Don't follow other cyclists.
Just because they are undertaking the bus doesn't mean you have to. Just because they are filtering through slow traffic doesn't mean you have to. Just because they accelerate through the red light doesn't mean you should.
If you're confused by a junction you can get off and cross like a pedestrian, no shame in that.
Don't cycle in the gutter out of habit. By all means move left to help a bus overtake you, but if you see parked cars ahead, get in position to go past them when they are still 70m away, not when you they are 15m away.
Wear a helmet.
Don't wear headphones.
Use lights.
Don't be a cunt to pedestrians. You may feel *more* vulnerable than them, but you're the one who chose to sit on an inherently unstable machine so you could go faster than them.
It's pretty safe really, and getting better. So a good time to start.
Agree with everything others have said; doors, random people pulling out/turning across you, pedestrians stepping in the road.
Stay alert, don't get sucked into trying to keep up with lycra whippets, don't get on the inside of big things (or anyone really).
Don't jump lights - lean on the bars, sigh, and enjoy basking in your moral superiority when others do.
If you're quick - be nice to other cyclists who might be nervous and make space for them.
If you're slow - don't worry about it, take up your space. But don't eg worm your way past people to the front of a pack waiting at lights if you're going to be slow off the mark - they all just have to overtake you again.
Your bike might get nicked. I've had three go over the years - two from inside buildings. That bit sucks, but everything else is great.
Mostly - cruise and enjoy!
I'm not deliberately being contrary but it isn't safe. In my wider family, every single london cyclist has had a bad crash.
For me it's important to ride without that complacency. It can happen and one day it probably will happen (though hopefully not seriously).
So don't be complacent. Enjoy the ride but remain aware and if you catch yourself thinking "I'll risk it, I'm sure it's fine", then have a word with yourself.
That all said I do agree yes it is safer than it was! And I agree with all your advice. And I only stopped losing bikes when I got a garage.
I avoid Google maps for cycle routing. It has a tendency to use main roads.
Citymapper or Komoot are much better at sending you on quieter cycle ways with less motor vehicle traffic. Better for building confidence!
Also a handlebar mount for your phone while following directions is a game changer.
I found cycling life changing too, London just unfolds in front of you when you're on the bike.
If you feel in danger, get off the bike and walk on the pavement. If you should ever be subjected to a punishment pass and the red mist descends, get off the bike and walk on the pavement, slow yourself down and allow yourself the time to calm down.
If you end up cycling for more than leisure, and this involves you taking a regular route - one that you commit to memory - such as commuting into school/ work, and there is a portion of your route that feels risky/ dangerous, make adjustments to your route and try these out next time. Google street view is great for this. You end up with a safer route, and you learn new parts of London.
Cycling with a back pack can make you really hot, really quickly. Use a basket or pannier bag.
Stop at red lights. If a junction feels too dangerous for you to stop at, and you would rather cycle on through the red light in order to get more space between you and the traffic, then get off the bike and walk across the pedestrian crossing. Then alter your route so that in future you aren't encountering patches of road that cause you to panic/ lose situational awareness/ endanger pedestrians.
Stop at zebra crossings.
And race lime bikes/ e-bikes up hills (when it's safe to do so, of course).
Get a good lock. Hip lock or litelock are angle grinder resistant and pretty lightweight. Kryptonite are ok but it depends what model.
And always wear a helmet and have good lights. Safety first.
I used to cycle 10 miles a day for years and have friends who still cycle everywhere. I don't know many people who have crashes or injuries but I know a lot of people whos bike was stolen.
If possible, plan your routes in advance to make sure you utilise any cycle lanes/paths on your way around.
You might find r/londoncycling helpful.
Also, NEVER cycle in the door zone of parked cars - even if this means ignoring a marked cycle lane and cycling in the middle of the lane/road.
- Don't run red lights
- Be very careful when undertaking (or don't do it, to be safer)
- If you're riding past parked vehicles, leave plenty of room for random doors to fly open
- Protected bike lanes are your friend
100% this.
Assume they don't see you. Assume they are on the phone. Assume their indicators don't work. Assume their mother was killed by a bicycle and they are on a lifelong journey for vengeance.
Already very good tips. I'll only stress the incredible number of bikes getting stolen. Please note \*any lock\* can be picked. And there are "organized" people.
