Cycling Tips for Northbourne

IrishPete said :

Where is this Northborne Avenue?

Not sure of the legality, but if you are able to keep up those kinds of speeds and acceleration, I think you’d be fine in the car lanes.

And I think a good safety tip would be NO EARPHONES. Driving and riding (bicycles or motorbikes) use all the senses (taste and smell less so, but smell still plays a part) – if you are blocking out sound, then you’ve reduced your awareness.

IP

I can’t help but get mad that I share to road with dickheads who drive with headphones on.

If cyclists want to break the road rules then let them go. Although I will always try to avoid hitting a cyclist (or any other vehicle for that matter), if they decide to ride through red lights, or across pedestrian crossings, etc, then they run a much greater risk of getting skittled. My car might get scratched, but insurance will cover that and I can recover the excess from the cyclist who caused the accident.

When I used to be a cyclist, I figured it was prudent to consider my own safety above taking the moral high ground.

We’re all grown ups here. If you want to break the rules, or take big risks, don’t cry when things don’t work out for you.

Postalgeek said :

Pitchka said :

troll-sniffer said :

Pitchka said :

Cycling Tips for Northbourne – use the path..

Tutorial over.

Yep, I’m sure if you were offered an alternative in your car that required you to stop every 20-30 secs and give way to anything and everything (like you do when the path meets the road) you’d jump at the chance wouldn’t you?

idiot.

Why should you be given the same rights as a car, idiot…

Considering the amount of cyclists i see daily not using hand signals, riding through red lights etc (in comparions to cars, which out number bikes at least 100 to 1), they dont deserve to use the f’n roads.

Seems they are immune to the road rules, when it suits them.

Take your fat ass, your $200 bike and cheap lycra elsewhere.

Hope i havent hurt your feelings….. again….

If so, click here…. http://newblackwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tissues.jpg

So you think a entire group doesn’t deserve to use the road because individuals don’t indicate and go through red lights?

So you agree then that drivers, who kill by a factor of several thousand times more people than cyclists when they ignore rules, should be the first to go.

Careful. Your out-group homogeneity bias is starting to show.

Dont use big words, they confuse me…

People who break the road rules, bike or car, should be the first to go… no doubt…

Pitchka said :

Why should you be given the same rights as a car, idiot…

Considering the amount of cyclists i see daily not using hand signals, riding through red lights etc (in comparions to cars, which out number bikes at least 100 to 1), they dont deserve to use the f’n roads.

Seems they are immune to the road rules, when it suits them.

Take your fat ass, your $200 bike and cheap lycra elsewhere.

Hope i havent hurt your feelings….. again….

If so, click here…. http://newblackwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tissues.jpg

Indeed, cyclists are the only people who do the wrong thing.

Pitchka said :

troll-sniffer said :

Pitchka said :

Cycling Tips for Northbourne – use the path..

Tutorial over.

Yep, I’m sure if you were offered an alternative in your car that required you to stop every 20-30 secs and give way to anything and everything (like you do when the path meets the road) you’d jump at the chance wouldn’t you?

idiot.

Why should you be given the same rights as a car, idiot…

Considering the amount of cyclists i see daily not using hand signals, riding through red lights etc (in comparions to cars, which out number bikes at least 100 to 1), they dont deserve to use the f’n roads.

Seems they are immune to the road rules, when it suits them.

Take your fat ass, your $200 bike and cheap lycra elsewhere.

Hope i havent hurt your feelings….. again….

If so, click here…. http://newblackwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tissues.jpg

So you think a entire group doesn’t deserve to use the road because individuals don’t indicate and go through red lights? So you agree then that drivers, who kill by a factor of several thousand times more people than cyclists when they ignore rules, should be the first to go.

Careful. Your out-group homogeneity bias is starting to show.

IrishPete said :

Where is this Northborne Avenue?

Not sure of the legality, but if you are able to keep up those kinds of speeds and acceleration, I think you’d be fine in the car lanes.

