10 Safely Tips for E-Bike Riders

Riding an e-bike opens up a world of possibilities. With an electric boost to help you along, you can travel farther and faster to explore new places.

But most e-bikes rides inevitably involve sharing the road with cars, which can feel dangerous. As both a long-time urban e-bike commuter and a cycling safety advocate, I want to empower all riders with the knowledge to confidently and safely navigate any traffic situation.

In this in-depth guide, you’ll learn my top 10 road cycling safety tips. I’ll also highlight common hazardous scenarios and how to strategically avoid them. Consider this your masterclass handbook for safely coexisting with cars on city streets!

1. Avoid the Street if You Can – Use Protected Bike Lanes Whenever Possible

This first tip might sound counterintuitive. I’m about to load you up with a bunch of safety advice for riding near cars. But in reality, the best way to ensure safety is to remove the car variable altogether!

If at all possible, opt for protected bike lanes that fully separate you from traffic. Well-designed cycling infrastructure makes a world of difference. Having your own dedicated path minimizes risk and stress exponentially. You can cruise along at your chosen speed surrounded by fellow bicyclists rather than speeding two-ton metal boxes.

So if the option exists in your area, by all means take advantage! Seek out greenways, cycle tracks, bike boulevards, and side paths that allow you to bypass vehicle lanes. Use apps like Strava that incorporate bike lane data into route recommendations. And consider organizing community efforts to implement more dedicated cycling infrastructure citywide.

But the reality remains that at some point in your rides, you’ll likely need to intersect with traffic. So keep all the following safety tips in your back pocket for when you have no choice but to share the asphalt.

2. Maximize Visibility – Be Seen and Be Predictable

When riding in traffic, the name of the game is being seen. You want to announce your presence at all times so drivers are constantly aware of you. This involves both visual cues (so vehicles can spot you) as well as positional cues (so vehicles understand your road positioning).

Let’s break this down into actionables:

• Wear high visibility gear. Opt for bright neon shades highly contrasted against the streetscape. Break up your body outline with reflective strips along moving joints. And consider backlights for riding at night. The easier you are to spot, the lower your chances of being overlooked.
• Mount safety flags on your bike. Vertical poles with colorful fabric help call extra vehicular attention to your location. Flags also indicate lane positioning, making it clear if you’re turning or continuing straight.
• Take the lane whenever warranted. Don’t hug the shoulder, tempting drivers to squeeze by where there’s inadequate space. Assert your right to occupy the full lane when hazards like parked cars or debris prevent safe sharing.
• But also don’t hog the lane without cause. Be considerate and keep right to allow faster traffic to pass when conditions allow it. You want to balance visibility with road courtesy.
• Communicate all maneuvers. Use clear hand signals for turning and stopping so it’s predictable where you’re headed. Signal early to give vehicles time to react accordingly. And make sustained eye contact with drivers whenever possible.

The key is to claim your rightful real estate on the road while also being gracious, prudent and exceedingly apparent. Ride big and ride purposefully. The more drivers can anticipate your moves, the safer your bike commute gets.

3. Obey Traffic Laws Whenever Possible to Ride Predictably

Sticking to the rules of road goes hand in hand with being seen and being predictable. The more you operate your vehicle lawfully, the more predictable your actions become. Unlike cars, bicycles can get away with minor infractions due to their smaller footprint. But just because you can cut corners doesn’t mean you should.

Some examples of good road etiquette include:

• Coming to complete stops at blinking reds and stop signs
• Adhering to painted lane markings whenever clearly marked
• Keeping pace with the flow of traffic rather than lagging or racing ahead
• Using hand signals and yielding properly when turning

This isn’t to say you need to robotically follow every ordinance to the T. Certain rules were created with cars in mind and hamper bikes unfairly. As discussed later, safely bending them through “Idaho Stops” can actually improve safety outcomes by prioritizing momentum.

But in general, strive to operate within expectations of the road. The more you behave as vehicles expect, the more they’ll be able to properly react to you in kind. Ride good and they’ll treat you good.

4. Proactively Shoulder Check All Around

Having great situational awareness is mission critical when riding traffic. Be constantly scanning 360 degrees to monitor potential hazards in every direction:

• Frequently shoulder check behind for approaching vehicles
• Note car doors that could potentially open into your path
• Watch for sudden pedestrian walkouts from between parked vehicles
• Mark outlets that could send turning cars across you
• Clock all intersecting side streets for vehicles running reds/stops

You need to play underwater chess out there, thinking several moves ahead. Identify possible dangers even before they arise so you’ve already formulated contingency plans if needed. Have an escape outlet mapped for every trouble scenario that could realistically unfold.

This level of hyper vigilance takes mental effort but safeguards outcomes. You’ll feel less anxiety knowing you’ve already visualized solutions for the dicey “what if’s”. And just like driving a car, checking mirrors and blindspots should become second nature habit whenever changing speed or direction.

5. Scan Traffic Light Patterns of Intersections

Here’s a pro road reading tip: learn to anticipate signal changes by watching “cascade patterns” at multi-light intersections.

If you see the light behind or perpendicular to you cycle from green to yellow to red, it cues that yours will soon shift as well.

