Bike Safety Tips: Cover Your Brakes

It's funny - for all the biking I do, I don't really think a lot about bike safety. Not consciously, at least. I think I've been riding bikes for so long that it's just something I learned without ever trying. I just biked enough to figure out through experience what was stupid and what kept me safe.

It really wasn't until I started bike commuting regularly that I started to think more consciously about it. As I read advice and tips on how to bike commute safely, I realized I was already doing much of what was suggested. That said, making it a conscious act made me an even safer, more alert cyclist.

One of the techniques that I use absolutely ever day and that is one of the most essential things for any cyclist to learn is also one of the simplest habits to develop: Cover your brakes at intersections.

In an emergency situation, every second, every fraction of a second, counts. Having to not only process information (say, a car pulling out from a hidden driveway) but also reach to grab your brake levers and then pull on them, takes time that could make the difference between a near-miss and a painful accident.

Decorative Shrubbery = DEATH
Image from dot.gov

This is a particularly important habit to develop when approaching a blind intersection of any kind. Whether it's the exit to a neighborhood that conveniently blocks driver's visibility with decorative shrubbery or a hidden driveway, you MUST be aware when you are approaching an intersection where you will be essentially invisible to driver. There are numerous times where this is a possibility, but the response should always be the same: cover your brake levers before you even enter the intersection.

The keyword there is "before." It doesn't do any good if you cover your brake levers once you're in the middle of the intersection and a car is approaching from a blind spot to your right. You're in serious trouble by that point. Don't rely on your reaction, and absolutely do not rely on the oncoming car seeing you. They're looking out for other cars, not cyclists. You are farther to the side of the road than where they're looking, and that decorative shrubbery so tastefully placed in the median of the entrance of that housing addition completely obscures their view of you. Always assume there will be a car coming out of a drive and never assume they see you.

Thankfully, the solution is incredibly simple: put at least two fingers over both of your brake levers and be ready to pull hard at the slightest hint of movement in your peripheral vision. Doing this may only save half a second, but that half a second could save your life.

Any other safety tips? Let me know in the comments!
-K