And I think a good safety tip would be NO EARPHONES. Driving and riding (bicycles or motorbikes) use all the senses (taste and smell less so, but smell still plays a part) – if you are blocking out sound, then you’ve reduced your awareness.

IP

Cyclists wear earphones to block out the infantile, ill-considered and ill-directed verbal attacks on them by the occupants of horseless carriages.

aussielyn said :

Do you feel comfortable being next to, ½ metre from a B-Double?

I could be alone here, but with 30 years plus commuting experience in Canberra, Sydney and the UK I’d have to say that I feel much safer riding close to big vehicles than I do near tradies, P platers or taxis.

I’ve found that drivers of big vehicles generally know exactly how big they are, where they are on the road and where they’re going, and if you don’t do anything stupid you’ll be fine. I’m not saying it’s a pleasant experience, but it’s less of a hazard than you might expect.

The only exception to this rule seems to be government buses. Not every (or even many) government bus drivers are bad drivers, but if there’s a bad driver to be found on a large vehicle they’ll be behind the wheel of a government bus!

troll-sniffer said :

Pitchka said :

Cycling Tips for Northbourne – use the path..

Tutorial over.

Yep, I’m sure if you were offered an alternative in your car that required you to stop every 20-30 secs and give way to anything and everything (like you do when the path meets the road) you’d jump at the chance wouldn’t you?

idiot.

Why should you be given the same rights as a car, idiot…

Considering the amount of cyclists i see daily not using hand signals, riding through red lights etc (in comparions to cars, which out number bikes at least 100 to 1), they dont deserve to use the f’n roads.

Seems they are immune to the road rules, when it suits them.

Take your fat ass, your $200 bike and cheap lycra elsewhere.

Hope i havent hurt your feelings….. again….

If so, click here…. http://newblackwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tissues.jpg

Where is this Northborne Avenue?

Not sure of the legality, but if you are able to keep up those kinds of speeds and acceleration, I think you’d be fine in the car lanes.

And I think a good safety tip would be NO EARPHONES. Driving and riding (bicycles or motorbikes) use all the senses (taste and smell less so, but smell still plays a part) – if you are blocking out sound, then you’ve reduced your awareness.

IP

gasman said :

+1 on mirror.

I use a Take-a-Look rear-view mirror that clips to my riding glass. Small, adjustable, rock-solid, cheap.

Being 150% aware means knowing what is behind you at all times.

Once you have ridden with one of these in traffic for a few weeks, you will feel naked without it.

No, being 150% aware means being superhuman. 100% aware is as much as anyone can hope for. Roll on compulsory Year 12 mathematics in the ACT school system.

IP

aussielyn said :

Thanks for posting. I have always thought that cycling on Northbourne was dangerous and this clip confirms it. 150% attention is needed! What happens if you hit an oil slick, you are a casualty? Do you feel comfortable being next to, ½ metre from a B-Double?

Statistics should be published on cycling fatalities and accidents and cycling black spots identified.

Safety,safety,safety!

If you think 150% attention is possible, then you won’t be able to interpret the statistics.

IP

Pitchka said :

Cycling Tips for Northbourne – use the path..

Tutorial over.

Yep, I’m sure if you were offered an alternative in your car that required you to stop every 20-30 secs and give way to anything and everything (like you do when the path meets the road) you’d jump at the chance wouldn’t you?

idiot.

Good tips – I didn’t know GoPro cameras record speed!

I had to laugh at tip 10.3 “let faster, shaved legs cyclists go ahead” – in my experience, these are usually the slowest moving off from traffic lights, almost invariably trying to start off in top gear. You sir, may be an exception though, having almost reached ‘cruising’ speed before clearing the intersection.

tim_c said :

Jono said :

patrick_keogh said :

Just for you… there has not been a cyclist fatality on Northbourne Avenue in the last eleven years at least. I do not know that there has ever been a cyclist fatality on this road. Over the last decade on ACT roads there have been (I think) five fatalities, compared to more than twice that for pedestrian fatalities and around 40 fatalities for occupants of motor vehicles.