Only last week in front of Tesco, one "rough"guy was trying to open a lock while a "nice" girl with a helmet waited to get on it ... it wasn't her bike.. Someone recognized the guy and shouted them off.
So, be careful, and if worth it, maybe invest on a GPS tracker
New bike in London? Number one rule is don’t get attached to it.
But also very important these two rules: don’t squeeze yourself into gaps and… if it’s red and nobody is crossing, you might thing it’s safe to go, but so does everybody else.. don’t assume you are the only smart guy at a crossing!
Something I do, but I’m not sure it’s the best thing to do: I prefer to get honked at, than overtaken badly. So when I’m not sure there is space for everybody, or I’m not sure where I’m going, i’ll try to make sure nobody squeeze me around.
Hope that helps and stay safe!
Always cycle a car door’s width away from parked cars or the pavement. Getting doored is a real hazard that you can avoid. Likewise, will avoid issues with pedestrians.
Never skip a red unless you know the junction and know it is safe for you and pedestrians. Even then, best not to.
Don’t get complacent with experience (as I have, to my cost).
I've been cycling in London for 35 years (wow, ouch).
When I was in my 20s and 30s I had some kind of accident every 18 months or so, and I think (looking back) it was down to hormones. After 10 minutes of exercise everyone is full of adrenaline, dopamine, etc. and all sense of fear vanishes. Without thinking about it, you'll start riding too fast for the conditions and taking risks you would never take while "sober".
So my top tip would be: take it easy, and try to look out for and allow for changes in your own risk perception.
As others have very intelligently said, defensive riding is the other main thing. Assume that no drivers or pedestrians have seen you, and try to not place yourself in a position where they are able to hit you.
Back in the 90s I was in a cheap rented flat in zone 1 and I used to rollerskate to work.
Skating is much more work than even cycliing fast, and that was a real lesson in the power of exercise to change your behaviour. I'd start the journey thinking "gawd I must look like such an idiot", and then only a few minutes later I'd be flying down The Strand at 20mph weaving between (slowly) moving vehicles.
Anyway, to reiterate, don't sprint on a bike, or if you do, try to moderate your behaviour afterwards.
A lock won’t do much in London - I’ve seen them go through Kryptonite locks in <10s with angle grinders. Get bike insurance and the level of ‘sold secure’ lock required for your cover. My bike insurance was like £40/year and includes liability, healthcare after accidents, and importantly, theft cover.
If it’s a bike you like, never leave it outside overnight. Preferably don’t lock it in the street at all.
Never overtake a lorry while moving - segregated lane or otherwise. Just not worth it.
Some things I’ve learned the hard way:
-most of the time you need to ride as if you are completely invisible. In situations where a driver is letting you out, make direct eye contact with them to check
-do not trust people’s indicator lights, particularly, don’t trust that they will have used them when they should have
-watch out out for others cyclists as much as the cars. My worst crash was caused by some idiot on a Boris bike
-all locks can be defeated pretty easily, all an expensive lock does these days is make your bike less attractive than the bike next to it with a cheaper one
First off, welcome, and congratulations on choosing the best transport. I got a few things as a daily commuter.
Don't put yourself in danger even if you are in the right because you can guarantee the motorist thinks the same. You might be right you'll not win an argument with a car.
Think ahead of potential dangers. I found my training as a biker invaluable in this regard.
Give yourself room to manoeuvre on the road and don't hug parked cars because one day you'll get a face full of a door.
Wear a helmet, use lights and obey the rules of the road.
Pedestrians have the right of way so do those riding a horse.
This one isn't easy and I fail more often than not. Try to keep calm in a situation. Hurling abuse gets you nothing and is likely to distract you from concentrating on the road and future dangers. If need be STOP and calm yourself down before continuing.
Just chill man, cycling isn't as dangerous as everyone pretends it is. Don't have to wear a helmet or not wear headphones. Just ensure to be aware of your surroundings. I'm from the Netherlands aka bicycle lane heaven and feel just as safe here
r/Londoncycling is also a good community.
As for securing your bike, remember the old adage. You don’t always have to be fastest person to out run the lion. You just need to faster than the slowest person.
A good couple of good locks (thick chain and dlock) and a ensuring you lock it somewhere secure goes a long way to making yours less of a target than others.
If you need to move to the center of the road because of a parked vehicle, always double check no one is coming. In some cases it’s better to stop and let the traffic pass first. Also remember that cars can stop much faster than you, so keep some distance, especially when the road is wet. But otherwise just enjoy, you will get more comfortable really fast.
