A bike commuter's survival guide
Friday, November 6th, 2009
The Septa transit strike has unleashed two sets of novices onto city streets – drivers who usually take SEPTA, and wobbly bicyclists who clearly just pulled an old Schwinn out of the basement. With all these newbies trying to share the road, it could get ugly.
So our news staff, which is full of people who bike to work, has stepped up to help. From WHYY's Susan Phillips, Peter Crimmins, Kerry Grens, Shai Ben-Yaacov and Elizabeth Fiedler, here are five helpful tips on how to bike to work safely.
Listen to the radio report:
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Just some of the many bikes that popped up around the city this week.
Thanks WHYY and everyone who is suggesting bike safety tips.
In fact, the Bicycle Coalition has put together a Bike-the-Strike 101 on our BikePHL Blog, with essential tips (and lots of links to more)for safe biking:
http://bikephl.bicyclecoalition.org/2009/11/bike-strike-101.html
Does anyone know facts on the safety or lack thereof, of commuting while wearing an ipod?
Well… Actually, there's a more important tip: Bicyclists are supposed to obey ALL traffic rules. Most adult urban cyclists I've seen appear to think that lights and signs are only suggestions. Cyclists are supposed to stop (and stay stopped) at red lights. They're supposed to stay in their lane (not weave through stopped traffic, form "third lanes" or go south in northbound lanes), signal turns, etc.
The fact that nobody gets ticketed for chaotic cycling shouldn't absolve them from being responsible, and respectful of the other users of the road.
You left out the most important suggestion: Wear a helmet! There are way too many people in this city who do not wear helmets. If you value the integrity of your skull and it's contents – put one on.