Bike shorts to Balaclavas

 

 

Welcome to November. In most parts of North America fall is well under way.

I guess it depends on your location as to how serious Mother Nature rolls out fall.
Here on the West coast, fall is when the leaves turn colour and drop onto the road/riding surface... And the rains rollin’ off the Pacific Ocean. For that matter that also describes most of the West coast winter, other than the few days in mid-January when we get about five centimetres of wet snow that brings the area to a grinding halt.

The rest of CANADA, that is, from Hope BC East and North gets snow and more snow and cold and wind. Did I mention snow?

Hypothermia becomes a very real concern, along with frost bite to extremities, or anything exposed to the elements.

Cycling is going out and having a great ride, being comfortable in the elements, and doing it safely. Be it clear and cool, or clear and cold.

I realize that temperature is just a number, but it’s a number that has a very direct bearing on what we do, where we do it, how long we do it. What we do while we are there, and if we even go out for what we had planned.

Layering has been the by words for winter activities since we all were little and we were bundled in snow suits to go outside. Mom wasn’t wrong, even though we felt we knew better.

Cold and wind can be the unseen enemy, which if you aren’t prepared and able to see the signs, can cause more problems.

Winter cycling can be great but without taking the outside environment and conditions, at the beginning, during and afterward into account, you could be putting your life in danger.

Please beware when riding during the colder months. Taking that extra time to make sure you are prepared will assist in somewhat controlling the conditions and make the difference between a cold miserable ride and a comfortable great ride.
It can be as simple as mind over matter, if you don’t mind the conditions and can handle them, then it doesn’t really matter.

I have attached excellent information from the Environment CANADA web site.

They have detailed the how’s and whys and why not’s far better than I could.
They are experts in the field of cold. Please take a look at their web site for more information.

I am of the opinion that functional and warm is better than looking good.  Safety comes in many aspects, knowing what to wear, how to layer, in what order, and being seen are what is going to allow you to make it through and survive.

 

From the Environment CANADA web site,   www.weatheroffice.gc.ca

 

What is Wind Chill?

Anyone who has ever waited at a bus stop, ridden a bike in the winter or taken a walk on a blustery winter day knows that you feel colder when the wind blows. This cooling sensation that is caused by the combined effect of temperature and wind, is what is known as wind chill.

On a calm day, our bodies insulate us somewhat from the outside temperature by warming up a thin layer of air close to our skin, known as the boundary layer. When the wind blows, it takes this protective layer away, exposing our skin to the outside air. It takes energy for our bodies to warm up a new layer and, if each layer keeps getting blown away, our skin temperature will drop and we will feel colder.

Wind also makes you feel colder by evaporating any moisture on your skin, a process that draws more heat away from the body. Studies show that when skin is wet, it loses heat much faster than when it is dry

How does Wind Chill affect you?

Living in a cold country can be hazardous to your health. Each year in Canada, more than 80 people die from over-exposure to the cold, and many more suffer injuries resulting from hypothermia and frostbite. Wind chill can play a major role in such health hazards because it speeds up the rate at which your body loses heat.

How much heat you lose depends not only on the cooling effects of the cold and the wind chill, but on other factors. Good quality clothing with high insulating properties traps air, creating a thicker boundary layer around the body which keeps in the heat. Wet clothing and footwear lose their insulating properties, resulting in body-heat loss nearly equal to that of exposed skin. Your body type also determines how quickly you lose heat; people with a tall, slim build become cold much faster than those that are shorter and heavier.

We can also gain heat by increasing our metabolism or soaking up the sun. Physical activity, such as walking or skiing, increases our metabolism – which generates more body heat. Age and physical condition also play a part. Elderly people and children have less muscle mass and as a result, generate less body heat. Sunshine, even on a cold winter day, can also make a difference. Bright sunshine can make you feel as much as 10 degrees warmer.

Over time, our bodies can also adapt to the cold. People who live in a cold climate are often able to withstand cold better than those from warmer climates.

 

Beating the chill

The best way to avoid the hazards of wind chill is to check the weather forecast before going outside, and to be prepared by dressing warmly. As a guideline, keep in mind that the risk of frostbite increases rapidly when wind chill values go below -27.

 

A simple way to avoid wind chill is to get out of the wind. Environment Canada's wind chill forecasts are based on the wind you would experience on open ground; taking shelter from the wind can therefore reduce or even eliminate the wind chill factor.