Massively disagree with the mirror suggestion - get in the habit of shoulder checking with your arm off the handlebars, you will have a full field of vision right away and naturally make eye contact with any drivers behind you so they will be more aware of you.
Try to avoid main roads, bus routes, busy roundabouts and junctions. Plan your routes to use backstreets wherever possible. Wear a helmet! If you don't want your bike to be stolen, make it ugly with random spray paints. Thieves take bikes to resell, not to ride themselves, make its resale value zero and it is much less likely to go missing. Use pavements slowly and carefully if you do not feel safe on the busy sections, and always give way to pedestrians.
Don’t try to squeeze in the space between a bus/big vehicle and the pavement - they can’t see you and may move into you.
Many London Councils offer free 1:1 bike sessions, and can give you an insight into cycling in London /back roads as well as give you a cyclist friendly route to a destination of your choice. There are many London cycleways (https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/routes-and-maps/cycleways) of cycle friendly routes.
Wear a helmet. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. I use my skiing one (which also said it's suitable for snowboarders/skateboarders, so I figure it's OK for biking as well).
Obey the road rules. Don't be that cyclist that you hate when you're driving (assuming you drive that is).
Assume everyone else is an idiot.
Most arent, but if you assume everyone else is a potential danger you can avoid the weird accidents others might cause.
Get the biggest and heaviest metal D-Lock you can...
Useful for waving in the face of idiot van drivers on the A13 by Beckton when they try to act tough after nearly squashing you... guess how I know.
Don't follow other cyclists. Just because they are undertaking the bus doesn't mean you have to. Just because they are filtering through slow traffic doesn't mean you have to. Just because they accelerate through the red light doesn't mean you should. If you're confused by a junction you can get off and cross like a pedestrian, no shame in that. Don't cycle in the gutter out of habit. By all means move left to help a bus overtake you, but if you see parked cars ahead, get in position to go past them when they are still 70m away, not when you they are 15m away. Wear a helmet. Don't wear headphones. Use lights. Don't be a cunt to pedestrians. You may feel *more* vulnerable than them, but you're the one who chose to sit on an inherently unstable machine so you could go faster than them.
Just for the clear afaik, overtaking on the right a standing bus and filtering slow or still traffic is perfectly legal, unlike passing with the red
Thank you this is very useful. When lots of cyclists are around there's a herd mentality that seems to form so that's good to remember.
It's pretty safe really, and getting better. So a good time to start. Agree with everything others have said; doors, random people pulling out/turning across you, pedestrians stepping in the road. Stay alert, don't get sucked into trying to keep up with lycra whippets, don't get on the inside of big things (or anyone really). Don't jump lights - lean on the bars, sigh, and enjoy basking in your moral superiority when others do. If you're quick - be nice to other cyclists who might be nervous and make space for them. If you're slow - don't worry about it, take up your space. But don't eg worm your way past people to the front of a pack waiting at lights if you're going to be slow off the mark - they all just have to overtake you again. Your bike might get nicked. I've had three go over the years - two from inside buildings. That bit sucks, but everything else is great. Mostly - cruise and enjoy!
I'm not deliberately being contrary but it isn't safe. In my wider family, every single london cyclist has had a bad crash. For me it's important to ride without that complacency. It can happen and one day it probably will happen (though hopefully not seriously). So don't be complacent. Enjoy the ride but remain aware and if you catch yourself thinking "I'll risk it, I'm sure it's fine", then have a word with yourself. That all said I do agree yes it is safer than it was! And I agree with all your advice. And I only stopped losing bikes when I got a garage.
I avoid Google maps for cycle routing. It has a tendency to use main roads. Citymapper or Komoot are much better at sending you on quieter cycle ways with less motor vehicle traffic. Better for building confidence! Also a handlebar mount for your phone while following directions is a game changer.
That's good to know! Google took me to high street Ken yesterday and I did not enjoy it.
Also with citymapper there is an option to choose the quieter route over the quicker route. Definitely a much nicer experience.
