Make sure to put safety first whether on two wheels, four or going by foot
In three weeks’ time, myself and a team of MAMILs (Middle-Aged
Men in Lycra) will be taking on one of the biggest endurance challenges in the country: the Race Around Ireland. To explain it simply, we have to cycle all around the circumference of the country in less than 96 hours. As you can imagine, this has meant a
of cycling over the last few months, giving me a lot of time to realise just how dangerous our roads are for everyone, but especially for those on two wheels.
I am a driver, a mountain biker, a cyclist and a road runner. I have no bias when it comes to the ‘cycling vs car’ debate, but it always fascinates me to see the vexed comments on social media aimed at either side when it is brought up.
So in today’s column, I’m bringing you my tips for the two main groups who exercise on the roads: cyclists and walkers/runners. I want to show you how to be safe on the roads when training — after all, it’s already starting to get darker in the evenings, and it’s only going to get darker.
In my view, the Government is going to have to publish actual rules for those who cycle and walk as soon as possible. A rule framework would dramatically improve safety. Currently it’s every person for themselves, and that can only lead to more danger.
FOR RUNNERS AND WALKERS
HIGH VIS UP: Yellow, pink, purple, it doesn’t matter — if you can’t be seen, it’s a problem. All sports stores have high vis jackets and gear that will keep you safe and visible. The brighter you are, the greater chance you can be seen.
RUN OR WALK AGAINST TRAFFIC: This is always best as you can see the cars that are coming towards you.
LISTEN UP: Headphones make training go quicker, don’t they? But it’s harder to listen out for oncoming vehicles, so if you must use them on the road, leave one headphone out so you can hear, or else try bone-conduction headphones like Trekz Aftershokz, which don’t sit in the ear so you can listen to your music and your surroundings at the same time.
FOR CYCLISTS
OBEY THE RULES OF THE ROAD: As cyclists, • WEAR A HELMET: I don’t care what you say, placing something between your head and the road that it may hit in an accident can only be a good thing. There is absolutely no reason not to.
• CYCLE IN PAIRS BUT, IF IT’S SAFER, GO SINGLE FILE: This is one rule that creates so much tension on the roads. Cycling in pairs is safe for the group of cyclists, but if it’s a very narrow road, use your common sense. And if there is a large group of cars behind you, go single file to let them pass. I use this rule with my own group and it works so well.
• USE YOUR HANDS: Letting other road users know where you are going can help keep you safe. Signal turning left or right, going straight ahead or slowing down is a simple way to let everyone else know what you are doing.
FOR DRIVERS
• GIVE SPACE TO PEOPLE EXERCISING ON THE ROAD: The amount of times in the last two months that I have nearly been clipped by a car or van is frightening. Always allow 1.5m when passing a cyclist or a walker/ runner, to keep both parties safe.
• SLOW DOWN: Being too close or going too fast on the road is an obvious way to increase the risk of an accident, so this rule is pretty simple.
It’s easy to go on about the risks on the roads, but in reality, we need rules for walkers, runners and cyclists to improve safety and the Government needs to enforce them. Until then, the roads will continue to be a scary place. Let’s work together and make the roads a safer place.