A recent survey indicated that 82 per cent of Canadians use wind chill information to decide how to dress before going outside in the winter. Many groups and organizations also use the wind chill index to regulate their outdoor activities.

Schools use wind chill information to decide whether it is safe for children to go outdoors at recess; hockey clubs cancel outdoor practices when the wind chill is too cold; people who work outside for a living, such as construction workers and ski-lift operators, are required to take indoor breaks to warm up when the wind chill is very cold.

Seven steps to cold weather safety

1. Listen to the weather forecast
2. Plan ahead
3. Dress warmly
4. Seek shelter
5. Stay dry
6. Keep active
7. Be aware

1.) Listen to the weather forecast

• Check the Environment Canada weather forecast before going out in the winter.
• Listen for a wind chill warning. Wind chill warnings, based on local climate, are issued when significant wind chills are expected to occur.

Environment Canada’s weather forecasts are available through radio and TV broadcasts, Environment Canada’s Weatheradio network, and online at www.weatheroffice.gc.ca.

2.) Plan ahead

• Develop a cold weather safety plan in advance to ensure that safety concerns are addressed when it’s very cold, or when the wind chill is significant. For example, schools could hold recess indoors, outside workers could schedule warm-up breaks, and those involved in winter recreation could reduce the amount of time they spend outdoors.

3.) Dress warmly

• Dress in layers, with a wind resistant outer layer.
• When it is cold, wear a hat (a large portion of body heat is lost from the head), mittens or insulated gloves. You should also have something to keep your face warm, such as a scarf, neck tube or facemask.
• Wear warm and waterproof footwear. When it is very cold, or when the wind chill is significant, cover as much exposed skin as possible. Your body’s extremities, such as the ears, nose, fingers and toes lose heat the fastest.

4.) Seek shelter

• When the wind chill is significant, get out of the wind and limit the time you spend outside.

5.) Stay dry

• Wet clothing chills the body rapidly.
• Remove outer layers of clothing or open your coat if you are sweating.

6.) Keep active

• Walking or running will help warm you by generating body heat.

7.) Be aware

• Watch for signs of frostnip, frostbite and hypothermia.
• Some people are more susceptible to the cold, particularly children, the elderly and those with circulation problems.
• The use of alcohol, tobacco and certain medications will increase your susceptibility to cold.

Cold injuries

Exposure to the cold can be hazardous or even life-threatening. Your body's extremities, such as the ears, nose, fingers and toes, lose heat the fastest. Exposed skin may freeze, causing frostnip or frostbite. In extreme conditions or after prolonged exposure to the cold, the body core can also lose heat, resulting in hypothermia.

Hypothermia

• Being cold over a prolonged period of time can cause a drop in body temperature (below the normal 37^°C).
• Shivering, confusion and loss of muscular control (e.g., difficulty walking) can occur.
• It can progress to a life-threatening condition where shivering stops or the person loses consciousness. Cardiac arrest may occur.

What to do:

·  Get medical attention immediately.

·  Lay the person down and avoid rough handling, particularly if the person is unconscious.

·  Get the person indoors.

·  Gently remove wet clothing.

·  Warm the person gradually and slowly, using available sources of heat.

Frostnip

• A mild form of frostbite, where only the skin freezes.
• Skin appears yellowish or white, but feels soft to the touch.
• Painful tingling or burning sensation.

What to do:

·  Do not rub or massage the area.

·  Warm the area gradually – use body heat (a warm hand) or warm water. Avoid direct heat which can burn the skin.

·  Once the affected area is warm, do not re-expose it to the cold.

Frostbite

• A more severe condition, where both the skin and the underlying tissue (fat, muscle, bone) are frozen.
• Skin appears white and waxy and is hard to the touch.
• No sensation – the area is numb.

What to do:

·  Frostbite can be serious, and can result in amputation. Get medical help!

·  Do not rub or massage the area.

·  Do not warm the area until you can ensure it will stay warm.

·  Warm the area gradually; use body heat, or warm water (40^°C to 42^°C). Avoid direct heat which can burn the skin.

Try this neat experiment to better understand wind chill

Turn on a fan and stand in front of it. You will feel colder because of the wind cooling your skin, but the temperature in the room has not changed. You cannot make the room any colder, no matter how high you turn up the fan. Just like outside, no matter how strong the wind blows, the temperature of the air outside does not change.

Now dab some water on your skin and stand in front of the fan again. The wet skin should feel much colder. This demonstrates how important it is to stay dry when outdoors in cold and windy conditions.

Where is the coldest wind chill in Canada?