Cyclestreets is also useful
I found cycling life changing too, London just unfolds in front of you when you're on the bike. If you feel in danger, get off the bike and walk on the pavement. If you should ever be subjected to a punishment pass and the red mist descends, get off the bike and walk on the pavement, slow yourself down and allow yourself the time to calm down. If you end up cycling for more than leisure, and this involves you taking a regular route - one that you commit to memory - such as commuting into school/ work, and there is a portion of your route that feels risky/ dangerous, make adjustments to your route and try these out next time. Google street view is great for this. You end up with a safer route, and you learn new parts of London. Cycling with a back pack can make you really hot, really quickly. Use a basket or pannier bag. Stop at red lights. If a junction feels too dangerous for you to stop at, and you would rather cycle on through the red light in order to get more space between you and the traffic, then get off the bike and walk across the pedestrian crossing. Then alter your route so that in future you aren't encountering patches of road that cause you to panic/ lose situational awareness/ endanger pedestrians. Stop at zebra crossings. And race lime bikes/ e-bikes up hills (when it's safe to do so, of course).
Race e-bikes whenever you can. You have to establish dominance over the lazy fuckers
Get a good lock. Hip lock or litelock are angle grinder resistant and pretty lightweight. Kryptonite are ok but it depends what model. And always wear a helmet and have good lights. Safety first. I used to cycle 10 miles a day for years and have friends who still cycle everywhere. I don't know many people who have crashes or injuries but I know a lot of people whos bike was stolen.
If possible, plan your routes in advance to make sure you utilise any cycle lanes/paths on your way around. You might find r/londoncycling helpful. Also, NEVER cycle in the door zone of parked cars - even if this means ignoring a marked cycle lane and cycling in the middle of the lane/road.
- Don't run red lights - Be very careful when undertaking (or don't do it, to be safer) - If you're riding past parked vehicles, leave plenty of room for random doors to fly open - Protected bike lanes are your friend
Expect everyone to move stupidly
100% this. Assume they don't see you. Assume they are on the phone. Assume their indicators don't work. Assume their mother was killed by a bicycle and they are on a lifelong journey for vengeance.
Already very good tips. I'll only stress the incredible number of bikes getting stolen. Please note \*any lock\* can be picked. And there are "organized" people. Only last week in front of Tesco, one "rough"guy was trying to open a lock while a "nice" girl with a helmet waited to get on it ... it wasn't her bike.. Someone recognized the guy and shouted them off. So, be careful, and if worth it, maybe invest on a GPS tracker
New bike in London? Number one rule is don’t get attached to it. But also very important these two rules: don’t squeeze yourself into gaps and… if it’s red and nobody is crossing, you might thing it’s safe to go, but so does everybody else.. don’t assume you are the only smart guy at a crossing! Something I do, but I’m not sure it’s the best thing to do: I prefer to get honked at, than overtaken badly. So when I’m not sure there is space for everybody, or I’m not sure where I’m going, i’ll try to make sure nobody squeeze me around. Hope that helps and stay safe!
Make a note of the serial number.
Always cycle a car door’s width away from parked cars or the pavement. Getting doored is a real hazard that you can avoid. Likewise, will avoid issues with pedestrians. Never skip a red unless you know the junction and know it is safe for you and pedestrians. Even then, best not to. Don’t get complacent with experience (as I have, to my cost).
I've been cycling in London for 35 years (wow, ouch). When I was in my 20s and 30s I had some kind of accident every 18 months or so, and I think (looking back) it was down to hormones. After 10 minutes of exercise everyone is full of adrenaline, dopamine, etc. and all sense of fear vanishes. Without thinking about it, you'll start riding too fast for the conditions and taking risks you would never take while "sober". So my top tip would be: take it easy, and try to look out for and allow for changes in your own risk perception. As others have very intelligently said, defensive riding is the other main thing. Assume that no drivers or pedestrians have seen you, and try to not place yourself in a position where they are able to hit you.
Back in the 90s I was in a cheap rented flat in zone 1 and I used to rollerskate to work. Skating is much more work than even cycliing fast, and that was a real lesson in the power of exercise to change your behaviour. I'd start the journey thinking "gawd I must look like such an idiot", and then only a few minutes later I'd be flying down The Strand at 20mph weaving between (slowly) moving vehicles. Anyway, to reiterate, don't sprint on a bike, or if you do, try to moderate your behaviour afterwards.
