How to ride conservatively
Staying safe means claiming your space on the road and making yourself conspicuous
Riding on the open road means negotiating all sorts of risk. Britain’s road etiquette has changed dramatically over the past couple of decades, so however experienced you may be, it is essential to have an up-to-date approach to safe riding.
“Back when you completed Cycling Proficiency at school, you were probably told to keep to the far left-hand side of the road, out of the way. But being an assertive cyclist requires riding in the middle of the lane when appropriate and asserting your right to road space,” says Gerry Del Guercio, director at Cycleinstructor.com.
“If I move over to the left-hand side on a narrow road, my body language and position are saying to the car behind that it is OK to overtake. But if there are car doors or potholes ahead, the overtake may occur at a point where it is unsafe — and I’ll have encouraged it.”
It is worth bearing in mind that 77 per cent of accidents occur at junctions. When approaching a junction, you should position yourself for maximum visibility, while signalling your intentions clearly to other road users. Leave no one in any doubt.
“If you are coming up to a junction on your left, checking behind and positioning yourself like a car in the centre of the lane means you are well away from the danger zone,” says Julie Rand, a National Standard Instructor for Cycling UK.
“Junctions are where cars are most likely to emerge without looking properly. Cyclists are at greater risk if they fail to position themselves in a conspicuous place on the road, fail to read the road or don’t interact with other road users.”
It's crucial to communicate clearly to other road users via hand signals and positioning. This is a key part of riding authoritatively.
“It is common for road cyclists to signal down towards the ground when turning,” says Rand. “This can be ambiguous: other road users may not realise you are turning. You should have a straight arm outwards with an open palm to signify you are about to turn.
“Obviously you may need to brake and change gear, but you can still signal your intentions by shifting your position on the road, turning your head round and communicating with the other road users.”