Since the start of 2000, there have indeed been 5 cyclist deaths in the ACT. Of those 5, one was on Fitz’s hill, down near Namadgi, one was just south of Tharwa, and one was the chap playing around on his electric bike last year without a helmet (was that in Flynn?). Of the two that you might consider to be Canberra traffic related, one was in Wanniassa, and I don’t remember the details of the final one.
For the same period in the ACT, there have been 38 people killed on motorbikes; 29 pedestrian deaths and 121 people have died in cars.

There was one on the Gunghastly Drive Extension in the last couple of years? I even noticed a memorial there yesterday (southbound near the Bruce Stadium).

His tragic death was the result of a medical condition, I don’t think it would be counted as being a traffic accident.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/cycling-community-mourns-brilliant-teammate-20120814-245ig.html

bainbridge said :

The draft was dubious at best and completely unnecessary. Sure you were keeping an eye on the road ahead.. on the left. But what happens when someone cuts in front of the bus from the right? The bus driver can’t see you there, even with your head poking around the corner every few seconds.

It’s not only you going into the back of the bus, you’d walk away from that with minor injuries. It’s the cars tailgating the bus (as they do on NB) that would then crush you between them and the bus.

I have no doubt you’re an experienced rider but that bit just seemed like a completely unnecessary risk.

It may also be illegal – depending how close you are… (ref. p99, ACT Road Rules Handbook)
“The rider of a bicycle must not ride within 2 metres of the rear of a moving motor vehicle continuously for more than 200 metres.”

Jono said :

patrick_keogh said :

Just for you… there has not been a cyclist fatality on Northbourne Avenue in the last eleven years at least. I do not know that there has ever been a cyclist fatality on this road. Over the last decade on ACT roads there have been (I think) five fatalities, compared to more than twice that for pedestrian fatalities and around 40 fatalities for occupants of motor vehicles.

Since the start of 2000, there have indeed been 5 cyclist deaths in the ACT. Of those 5, one was on Fitz’s hill, down near Namadgi, one was just south of Tharwa, and one was the chap playing around on his electric bike last year without a helmet (was that in Flynn?). Of the two that you might consider to be Canberra traffic related, one was in Wanniassa, and I don’t remember the details of the final one.
For the same period in the ACT, there have been 38 people killed on motorbikes; 29 pedestrian deaths and 121 people have died in cars.

There was one on the Gunghastly Drive Extension in the last couple of years? I even noticed a memorial there yesterday (southbound near the Bruce Stadium).

Cycling Tips for Northbourne – use the path..

Tutorial over.

Jono said :

patrick_keogh said :

Just for you… there has not been a cyclist fatality on Northbourne Avenue in the last eleven years at least. I do not know that there has ever been a cyclist fatality on this road. Over the last decade on ACT roads there have been (I think) five fatalities, compared to more than twice that for pedestrian fatalities and around 40 fatalities for occupants of motor vehicles.

Since the start of 2000, there have indeed been 5 cyclist deaths in the ACT. Of the two that you might consider to be Canberra traffic related, one was in Wanniassa, and I don’t remember the details of the final one.

The one in Wanniassa was because a mongrel by the name of Rhys Wilkins chose to broke several road rules and drive while he didn’t have a valid licence, and left hooked and killed James Keenan.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/serial-traffic-offender-gets-an-early-release-20111122-1v2sr.html and discussed here:

http://the-riotact.com/drink-driving-busts-roll-on/59912 – and his “fan club” deliberately avoided answering the question of “so why WAS Rhys driving that day…?”

http://bicyclecanberra.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/driver-found-guilty.html

The draft was dubious at best and completely unnecessary. Sure you were keeping an eye on the road ahead.. on the left. But what happens when someone cuts in front of the bus from the right? The bus driver can’t see you there, even with your head poking around the corner every few seconds.

It’s not only you going into the back of the bus, you’d walk away from that with minor injuries. It’s the cars tailgating the bus (as they do on NB) that would then crush you between them and the bus.

I have no doubt you’re an experienced rider but that bit just seemed like a completely unnecessary risk.