Wind chills below -70 have been recorded in northern communities in Canada. On January 13, 1975 at Kugaaruk, Nunavut, the air temperature was -51^°C and the winds were 56 km/h, producing a bone-chilling wind chill of -78! 

Special thanks to the folks at Environment CANADA for the above information.

Thanks for Stopping By

           Safe Ride Home

 Chuck

 

 

Slow Speed Skills can Save your Life

 

  So far, we have spoken about what to wear, how to ride, where to ride, and what floral treats and treasures to look for.

  In this entry let’s look at another skill set as important, and at times even more important.

      Slow Speed Skills.

Those are the skills that are just as they sound and refer to.

  There is a large group of cyclists that thinks the faster the better.  Frankly I at times can support that theory.  If you are in the greater Vancouver area, out in Coquitlam area you might be aware of a hill called Mariner Hill.  It’s about a 6/7 % down grade for about a kilometer and a bit.  The speed limit on the road – for cars – is 50 KPH.

  If you have ridden a road bike down a big hill, the temptation is to get up into the biggest gear and just go for it.  It is a rush going down a hill as close to 70/75 KPH !! and yes I know that is against the law… but darn it is fun !!
A buddy of mine is a traffic officer and threatened to write me a speeding ticket for exceeding the speed limit, on my bike.  Well, at the time, being a commuter with an attitude, I let Richard know when I would be there, so he could set up to write the ticket. I told him, if he writes it, I’ll happily accept it, pay it, and then frame it.  He never did show up at the same time as me.
I survived this part of my riding life in spite of myself.
The reason for that story is to show that going fast is really quite easy and an act that over takes cyclists all too easily.
  Now you have to think about the fact that there are others on the same road as you, at the same time as you, and they are likely travelling at near the same speed as you, likely over the posted limit, like you.
Rider and bike – about 250 pounds, car and driver – about 2250 pounds.  Do the math, who will win if those two come together. Then think about the speeds and the lack of surface around the rider if and when they hit the ground.  This year in British Columbia there have been about 12-15 cyclists killed in traffic for assorted reasons.  That is a number that is far too high.  One is a number that is too high a price to pay.

This brings me to my point.

               Can you as a cyclist move about in confined spaces with confidence and control?

 I refer to confined spaces as spaces such as on the road? in a bike lane?  and along that same lane coming up to corners? 

Information tid-bit one: Bike lanes normally do not continue through intersections, unless they are specifically marked as doing so.

  When was the last time you as a rider went into or through a parking lot and didn’t have to react and react quickly to a driver seeing a parking spot and not you?, or along a bike path and have a dog run out in front of you, or another cyclist decide they want to turn and not signal?, or a jogger groovin’ to their tunes, with ear buds firmly implanted and run across your path? And we all know that drivers respect riders using bike lanes … ya right.  Did we mention weather conditions at times are less than ideal?

   It doesn’t really matter which type of bike you ride, being able to go slow with confidence and control is a skill that I believe is a required skill, and a skill if not practiced is a diminish-able skill.
The CAN-BIKE program has a list of basic slow speed skills, which once mastered, can be viewed as the corner stone of the program.

CAN-BIKE has the following slow speed skills as part of their program:

* Straight Line Riding          * Hand Signals          * Shoulder Checks             * Slalom  

 * Figure 8                             * Rock Dodge            * Threthshold Braking      *  Quick Turn / T Turn

We talk about and practice using gears and brakes and actually moving the gears through the full range of their gears. We also speak about unclipping from pedals, and what is their power leg and why you need to know that. Along with which hand controls which brake.

These are an excellent grouping of slow speed skills and there are those classes that these are the sum of their riding ability.  No two classes and groups of riders are the same, or have the same skill level.  Each and every class there are different skill levels. Not everyone sees things as the Instructor does.

As an Instructor you have to be prepared for this skill spectrum.
Then there are those classes that you breeze through the above noted skills with very little problems.  You are looking for more, as the students are looking for more because they can do more.
I have added a number of slow speed skills to challenge those that can do it.
 These are not CAN-BIKE. I refer to them as Survival skills.
 I make it clear there are two different sets here, that way the insurance company can be satisfied and the integrity of the CAN-BIKE program is intact.

   *  Parking Stall  (8’6”)  *  Riding the planks (2”X 4” 8 feet long and 2”X 6” 8 feet long) 

   * Dismounts and * Cross Over Dismounts   * Curb hopping - both straight on and side on

   *  Bike carry  * Bump and Go

There are more that I will also speak about for the more advanced skill levels, up to the infamous “M” Drill. I will talk about the “M” Drill in a future blog entry.

