Share the Road: Safe Cycling Tips
With summer officially in full swing, you have most likely seen an increase in the number of cyclists out enjoying the beautiful scenery our area has to offer. With more bikes hitting the pavement, we thought it might be helpful to provide a summary of some considerations, resources, and rules of the road that could benefit us all.
Get a tune-up
First and foremost, when considering taking a bike ride, it is important to be sure your bike is in good working order. Unless you are comfortable making repairs yourself, we recommend scheduling a tune-up with one of the many local bike shops in our area at least once a year. The skilled mechanics at a shop like Trek Bicycle Newark are known for their exceptional care in handling bikes and would be happy to assist you. During a tune-up, an expert will assess the road worthiness of your bike and suggest and make any repairs that may be necessary to be sure your bike will make it safely to your destination. It is also a good idea to be aware of how to perform basic bike repairs on the road, such as changing a flat tire. To learn the basics, check with your local bike shop to see if they provide introductory classes on bike mechanics, or try YouTube, which is also a valuable resource to teach yourself the basics. Just remember: it’s much easier to practice in your driveway than to have to figure things out while out on the road.
Plan your route
Almost all of our roads are open to cyclists, although some are certainly more suited to bike riding than others. When planning a route, be sure to know the roads you intend to ride as well as your comfort level riding them. Until you become familiar with the roads in your area, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s (DVRPC) interactive map showing the Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) is a valuable resource. The LTS provides an analysis of comfort levels for cycling roads in SE Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey. Roads are ranked from 1 to 4, with LTS 1 indicating roads with the lowest levels of stress and LTS 4 indicating the most stressful paths that are likely not suitable for most cyclists. The website allows you to adjust the various levels of comfort, showing local roads that would be best suited for you.
Your local bike shop may also be able to suggest safe routes based on your experience and comfort level. Joining a local riding group on Facebook (such as this one in Kennett Square) may also be helpful in finding safe routes, with the added benefit of also connecting you with others to ride with (it is safer to ride with friends than it is to ride alone).
Interest in gravel riding has exploded over the past few years, and when they can be found, gravel roads provide much lower traffic levels, and usually excellent scenery to boot—just be sure you have the appropriate bike for riding gravel roads. Lastly, our area offers numerous off-road multi-use trails of varying length such as the Chester Valley Trail, Schuylkill River Trail, Struble Trail, and East Branch Brandywine Trail that offer safe cycling for all ages and abilities (just be sure to also follow the rules of these trails for cycling).
Know the rules
As cyclists, and motorists, it is important that we all understand the rules and laws of the road. Bicycles are considered a legal vehicle and cyclists are entitled to the same rights as all other vehicles (with the caveat that bicycles are not permitted on freeways, a term generally used to define divided, controlled access roads), including the full use of the lane if necessary. In turn, cyclists must also follow all the rules of the road, including coming to a full stop at stop signs.
For motorists, it is legally required that you provide cyclists with four feet of space as you pass, and if necessary, you are permitted to cross over the double-yellow lines to pass safely. If you cannot provide four feet of space, please do not pass a cyclist until it is safe to do so. While it can sometimes feel frustrating, most situations require motorists to wait no longer than the time it takes for a red light to change or to stop at a stop sign to reach a safe passing area. For more information on bike laws, please visit the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia’s website or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s website.
Gear up
Once out on the road, always be sure to wear a helmet and visible clothing, such as those with reflective panels. It is also a great idea to have lights on your bike at any time of day as they will make you more visible to motorists and other road users. There are many affordable bike lights on the market today that are extremely bright and offer different settings, such as random blinking sequences, that enhance your visibility from hundreds of feet away. Additional safety enhancements that you can add to your bike include sensors that work with either your bike computer or mounted phone to warn you of motorists approaching from behind, including any that may be travelling at a high rate of speed.
Bike the Brandywine
If going out for a bike ride is on your to-do list this summer, consider joining the Brandywine Conservancy for our annual Bike the Brandywine event. Offering routes of 25-, 45-, and 62-miles, Bike the Brandywine is a fully-supported ride that showcases the beautiful scenery of our area and the work the Conservancy has done in protecting open space and clean water. Registration opens each spring. Visit our official event page for more information.