Regarding headchecks, you’ll fail your motorcyle riders license if you don’t do head checks. In fact if more people did head checks and mirror checks in all kinds of transport the roads would be better.

I know I always like to have an idea where traffic is, just so i don’t get people sneaking up and sitting in my blind spot.

That said today I stopped at a pedestrian crossing to let a guy cross (like you should!) and parked just nearby and the old guy thanked me for letting him cross. He had right of way but i appreciated his thank you all the same.

Interesting Catalyst video which, among other things, illustrates why car drivers perceive that bikes ‘come out of nowhere’ – http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3857163.htm

As a daily rider of Northbourne, I could not agree with this video more. It is an excellent example of assertive riding that will keep you safe as possible.

It would be great to see this video edited for drivers, especially those that may not understand riders actions (eg the cyclist in the roundabout epic on RA a few months ago)

Rollersk8r said :

Mostly agree, except for the point on speed. …. Personally I think you’re better off coasting around 30kmh and ready with the brakes, rather than trying to maintain 40-odd.

I can manage 30 and-a-bit on Northbourne and still pass many.
The parallels, Cowper St is scary,
The path to the west, its nice but I’m not comfortable doing much more than 20.

I usually have a mirror, but the advantage of headchecks is people can see you doing it.

Jono said :

Since the start of 2000, there have indeed been 5 cyclist deaths in the ACT. Of those 5, one was on Fitz’s hill, down near Namadgi, one was just south of Tharwa, and one was the chap playing around on his electric bike last year without a helmet (was that in Flynn?). Of the two that you might consider to be Canberra traffic related, one was in Wanniassa, and I don’t remember the details of the final one.
For the same period in the ACT, there have been 38 people killed on motorbikes; 29 pedestrian deaths and 121 people have died in cars.

Thanks Jono. Of course (and I know you’ll appreciate this) it doesn’t mean that drivers and cyclists don’t need to be vigilant and be ever alert for the risks. Of course there is a risk and all road users must do their best to make it a safe place for others, pedestrians, cyclists, mopeds, cars and even buses and on our behalf government must be trying to make roads safer too.

aussielyn’s message may be based on some unwarranted assumptions. Indeed watching someone safely ride down Northbourne seems to “confirm” the exact opposite for some viewers. It does look dangerous to some eyes and I guess this is consistent with my advice that it isn’t for everyone. I personally find the shared paths and footpaths far more dangerous, especially at speeds over 30kph, but if I was dawdling along at 10kph they might be OK whereas Northbourne might not be. The ability to act as traffic, to think like traffic, to accelerate like traffic makes a difference.

Yes you run a risk whenever you get out of bed, but the real evidence is that the risk of death or serious injury from cycling is less that the balancing risk of diabetes, heart attack etc.

patrick_keogh said :

Just for you… there has not been a cyclist fatality on Northbourne Avenue in the last eleven years at least. I do not know that there has ever been a cyclist fatality on this road. Over the last decade on ACT roads there have been (I think) five fatalities, compared to more than twice that for pedestrian fatalities and around 40 fatalities for occupants of motor vehicles.

Since the start of 2000, there have indeed been 5 cyclist deaths in the ACT. Of those 5, one was on Fitz’s hill, down near Namadgi, one was just south of Tharwa, and one was the chap playing around on his electric bike last year without a helmet (was that in Flynn?). Of the two that you might consider to be Canberra traffic related, one was in Wanniassa, and I don’t remember the details of the final one.
For the same period in the ACT, there have been 38 people killed on motorbikes; 29 pedestrian deaths and 121 people have died in cars.

aussielyn said :

Thanks for posting. I have always thought that cycling on Northbourne was dangerous and this clip confirms it. 150% attention is needed! What happens if you hit an oil slick, you are a casualty? Do you feel comfortable being next to, ½ metre from a B-Double?

Statistics should be published on cycling fatalities and accidents and cycling black spots identified.

Safety,safety,safety!