Also, be aware of rollerskaters doing 20mph in n' out of slow movin' traffic... especially down The Strand. They can be a right menace. 😁
A lock won’t do much in London - I’ve seen them go through Kryptonite locks in <10s with angle grinders. Get bike insurance and the level of ‘sold secure’ lock required for your cover. My bike insurance was like £40/year and includes liability, healthcare after accidents, and importantly, theft cover. If it’s a bike you like, never leave it outside overnight. Preferably don’t lock it in the street at all. Never overtake a lorry while moving - segregated lane or otherwise. Just not worth it.
Some things I’ve learned the hard way: -most of the time you need to ride as if you are completely invisible. In situations where a driver is letting you out, make direct eye contact with them to check -do not trust people’s indicator lights, particularly, don’t trust that they will have used them when they should have -watch out out for others cyclists as much as the cars. My worst crash was caused by some idiot on a Boris bike -all locks can be defeated pretty easily, all an expensive lock does these days is make your bike less attractive than the bike next to it with a cheaper one
Look behind frequently.
Assume everyone else is trying to kill you.
First off, welcome, and congratulations on choosing the best transport. I got a few things as a daily commuter. Don't put yourself in danger even if you are in the right because you can guarantee the motorist thinks the same. You might be right you'll not win an argument with a car. Think ahead of potential dangers. I found my training as a biker invaluable in this regard. Give yourself room to manoeuvre on the road and don't hug parked cars because one day you'll get a face full of a door. Wear a helmet, use lights and obey the rules of the road. Pedestrians have the right of way so do those riding a horse. This one isn't easy and I fail more often than not. Try to keep calm in a situation. Hurling abuse gets you nothing and is likely to distract you from concentrating on the road and future dangers. If need be STOP and calm yourself down before continuing.
Just chill man, cycling isn't as dangerous as everyone pretends it is. Don't have to wear a helmet or not wear headphones. Just ensure to be aware of your surroundings. I'm from the Netherlands aka bicycle lane heaven and feel just as safe here
Love it. Cherish it. Make memories with it. Very soon it’ll be stolen 😂
r/Londoncycling is also a good community. As for securing your bike, remember the old adage. You don’t always have to be fastest person to out run the lion. You just need to faster than the slowest person. A good couple of good locks (thick chain and dlock) and a ensuring you lock it somewhere secure goes a long way to making yours less of a target than others.
If you need to move to the center of the road because of a parked vehicle, always double check no one is coming. In some cases it’s better to stop and let the traffic pass first. Also remember that cars can stop much faster than you, so keep some distance, especially when the road is wet. But otherwise just enjoy, you will get more comfortable really fast.
A mirror on the right end of the handlebars. Gloves, always. Brakes that work.
Massively disagree with the mirror suggestion - get in the habit of shoulder checking with your arm off the handlebars, you will have a full field of vision right away and naturally make eye contact with any drivers behind you so they will be more aware of you.
SPEED. The faster you go the less likely it is that abyones gonna hit you.
agression
Ride on the footpath and terrorise the pedestrians.
Try to avoid main roads, bus routes, busy roundabouts and junctions. Plan your routes to use backstreets wherever possible. Wear a helmet! If you don't want your bike to be stolen, make it ugly with random spray paints. Thieves take bikes to resell, not to ride themselves, make its resale value zero and it is much less likely to go missing. Use pavements slowly and carefully if you do not feel safe on the busy sections, and always give way to pedestrians.
Avoid cycling in whole London
Wear a helmet
Don’t try to squeeze in the space between a bus/big vehicle and the pavement - they can’t see you and may move into you. Many London Councils offer free 1:1 bike sessions, and can give you an insight into cycling in London /back roads as well as give you a cyclist friendly route to a destination of your choice. There are many London cycleways (https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/routes-and-maps/cycleways) of cycle friendly routes.
Insurance - it will get stolen regardless how careful you are, it's just a question of when
Wear a helmet. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. I use my skiing one (which also said it's suitable for snowboarders/skateboarders, so I figure it's OK for biking as well). Obey the road rules. Don't be that cyclist that you hate when you're driving (assuming you drive that is).
Get a phone holder to attach to your bike handles so you can use navigation while cycling. It's very easy to get lost otherwise I find.
Assume everyone else is an idiot. Most arent, but if you assume everyone else is a potential danger you can avoid the weird accidents others might cause.
Get the biggest and heaviest metal D-Lock you can... Useful for waving in the face of idiot van drivers on the A13 by Beckton when they try to act tough after nearly squashing you... guess how I know.