Over the next few months I will talk about these slow speed skills and how I teach them. I am not implying my way is the most correct, but rather this is what has worked for me for over 80 classes that I have taught. What the secrets are along with why and where these slow speed skills work.

I am using some foreshadowing here by telling all what is coming.  Sort of like a movie trailer, drop a few hints and make you want to continue to read and follow my entries …… looking for some inside secrets.

Bottom line… you need to practice these skills because you don’t when that moment will come that you have to do it, without thinking about it, and doing it right.  The above skills don’t require fancy expensive articles to make them work.  Most parking lots will have curbs, parking stalls, painted lines, parking partitions, rocks and pot holes. 

 Find a place where you can take the time and practice.  You won’t regret the time and effort.

It’s like a term about reading a good book - It’ll be time well wasted.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

    Safe Ride Home

Chuck

 

Leaves, Shadows, Winds and Wet Roads

Just a quick note about the Logo below.  Part of why I started this blog was to get the word out about cycling safety in a down to earth way that can be easily understood by those of us “down in the mud”, that ride the streets and path ways. I ride, I teach and I believe in safety.

The Logo is that of my company – Tri M Sports & Consulting Ltd, I have the trade name CANBIKEBC, and that is the official logo.

It’s all about the message and the branding is just as important to give credibility to what I want to say.
My Logo will be now be on the postings from here on out. 

I can be reached at      chuck@canbikebc.ca

  This past week-end here on the West Coast the first Environment CANADA Storm/Weather Warnings were issued.  Heavy rain, up to 60 mm and winds up to 90 KPH.  Just another lovely fall day!?!?  This is why they sometimes refer to us as the Wet Coast.

I have the Environment Canada weather page book marked on my computer, and in particular the satellite photos.  It is much easier to watch the storm tracks with that.
  Another aspect to safe cycling is also planning where you are going to ride and how you are going to get there.  Knowing the weather along your route and at your destination is a first step to being safe when and where you ride.
  I have started with this for a reason.  We here on the West coast have just come to the end of a great summer.  The leaves, as happens in the Fall, are turning colour and dropping. The municipal governments across the lower mainland have worked very hard at planting trees along each and every street.  With trees come leaves and with Fall comes leaves dropping. Those leaves now become a mush on the streets.  The expected heavy winds will accelerate that process.
  As the leaves drop they will stick to the wet roads, and that can make the roads much more slippery than they were.  The leaves start to rot, as leaves are want to do, they mix with the moisture and oils and smag on the roads and you have a slippery mess that is worse than loose gravel and more akin to ice.
  As the leaves are falling from the trees, they cause the sun to come through it different patterns, if at all.  This is where the shadows along the roads come into the equation.  Depending on the lighting conditions some spots are lighter than others, some are darker than others.  The distance can be just inches to feet, and each tree/over hang is different.  Now let’s complicate this, as can quickly happen in real life.
  Those same shaded spots that are here today, were different yesterday and will be different again tomorrow.
When you add the rain, wind and general lousy driving and riding conditions, this can be a recipe for problems.
It becomes very hard for drivers to see cyclists coming out of the shadows, unless the cyclists are using their lights.

  I have mentioned in this column on more than one occasion that I firmly believe in cyclists using lights at any time of the day or night.  I have also mentioned that I believe in very bright coloured riding vests. 

  You can get cycling rain jackets that are in very bright colours, such as bright green/and yellow.  You can always add reflective ties around the bottom of your legs, something that has the ability to move about.  That just might give a driver that doesn’t see you the cyclist, but he might catch the glint of something moving, that being the reflective strap.

The eye sees much more than we realise, so this just might be the piece the driver sees and reacts to, and gives a safe distance around the cyclist.

With the onslaught of the fall weather comes the shorter days and longer nights. The leaves wind and combine to clean out the tress over the next couple of months. Once you know to be cognisant of this added feature/hazard, then you will become a safer better cyclist.

  Bike paths and bike lanes are not immune to this. I fact they are likely to suffer this same fate with more leaf build-up as the paths and bike lanes are generally much closer to the trees and dropping leaves.  The problem on the bike paths and bike lanes there isn’t the volume of traffic to assist Mother Nature to break down the leaves, leaving them on the riding surface much longer than they would be on the roads.