Just for you… there has not been a cyclist fatality on Northbourne Avenue in the last eleven years at least. I do not know that there has ever been a cyclist fatality on this road. Over the last decade on ACT roads there have been (I think) five fatalities, compared to more than twice that for pedestrian fatalities and around 40 fatalities for occupants of motor vehicles.

In general (yes I know this is a generalisation) cyclists are fairly good judges of the relative safety of different routes and good at matching routes to their riding skill level and style. If I look at the number of cyclist accidents (not just fatalities) for the past three years there is a very strong correlation with the number of cyclists that use a route. In other words, just because a route has a larger number of crashes does not mean it is less safe: the number of crashes per cyclist may be lower than average but it will still appear to be a “black spot” in terms of numbers of accidents. The four of five locations with the largest number of cyclist crashes are on the two or three routes with the largest volume of cycling traffic. Conversely if only one cyclist a year uses a road then it is likely to have a low number of crashes even if it is unsafe.

Having said that, ACT cycling black spots are indeed published, Google would be your friend if only you asked 🙂

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/bike-black-spots-named-20130504-2j0m2.html

Mostly agree, except for the point on speed. Sure, go crazy on the longer unbroken stretches, however my tip is generally to slow down coming in to the Braddon area. I’ve been hit by a car turning in to a driveway, and had several other close calls, especially with people turning in to James Court without warning. Personally I think you’re better off coasting around 30kmh and ready with the brakes, rather than trying to maintain 40-odd.

Nice to see the positive comments.
Just to clarify, this isn’t my video, it’s a friend of mine’s.

Oh, and I like that remix of Tom’s Diner!

Good video. As someone who both drives cars and rides pushbikes, I can see why cyclists / motorists can be at each other’s throats, especially coming from good old aggressive Sydney! It’s great to see it from a cyclist’s perspective and to see some good tips for the cyclists too, especially regarding the lights (The cyclists running reds issue infuriates me, and I’ve nearly killed a courier cyclist in Sydney’s CBD because he didn’t feel the need to stop at the lights. Just missed him though).

Another thing you should probably add to the video is notes about lighting and high visibility clothing. I did hit one cyclist who came out in front of me shooting out of an intersection. He got away with a few scabs, he could get up and walk. However the worst thing was that he had made no attempt to light up his bike or invest in brighter coloured clothing. Fortunately, Canberrans have been pretty good with their lighting arrangements, even adding lights to their helmets.

+1 on mirror.

I use a Take-a-Look rear-view mirror that clips to my riding glass. Small, adjustable, rock-solid, cheap.

Being 150% aware means knowing what is behind you at all times.

Once you have ridden with one of these in traffic for a few weeks, you will feel naked without it.

Tip:

Get a rear view mirror. Will make you twice as safe as that quaint head-check routine you suggest.

Good tips!

I look forward to reading the troll comments when they’ve been approved!

Great hands-on demo. Thanks.

Absolutely agree to all your tips + wanted to add some of my own:
1. Use a mirror. Allows you to be more attentive to what’s happening on the road so you’re less likely to encounter unfortunate surprises, not only from traffic, but also from other, stronger cyclists.
2. Most bus drivers I encountered are very nice, and if you’re nearing a bus stop, they will usually slow down to let you overtake. Go faster and wave when you past the bus stop to encourage that behavior.

PS, today was a bit of a challenge riding on Northbourne, not only there was a lot of traffic, but the wind, boy, the wind blew extremely strong. We don’t seem to have much luck with Floriade weather. Something in the flowers, me think.

Thanks for posting. I have always thought that cycling on Northbourne was dangerous and this clip confirms it. 150% attention is needed! What happens if you hit an oil slick, you are a casualty? Do you feel comfortable being next to, ½ metre from a B-Double?

Statistics should be published on cycling fatalities and accidents and cycling black spots identified.

Safety,safety,safety!

Watchable if you turn the sound off.

Thanks OYM, a great tutorial.

As a driver I appreciate your final tip when I’m doing the right thing.

PS That 0-40 in a matter of seconds off the lights was pretty impressive.