of traffic - assist traffic to get past. Acknowledge the inconvienice we sometimes cause other road users and wave to them in thanks for their patience (They might be you family or friends).
4. BE COURTEOUS. Be courteous to your fellow riders - make room for them in the bunch, let them move within the bunch if they want to go to the back or the front. Make it easy for the bunch to behave predictably and follow the road rules. As an individual - if you are swinging off the back - at least do so in single file! An echelon is extremely unsafe on open roads and extremely discourteous to other road users.
5. NEVER TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS. Any attempt to redress issues between motorists and cyclists on the road will turn you from the victim into the agressor - irrespective of the situation. We do not want our cyclists heading newspaper columns after angry exchanges or violence on the roads. Recall the incident where the tagger was stabbed to death by an angry motorist? Imagine if that was a cyclist... Get yourself out of the situation safely and remember the license plate number.

Be safe out there.
Mark Butterworth
On behalf of the HCCC Committee

Thank you for taking the time to formulate such an informative and direct e mail to our club members. This is a lot more that I expected following our discussion on Saturday - and I believe that this may truly save a life. The prevention message here is strong and well worded and I congratulate you on this and also, on behalf of Police, thank you for taking this message and enlarging on it in such a mature and proactive way.

As you are aware, there appears to be a high risk of aggressive action from the public living in the area, although this seems to be confined to a select group or persons who may even be transiting through the area.

I wonder about this message also being forwarded to other cycling clubs within the Waikato area? As you are aware, cyclists from all over Waikato train through this area and by spreading the message, we can ensure that everyone is aware of riding habits and what to do if confronted by an aggressive motorist, either in this area or anywhere else in the Waikato.

Again, I see this as a gain not only for cyclists, but for all road users.

Thanks for your time and effort here Mark. As Police, we appreciate it.

Juliet / Jeff - FYI and staff attention. The area specifically discussed is Horsham Downs / Kainui area commonly used for racing / training during all times of the week. Last week I hear a job from Comms to Nga STU re motorists being upset and annoyed at the cyclists within the area.

Thanks to all.

Tauranga Harbour Bridge Link

by Mark Ireland, posted 20 Dec 2009

The new Harbour Link project is now completed and it is now much easier to move between Tauranga and The Mount, whether you are in a car or on a bike. However, the new road does bring some potential hazards for cyclists, in particular the "on ramps" and "off ramps". Cars and trucks will be travelling at twice your speed as they exit the bridge or merge on to it, and it is an area of high traffic volumes.

We therefore strongly recommend that if you are heading towards Tauranga or up to Route K from The Mount, that you take the first exit ramp, down on to Dive Crescent/Marsh St and travel through that area, rejoining Takitimu Drive on the other side of Chapel St. There is a nice marked cycle lane to ride in and you avoid having to cross any merging traffic.

Similarly, coming towards The Mount, you can take the Port off ramp and then go back up, either onto the cycle bridge or the road bridge, again avoiding crossing the merging traffic. The cycle bridge is obviously the safest route.

Club Road Safety Awareness

From Mark Ireland poster 26 Sept 2009

With everyone hitting the road more with warmer weather and more daylight hours, the committee would like to remind everyone to take care and offer a few tips:
1. Choose safe roads to ride on.
    Tauranga's main roads are busy, but there are a heap of other roads around here to ride on. If you have to use the busy roads, choose a time of day when traffic is lighter. And avoid the worst interestions - its safer to ride an extra block or two to avoid them
2. Keep left and Use the safety shoulder
    Most of Taurangas main roads have good wide sealed shoulders. Yet we see too many people riding right on the solid white shoulder line, leaving half your body hanging out in to the traffic, when there is 2 metres of empty space to your left. Use it, and let the cars have their lane. The further you can keep yourself away from traffic, the safer you will be.
3. Lap to the left
   If you are riding in a group, always lap off towards the kerb. So when you have done your bit at the front, move to the left. Don't swing out into the traffic.
4. Use handsignals
   Most cars will give you room if you let them know where you intend going at intersections. Just as we all hate the car we stop for that doesn't indicate, motorists want to know what you plan to do and have enough warning to be able to let you in. Check the traffic, signal and then move to where you want to go. And as a courtesy, give a wave to cars that give way or let you merge into traffic - we want to encourage good behaviour
5. Be visible
    Don't wear black or dark colours. Make sure you can be seen. Our blue and white zebra stripe club jerseys are very visible. You can buy them from Koops Cycles, all sizes are in stock. $100.