Again here is where the four core CAN-BIKE values of

              Manoeuvrability, Visibility, Predictability and Communication

Also known as   See, Be Seen,  Be Heard,  Be Predictable

 I believe words to ride by, and will someday could likely save your life when cycling

Safety is everyone’s responsibility when you are out riding.  Be it on the roads or paths or lanes.

Lights really should be used at anytime of the day and night, when riding.
Wearing a very bright coloured reflective vest can only enhance your chances of having an uneventful ride and getting back safe.
Helmets really should be a standard piece of your cycling apparel.  If you are Avon guard and want to attach your light to your helmet, then go ahead and make the bold safety statement !!

Watching where you ride and the road surface will allow you a much better chance to stay up on your bike and not checking out the rotting leaves at a much closer view than you had planned.

 

Thanks for stopping by

   Safe Ride Home

             Chuck

 

 

 

    

Destination Positioning

Cycling, like most anything that requires you to be in a certain spot at a certain time, has certain basic rules.

There are those in this world that think the rules don’t apply to them and actually try to live outside those rules.  They may get away with flaunting the rules for a long time, but those rules will come back to find them.

In the case of cycling, those times could likely prove to be catastrophic.  This year alone, there have been several times where the cyclist has been killed due to errors made.  That isn’t to say it was wholly the fault of the cyclist, or for that matter wholly the fault of the driver.  I am going to venture a guess that the answer is somewhere between those two points.

 The CAN-BIKE program also has some basic rules.  Those rules are the cornerstone of safe defensive cycling.

We have spoken previously about the first set, the Four Core Values –

               Manoeuverability, Visibility, Predictability and Communication

I have also referred to these as   

                   See, Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Predicable.

For those of us that are spelling challenged.

 The rules I want to refer to in this installment is Destination Positioning.

These are the Five Basic Traffic Cycling Principles.  They are adapted from the book Effective Cycling, by John FORRESTER.  Effective Cycling is now into its 8^th edition.

1)      Ride on the right side of the roadway

2)      How and When to yield to crossing traffic

3)      How and When to yield to same direction traffic

4)      Destination positioning at intersections

5)      Positioning between intersection

 

Attached below is a copy of the list that I put into each training manual that I give out at each CAN-BIKE course that I teach.

 

FIVE BASIC TRAFFIC CYCLING PRINCIPLES

(Adapted from EFFECTIVE CYCLING by John FORESTER)

 

 

All drivers regardless of the type of vehicle they drive, follow the same basic traffic principles.  The size and speed of your vehicle may influence how you apply these principles, but the reason is the same: to reduce conflicts between road users.

 

Understanding the following basic traffic principals will enable you, as a cyclist, to ride safely in MOST traffic situations.

 

01)       Ride on the right side of the roadway.  DO NOT RIDE ON THE LEFT, OR ON THE SIDEWALK. Cyclists who ride facing traffic are more vulnerable because other drivers do not expect wrong way traffic.  Sidewalk riding is also very hazardous because each driveway or laneway becomes, in effect, an intersection. It’s also against the law in many places, and people are not expecting a cyclist on the sidewalk.

 

02)       How and when to yield to crossing traffic. Yielding means deciding if you must yield and, if so, waiting until it is safe to go. There are two basic rules for drivers who meet at intersections: (a) the driver on the minor street or lane yields to the driver on the main street, (b) at an uncontrolled intersection, the driver who arrives first, goes first. The driver who arrives last, yields, or if the vehicles (this includes bikes) arrive simultaneously, the one on the left yields.

            FIRST IN..  FIRST OUT....

           ALWAYS YIELD TO PERSON ON YOUR RIGHT.

 

03)       How and when to yield to the same direction traffic.  Every driver who wants to move into a new line of travel must yield to the traffic already in that lane.  Before moving sideways on the road   YOU MUST LOOK BEHIND YOU (SHOULDER CHECK)          TO ENSURE THAT IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.

 

04)       Destination positioning at intersections. This depends on your intended direction beyond the intersection.  At a simple intersection, start a left turn from near the centreline, and a right turn from near the curb. At a multiple-lane intersection, choose the right most lane that serves your destination.

 

05)       Positioning between intersections.  Your positioning, while travelling between intersections depends on your speed relative to the rest of the traffic. Also on the usable width of the road.  On a lane that is too narrow to share, ride in the middle.  On a wide lane, if you are the slower vehicle, move to the right.  If you are the faster vehicle, pass on the left.

      DO NOT SQUEEZE BETWEEN THE MOVING VEHICLES AND THE CURB.

