What's the most common cause of bicycle accidents? What should I avoid?

Question

I cycle 20 miles through London every day. It's gotta be the most cycle-unfriendly city in the world. With the buses, cabbies and crazy souped-up VW drivers whizzing past me, and the women doing their make-up as they overtake me in heavy traffic, oh and lets not forget that motorists indicate when they feel another CAR might like to know, ... I soil my pants regularly and hurl abuse even more regularly.

But on a more serious note, what is the main cause of cyclists getting taken out, and how can I avoid getting into these situations? Personal experiences and statistical figures welcome

Answer 1

As a car driver, the most danger to cyclist is themselves. Not obeying the highway code.

Answer 2

The main cause of bicycle related accidents is cyclists riding on the pavement and not looking where they are going on the road/paying attention to traffic lights.

A lot of cyclists deserve the abuse that motorists and pedestrians hurl at them.

Answer 3

Stay off the pavements as the pedestrians are now standing up for their rights and will not hesitate to push you off your bicycle then sue you for running into them.

Well that's what I intend to do to the next cycling moron I meet on the pavement. (Of course children are excluded from the above rant.)

Answer 4

to eliminate all odds, stay off the bike.

Answer 5

runny eggs - it can be very embarassing

Answer 6

Visibility is one and not allowing sufficient room for autos to maneuver is second. Drive defensively. This takes practice and experience to fore see a potential accident.

Answer 7

Be aware of anything that could be a potential hazard and react before any situation develops.

Answer 8

This is one of the most common ways to get hit (or almost get hit). A car is pulling out of a side street, parking lot, or driveway on the right.

Get a headlight. If you're riding at night, you should absolutely use a front headlight. It's required by law, anyway. Even for daytime riding, a bright white light that has a flashing mode can make you more visible to motorists who might otherwise Right Cross you. Look for the new LED headlights which last ten times as long on a set of batteries as old-style lights. And helmet- or head-mounted lights are the best, because then you can look directly at the driver to make sure they see your light.

A driver opens his door right in front of you. You run right into it if you can't stop in time.

Ride to the left. Ride far enough to the left that you won't run into any door that's opened unexpectedly. You may be wary about riding so far into the lane that cars can't pass you easily, but you're MUCH more likely to get doored by a parked car if you ride too close to it than you are to get hit from behind by a car which can clearly see you.

You stop to the right of a car that's already waiting at a red light or stop sign. They can't see you. When the light turns green, you move forward, and then they turn right, right into you.

Don't stop in the blind spot. Simply stop BEHIND a car, instead of to the right of it, as per the diagram below. This makes you very visible to traffic on all sides. It's impossible for the car behind you to avoid seeing you when you're right in front of it.

Answer 9

uc I haven't had the excitement in my life time you have everyday. are you maby over sensitive or are you streaching the truth a little.

Answer 10

tram lines !!! a couple of years back i nearly died of a 'handlebar hernia' after slipping on a wet line in heavy traffic and landing stomach first on a handlebar end causing massive internal damage not noticeable on x-ray and only detected by cat scan some hours later!!now have only half my gut and haven't ridden a bike since

Answer 11

1. Always bike on the correct side (left side for UK)

2. Always take up the whole lane if there is only one narrow lane.

3. Watch out for cars turning in front of you and cutting you off

4. Don't ride on crosswalks, unless you are at pedestrian speeds

Answer 12

you can not control what other motorists are doing, especially the ones behind you that you can not see.

visibility is key.  where a reflective vest.

but sooner or later you will be taken out by one of these drivers that you have no control over

stop riding your bike on these roads, it sounds like you don't belong riding on them in the first place.

Answer 13

balancing and be prepared to stop short of any obstruction.

Answer 14

keep an exit in mind.  sometimes it's better to eat concrete than bumper

Answer 15

Main cause is inattentiveness of other drivers, and there's not a lot u can do about that. Best trick is to 'expect the unexpected' (glib self-contradictory statement, I know) and try to foresee stuff.

Remember: everyone else is an idiot - don't expect them to do the right/sensible/obvious thing.