Posted 03 Feb 2008

There is a responsibility on us to behave appropriately out on the road - all road rules apply (keeping left, giving way at roundabouts and intersections etc). We need to be single file after the end of Marine Parade too, to allow cars to pass on Oceanbeach Rd, which is very narrow. The last few weeks have also been very busy through Pilot Bay and the Main Beach areas, we need to be very careful through there and just go with the flow of traffic.
A cyclist was recently hit by a car outside the Welcome Bay Tavern - we've seen a few close calls over the years there, please take extra care, cars don't allow for us to be doing the 40+ km/h on that downhill past the shops.

The 3rd group of club riders on Tuesday 15th January ride, experienced an unhappy motorist who's male passenger was grabbing the steering wheel of a silver Nissan Sunny along Welcome Bay Road and pulling the vehilce into the line of the 2 abreast cyclists.

The vehilce didn't hit anyone but caused the line of cyclists to sway closer to the curbing on each occassion. This happened at least 4 times that I saw.
The incident was reported to Police. Both the driver and passenger have been fined.
We need to be carefull ourselves that we maintain the 2 abreast maximum while riding so we don't get complaints.

Cyclists Urged to Light Up

Thurs 29 Mar 2007

With daylight saving heralding changes in riding conditions, cyclists are being urged to light up and brighten up. Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) spokesman Stephen McKernon says, "Cyclists should light up for morning, evening, and bad weather riding. Most of the 12 cycling fatalities that occurred in 2005 happened at night. Cycling fatalities have declined over
recent years, at the same time as high-visibility riding gear and brighter lights have become more popular."

CAN strongly recommends high-visibility reflective gear such as fluorescent clothing, pack covers, and extra reflectors. "The use of high-visibility gear and stronger lights has become more popular over the last decade," McKernon says. "We suspect this may be why cycling fatalities have declined since 1998. Bike sales are up, our roads are busier, and cycling accidents have increased, but brighter cyclists are far less vulnerable at night, which can be the most dangerous time for sharing the roads". Eight cyclists died on New Zealand roads in 2006, half the 1998 total.

The NZ Road Code says that bikes and cyclists out at night must have:

- a steady or flashing rear-facing red light
- a steady or flashing forward-facing white light
- a rear reflector on the bike
- reflectors on pedals, or reflective clothing."

"And have a bicycle bell or horn," adds Mr. McKernon "Use it to let cars and pedestrians know where you are!"

He also has advice for drivers. "At this time of year look out for the flashing lights of cyclists. Give them at least a metre and a half when overtaking, as required by the Road Code."

*Facts about cycling*
- Cycling is among the ten top leisure activities in New Zealand, and it's increasing in popularity every year.
- At present over 20% of New Zealanders enjoy cycling every year - that's about 750,000 cyclists.
- One million bikes have been imported to New Zealand since 2001, about one bike for every four people.
- There are about 1.4 million bikes in New Zealand, about one bike for every household
- The Road Code rules for cyclists' lights can be found at
www.ltsa.govt.nz/road-user-safety/walking-and-cycling/lights.html

Be Careful Out There - from Club Captain Mark Ireland

Sunday 17 Sept 2006
Those on this mornings ride witnessed an act of utter stupidity by some young hoons, which could have resulted in some serious injuries for one of our members.

On Totara St, a car full of half-wits came past very close, hurling abuse. As it reached the front of the bunch, where Greg Taylor and Wayne Campbell were setting the pace, one reached out of the car and either grabbed or hit Wayne.

I still don't know how Wayne stayed on the bike - he was completely sideways and crossed up and very nearly came down. Had he been a less experience rider he may have well fallen under the next car that was behind.

I phoned the police as soon as I got home, as I had a partial registration and description of the car. I am pleased to report that within 45 minutes, the cops phoned me back to say they had picked the car up. They had several reports of these clowns causing trouble this morning.

Absolutely top effort by the Police!!!