  It is okay to pass a left turning vehicle, if it’s safe, on the right side.

I felt this topic was timely after watching cyclists riding about all across the Greater Vancouver

Region, and that does include the City of Vancouver.
I have added the explanation above to show there are rules to be followed.

These rules were written by the father of modern safety, defensive, traffic cycling, John FORRESTER. 

I refer to John FORRESTER as the Guru of safety cycling in North America. I use this term with the greatest of respect to John FORRESTER and what he has written.

Please remember, the CAN-BIKE program, along with Police, EHS, and Security cycling across North America is based on the teachings and principals of John FORRESTER. It shows that his principals are accepted by the main stream of the millions that do cycle in traffic. Need I say more?

I realise there are those that don’t hold the same opinion as I do, and that is okay. Everyone has an opinion, and you have seen mine. The above cycling traffic safety rules are time tested and work, and work very well.

With the addition of separated bike lanes and bike paths the rules are the same. The rules don’t change, just the venue. 

You still don’t ride into oncoming traffic or on sidewalks and not expect to cause yourself problems… or worse. You ride as far to the right as practicable and practicable being safe.

Safety comes in many aspects to cycling. Like a good recipe when all the parts are put together properly it works great, but leave one part out, and Nothing Good Can Come of It.  The results are not what you expect or were hoping for.

 

  Thanks for stopping by,

     Safe Ride Home

 

Chuck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Railroads Tracks, Speed Bumps, Road Depressions and Chuck holes… Hidden Hazards

I don’t know if you ever noticed, but every year on the Canadian prairies a few people and vehicles are hit and killed at railroad level crossings.  Why you ask? When the prairies are low rolling hills, and that is the high spots.  You can watch your dog run away for three days, so seeing what is happening around you should be a natural thing.

I bring this up for a basic reason, seeing what is happening around you.  I also want to talk about how to ride properly, you can read that as safely, over railroad tracks, speeds, road depressions and chuck holes.

All of these hidden hazards have a couple of things in common.  They all present a challenge that if you take them for granted.  They will come back to bite you and bring you down to ground level very quickly.  The other thing they have in common is how you set up on your bike to go over or around them.  Let’s be clear, when done correctly and given the respect they deserve, they can be handled with no problems, but get cocky, and you could likely pay a price.

The CAN-BIKE program refers to the proper procedure for crossing railroad tracks when riding as follows:

Your head is up and your back is straight, now you can see where you are going and what is happening around you !!!

1)      If moving into traffic, Shoulder check/Signal/Shoulder, signal prior to the movement on the riding surface.

2)      Stand up on your pedals, pedals set level to the ground, at 3/9,

3)      Bend your arms and legs using them like shock absorbers, keeping your balance.

4)      Go over the tracks at a 90 degree angle to the tracks, let the bike move up and down under you, keeping your centre of balance over the bike. 

5)      Roll over the tracks

6)      Move back into the proper riding position on the surface you are riding.

7)      Keep both hands on the handle bars as you go over the tracks

8)      Signal prior to the movement on the riding surface.

That should work in I would estimate in about 95% of the situations you will find yourself in.

Then I started asking myself, what about all those other bumps and depressions we as riders encounter in the span of a ride.

In my classes I added the other aspects, speed bumps, depressions and chuck holes in the riding surface.

Speed bumps, like chocolate cookie recipes come in a myriad of assorted sizes and shapes.  Some easier than others and some that are just plain ugly to ride over.  We’ve all seen the on road variety speed bump (traffic calming device) lower and gentle to go over.  Then there are the ones in parking lots, ment to slow traffic to a crawl over them.  You know the ones, they look and feel like a large tree has been cut in half and laid across the road.  Then they paint them a very slippery bright yellow, so when they get wet they are downright dangerous.

If you treat all like you treat railroad tracks, as listed above to go over them, then they can be handled much more easily, and your chances of taking an unwanted spill decrease, not eliminated, just decreased. Nothing is a sure bet.

Road depressions are ridden the same way, but be advised they are very dangerous.  If travelling at any speed you will quickly drop into the depression, then just as quickly come out.  The problem is when you come out your weight has lifted and your bike is riding with much less grip to the surface.  Down hillers are shaking their heads right now, saying they know the feeling.  That short time when you feel as if you are airborne, and for the most part you are, you don’t have control and therefore no real ability to turn or brake.  Not a big deal if you are going straight, but if you are coming into a corner, or a downhiller going around or into or out of a corner, then it becomes a very big deal. Some road depressions aren’t seen until you are in them, then you best be ready for what happens next.