So if your signal is currently red, know that it’s about to turn green based on the compatible timing. This allows you to clip in or start pedaling ahead of time rather than fumbling to react. The reverse is true too – if your green cycles to yellow as the next light turns red, expect yours to follow suit.

Reading signal patterns lets you strategically burn lights legally when safe gaps allow it. But mainly it just helps mentally brace for impending changes rather than being caught off guard. Over time, you’ll get so proficient at visualizing cascades that you subconsciously register patterns as you’re riding along.

6. Master the “Idaho Stop” for Strategic Momentum

Here’s a controversial road hack, but one I firmly endorse: embracing the “Idaho Stop” to maintain riding momentum through intersections.

This maneuver entails treating stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs. Instead of unclipping and putting foot down at every cross street, you strategically slow, scan, and proceed if clear. The goal isn’t to blast through recklessly but rather conserve energy and avoid losing speed unnecessarily.

By law, cyclists must come to complete halts and put foot down just like cars. But the reality is stopping/starting every block wastes immense time and energy output. So Idaho Stops enable rolling through when safe and reasonable.

The key caveat is you must NOT proceed without proper visibility, right of way or time to react. Safety always comes first. Mastering vehicle dynamics and quick starts/stops is paramount. Know your bike control limits and only roll what you can handle.

While not technically legal everywhere, many municipalities turn a blind eye to Idaho Stops due to their efficiency and safety benefits. So educate yourself on local ordinances and use seasoned judgment on when to apply them. Just take care to fully stop when police are present!

7. Match Overall Speed of Traffic Flow

Maintaining adequate speed while riding traffic is arguably your best protection against accidents. Traveling much faster or slower than surrounding vehicles makes you an unpredictable outlier. Drivers struggle to process outliers, heightening risks.

So aim to keep pace with the overall traffic flow as best you can. Ride the crest of the wave without lagging behind or jetting out ahead. This turning-at-the-same-speed principle applies for both straight roads and intersections:

• Accelerate/brake in sync with vehicles around you
• Time lights to enter/exit among platoons of cars
• Use thoroughfare speed to gauge if bike lane warrants taking

Faster riding requires higher skill levels thanks to increased reaction demands. But velocity parity gives drivers more processing time to acknowledge your movement patterns appropriately.

8. When Passing Parked Cars, Leave Atleast One Door Width Distance

One of the most hazardous scenarios for any street rider is the possibility of a parked car door suddenly swinging open. This phenomenon even has a dedicated term – “dooring” – due to its prevalence splitting unsuspecting cyclists.

To mitigate the risky odds of dooring, make sure to ride at least one full door length away from any lined vehicles. This positioning gives ample reaction time in case an occupant prematurely flings their entry wide. Sudden swerves may still be needed but extra spatial cushion lessens likelihood of immediate collision.

If possible, it’s actually preferable to take the full lane when passing parked cars rather than squeezing by. This may temporarily obstruct faster vehicles but ensures no ample room for door clearance. Just make sure to signal your intent so drivers understand why you’re temporarily claiming the through lane.

9. When Filtering Between Lanes, Watch For Motorcycles Trying to Pass

Here’s an tricky scenario that plays out all too often:

You’re lane splitting forward through dense traffic. At the same time, a motorcycle rockets up between lanes looking to pass. An adjacent vehicle tries moving right to let them by…forcing you into a parked car or curb!

I’ve lost count of how many close calls I’ve had from this exact cascading situation. It happens because you and the motorbike simultaneously split the same vehicles on opposite sides. Drivers only register the louder motorcycle revving near their window. By swerving right to accommodate it, they inadvertently force you into harms way.

The solution? Always let motorcycles pass before you filter forward. Their engines and swiftness means cars sense them sooner. So pausing to let them shoot ahead first ensures vehicles won’t lurch into your path mid-overtake.

Then you can safely bring up the rear since cars won’t be jostling for two riders at once. Let the fast traffic blaze the trail then draft behind while vehicles resettle into position. Just make sure to leave ample follow distance in case of sudden braking.

10. Equip Your Bike With Lights and Use Hand Signals

Rounding out our road safety tips let’s cover some key “be seen” gear – namely bike lights and turn signals.

Proper lighting transforms your visibility and keeps you safe when riding at night and in low light. Outfit both front and rear with bright, widely angled illumination. Prioritize rechargeable USB models that eliminate battery waste and save ongoing costs.

And while we touched on hand signals earlier, they warrant reemphasizing as critical communication tools. Drivers can’t read minds, so signals remove all guesswork by indicating upcoming moves. Use them early and often.

Conclusion

Mastering city street riding alongside heavy auto traffic poses real challenges but grants immense freedom. As hopefully these tips have shown, the hazards aren’t insurmountable with the right protocols in place. This guidance comes not to deter from public road riding but to equip all cyclists with confidence and knowledge.

The more we collectively elevate public riding literacy – whether through education, infrastructure progress, or vehicle operating skill – the quicker we normalize bicycles as equal transportation partners. So soak up these lessons then pay them forward to fellow riders in need! With an empowered cycling community supporting one another, we can build an equitable road system made for people, not just cars.