While on the subject of danger on the roads, a bunch of riders was hit earlier this week in Te Awamutu. Possibly the result of sunstrike in the drivers eyes at around 5.30pm. Something to be aware of, if you are riding after work or school - try to pick your route so the sun is behind you as it sets. In the Te Awamutu case, two riders were seriously hurt - one being dragged nearly 90 metres and he has 3 broken vertebrae. Nonetheless, lucky to be alive.

So be careful out there.

Riding Tips - Bunch Riding

By Mark Ireland - Club Captain

One of the biggest gripes about the Tuesday rides was the lack of skill on the part of some riders. For a bunch to work well, you need to be able to trust the riders around you. On a slower ride like the Sunday rides, the rules are a lot more casual, but when the pace is up a bit or particularly if you are in a race, it pays to know the drill. You still need to be able to shift quickly to single file riding when traffic conditions require it.

Riders at the Front

You are the eyes for the whole bunch – only you can see the potholes, glass, cars at intersections and so on. You need to point out hazards well in advance, so the bunch can smoothly avoid them. At intersections, it’s your call as to whether the whole bunch can get through or whether you bring the bunch to a gentle halt.

Riders at the Back

You are the ones that warn the bunch of cars wanting to pass or let the bunch know that someone has punctured. Bunch riding is about looking out for each other, not abandoning fellow riders on the side of the road without a second glance.

Lapping

This is rotating through so that everyone takes a turn at the front. Some folk are notably allergic to the front of the bunch, but if everyone contributes, the ride is easier for everyone. Normally there will be two lines, one moving up to the front, one moving down to the back. Ride close together – don’t leave gaps, keep close to the wheel in front and close to the rider beside you.

Which side do I lap on?

Take note of the wind direction. If it’s coming from your right, the line moving to the front will be on the left. If the wind is on your left, you “come through” on the right. The rule of thumb is that the riders coming to the front are always protected from the wind, so that they are fresh when they hit the front.

How fast should I go through to the front?

Most people get this wrong – the guy at the front pulls over and the next guy in the queue takes that as a signal to hit the gas. You only want to maintain the previous speed. Just gently apply enough pressure to meet the extra wind resistance. Don’t accelerate! That sends a shockwave through the bunch, the effect of which is huge by the time the riders at the back are affected. Again, it’s all about riding smoothly.

How long should I stay in front?

Generally, the faster the pace, the shorter the turn at the front. Just watch what others are doing and aim for that. Ultimately its up to you – if you are not feeling that strong, just hit the front and then pull over. If you are feeling strong, stay a bit longer. In a very small bunch, everyone will have to take longer turns at the front, but a big bunch can just keep rotating fairly frequently. The speed difference between the riders going forward and backward should only be a couple of km/h at the most.

What if I can’t go through?

This is known as sitting and is not a problem, provided you sit towards the back of the bunch. Don’t “sit” in the middle of the bunch, you can end up acting as a “cork in a bottle”, preventing other riders from coming through. Make it obvious you aren’t coming through by keeping your front wheel out of the vision of the rider in front. You might need to encourage the rider to take the gap until everyone is aware you aren’t going to come through. When you’ve rested up enough, just decisively jump on the wheel in front. In a large bunch, there might only be a small group working at the front, with a lot of riders sitting.

Look Ahead

Riders often focus just on the wheel in front, but you need to keep looking ahead at what is happening at the front of the bunch (and beyond), to avoid pile ups when stopping or hitting pot holes etc.

Keep the pace even

To adjust your speed down, rather than braking, just move out into the wind slightly. You’ll scrub off the speed and avoid the shockwave effect that goes back through the bunch – otherwise the guys at the back end up bungy-ing up and down in speed. Likewise, if a gap opens up, don’t panic and hammer it to get there, just build the pace smoothly and drag everyone up with you. If you go hard out, you drop those behind and then have to brake again when you catch up – with the shockwave again affecting anyone behind.

1.       NEVER overlap wheels with the bike in front.
2.       Keep a steady speed, this avoids the bungy effect for those further back in the group
3.       Avoid sudden movements like braking, swerving or sudden acceleration
4.       You are the eyes of the riders following – point out pot holes, road kill and other hazards
5.       Riders near the back need to advise riders ahead of cars needing to pass
6.       Keep an eye on the riders around you, if someone punctures, check if they need a hand
7.       Show courtesy to other road users. Go single file where the road is narrow.

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