All of the above hazards have hidden problems so properly setting up for them, riding them properly and knowing how to handle them becomes a skill that needs to be known and practiced.  You need to keep this in the back of your mind when riding - the hidden hazards.

Riding and riding safely is a thinking game and safety is what you work at each and every ride.

           Part of that safety is    See  Be Seen  Be Heard  Be Predictable

Knowing what is around you, getting the big picture and being prepared will greatly assist you.

A great ride, and getting home in one piece is the object we strive to achieve.

Please go over the above steps in your mind when you see them, for going over those things that we can’t avoid and go over.

Like everything else in life, being prepared for what could come is the responsible thing to do.  Being prepared is being safe when riding.

 

  Thanks for stopping by,

      Safe Ride Home

City Cops and Cyclists

As I have mentioned previously I have a police back round.  I say that because of the topic and those who were gracious enough to provide the information.

 I was at traffic court in Vancouver recently and while there I came across a couple of City traffic motor officers.  I have gotten to know one in particular from my times at traffic court and we speak regularly.  I have come to respect him for his dedication to his profession, his professionalism and his sense of humour.

You have to understand that Police have a different sense of humour than most people, other than maybe nurses. It comes from the fact that both of these professions overlap.  Police are first on the scene of collisions.  They are the first responders along with the Ambulance personnel who deal with what has occurred and now work at figuring out what happened, and at times have to deal with the families when the collision becomes fatal.

Nurses get the injured in assorted states of broken and are tasked with dealing with the injuries and the families of those injured, and sometimes worse.

I have been there, dealing with the collision scene and at the hospital and again at the home of the families saying those words that no one on earth wants to hear, and even fewer want to say.

I asked these motor officers what was there biggest “pevs” with cyclists.  Their looks changed and I saw two traffic guys that deal with the same things from the cyclists. These guys are at the top of their game at what they do, so when they spoke I listened.

 I will list the items that makes their blood boil.  That wasn’t how they phrased it to me, but I won’t use what they said here.  I asked for the top two items if they could change what would they be.  Here is what they told me:

1)      Helmets

2)      Red Lights / Stop Signs

1)      Traffic Control Devices

2)      Sense of Entitlement

Helmets – cyclists that don’t wear their helmets, because they don’t feel they need to, the law is stupid, or they just don’t feel they will never have an accident/collision.

Red Lights / Stop Signs – cyclists that don’t stop at red lights/ stop signs and don’t even cruise through them but blast through them.  I was told that slowing down and “California Stopping” (just barely moving, looking both ways then moving on) stop signs can be lived with, but not blasting through.

Traffic Control Devices – Cyclists that feel, no believe, that the traffic control devices in the City don’t apply to them, cause after all they are cyclists.

Sense of Entitlement -   Cyclists that believe they can ride where they want, how they want, the way they want, at any speed they want and disregard the above items mentioned, like helmets, lights, traffic control devices.

There are those cyclists for whom the rules of the road just do not exist, for whatever reason(s).  They get upset and point one finger at drivers, yell and swear at drivers, and will pound on vehicles then speed into the masses, and they believe they are right and it’s their position in life to make drivers lots in life as miserable as possible, because after all they are cyclists.

I suspect that in this we can include the fact that cyclists in the city just don’t or won’t stop, again, because they don’t think the rules apply to them.

THESE PEOPLE ARE FOOLS, AND GIVE A VERY BAD NAME TO THE OTHER 85 % OF THE CYCLING WORLD.

I am going to add my pet pevs now:

1)      Riding on sidewalks

2)      Riding against traffic

3)      Helmets attached to something other than the riders head

4)      No reflective articles including lights

 It is the law that cyclists, just like all other vehicles, MUST stop at stop signs and stop lights.

Stop signs, stop lights, traffic control devices, those include signs such as One Way, and no entry, apply to every vehicle using public roadways.

A bicycle falls under the definition of a vehicle.

 ** Information Tid Bit One - when you are stopped under the Motor Vehicles Act, in this case in British Columbia, you are required to identify yourself to the satisfaction of the Officer stopping you. If you don’t, then you could be arrested until identity can be established.

   I have accepted a Costco card, because it has a name and a picture, albeit it a bad picture, but a picture. If your marks/scars/tattoos are listed in the Police data base, then this can work also.

On the down side, those same marks/scars/tattoos can be used to identify a body.

 

** Information Tid Bit Two - An intersection is that area of the travelling surface, where those surfaces interconnect. Roads, round-abouts, allies, paths, bike paths, sidewalks, at any angles that those using that surface may come into conflict.

Controlled intersection lights, yield signs and those that are mentioned in the BC Motor Vehicle Act are to be adhered to and to be dealt with as they are posted.  That includes speed zone signs, school zones, any sign that is directed to the safety of those who are using that piece of space.

 ** Information Tid Bit Three - There is only one group that is legally able to disregard the motor vehicle act.  If you are around Vancouver you will notice license plates that are white letters on a crimson red back round.  Those are diplomatic plates, those plates usually start letters “CC” – Consular Corp.

 Helmets are required for cyclists when riding in 6 of the 10 Provinces in CANADA.  What changes is the age level of those required to wear the helmet.

I am of the opinion that helmets, worn correctly, safe lives.  The rider is still likely to be injured in a crash or fall, but they are also likely to survive. 

 ** Information Tid Bit Four - Falls account for just under 60 % of all cycling injuries.

So wearing a helmet can assist with lessoning the injuries and the subsequent associated problems.
Intersections is where you are more likely to find Stop Signs and Stop Lights.  Most collisions involving cyclists and vehicles are at intersections.  Anywhere to roads come together, is an intersection.

 The roads were designed for cars by people who didn’t think about cyclists, that we know.  It is up to those of us who ride and teach riding skills to make sure that we can work with the rules as they have been laid out, and make the changes both sides can and accept.

We can be part of the problem or part of the solution.  I believe safe cycling is being part of the solution.

Please ride safely and don’t over ride your abilities, and please wear your helmet and reflective vest.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

     Safe Ride Home

 Chuck

Distracted driving- vehicles and bikes

Blog Entry. 2013-08-30

  Distracted driving- vehicles and bikes

 

This morning is a great morning to be out !!

  It's the last day of August, high wispy clouds, and dry roads.  A perfect day for a ride, be it a local ride, a training ride, or a trek type outing.  I am on my way to Vancouver Island to visit family, and no I am not riding, I am driving.

As I was headed out to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal I did pass a number of riders out on this glorious BC morning.  None of them had lights to the back of their bikes, that I saw.  Only a couple had reflective vests, or anything reflective worn. I will pull out the silver lining, that being that all were wearing helmets.

If you have followed this blog you will know that helmets, reflective vests and lights are a common theme of mine. Safety first, safety last, safety always.

  The radio warned about accidents on this long weekend, saying there will be about 2200 in total, and I am regretfully certain some of those will be fatal in nature and some will involve cyclists.  I am truly sorry for the families that lose a loved one, especially if it didn't have to happen.

  That brings me to the point of this entry- distracted driving.

They said distracted driving is now the single biggest cause of accidents, passing impaired driving. I spoke with an RCMP traffic officer the other day and he said one in three accidents are from distracted driving. Cell phones and electronic devises are the core of this epidemic.

 I must admit that I have looked down at my phone, and I have answered my phone while driving. I am putting my phone aside and leaving it until it is safe to answer. If the President of the United States, or the Prime Minster of CANADA want to call me I am sure they will make contact via hands free for both sides.

 Distracted driving either in a vehicle or on a bike can take many forms. I have spoken about vehicles, so lets refocus back on bikes and cyclists in particular.

Riding is an endeavour that takes full concentration at all times, in my opinion that goes without saying.

   The four core concepts of CAN- BIKE

Manoeuverability   visibility  predictability  communication

   Also referred to  as

SEE,   BE SEEN,  BE HEARD,  BE PREDICTABLE

 I see riders with their ear buds in both ears all the time.  I can only assume they have their favourite tunes going. I won't ask what the sound level is at.

Drivers that use their cell phones and electronic devises are a danger on the road and not watching for and being cognizant of other road users, especially cyclists.

Cyclists that, God forbid, use electronic devises while riding, are as big a danger and hazard as the car drivers.
 Cyclists that use and listen to ear buds in both ears are just as big a danger, and just as distracted. In fact I believe even more of a danger/hazard because they can't hear the vehicle coming up from behind you.

 Bottom line distracted driving and more over distracted riding can be the cause and is becoming the cause of more accidents both vehicles and cyclists from minor to fatal.

Take the time to enjoy your surroundings when you ride.

Listening to tunes is great and has a time and place, but that place isn't while cycling.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

   Safe ride home.

 

Chuck