8 Tips for cycling in Cambridge safely
We’ve said this once and I’m sure we’ll say it again cycling is by far the best way to get around Cambridge. However, it’s not always straight forward for everyone especially if you’re new to the city and or cycling. So to help you out we have put together 8 top tips which will help you stay safe and enjoy cycling around Cambridge.
Make sure your bike is up to the task - Sounds simple but it is something that is often overlooked. You’ll be relying on your bike a lot when riding it so make sure you’re confident in its ability. We’d recommend yearly services at a bike shop like Primo Cycles as a minimum to check things like tyre conditions, brakes, gears, and chain.
Appropriate clothing - a large number of people cycle around Cambridge are doing so as a mode of transport so putting on lycra isn’t the most suitable option. The key things that you want to remember are that a bike has moving parts and you don’t want to get anything caught in these, for example, the chain. Another thing to think of is to have good footwear and to be comfortable. For a more in-depth look of what to wear when cycling to work you can check out this post we created ‘What to wear when cycling in Cambridge’.
Stick to the rules of the road - This may sound like an obvious one but unfortunately, its one that a lot of people ignore, is the cause of many accidents and why many other road users don’t like cyclists. If you’re unsure refer to the highway code.
Be confident - When cycling on the road you’re often the smallest object on the road. Being clear and confident in your decision, signals and manoeuvres makes things a lot easier for other road users to know what you’re doing and where you’re going.
Use cycle infrastructure - Cycling is being pushed a sensible and sustainable mode of transport in the UK and cities like Cambridge which are known for cycling have made steps to improve the infrastructure for cycling. Taking advantage of these will often be safer, get you to places quicker and be more enjoyable.
Speed - The fastest space isn’t always the best option for a variety of reasons and the slowest is the same. When cycling it’s easier to control the bike if you’re at a consistent speed plus is easier for other road users to judge your approach and rate of movement. Be aware of your surroundings and adjust your speed gradually, sharp braking and accelerating will not only tire you out quickly but will also cause more problems for other road users.
Stay alert - This should be an obvious one however often once you become accustomed to a journey or surrounding people start to switch off and go into autopilot. This is possibly the worst thing that you can do as no two days on a bike will be the same. Keep an eye for things like cars pulling out, car doors being opened, other cyclists and pedestrians stepping out into the road.
Engage and connect with other road users - Make sure people are aware of you and see what you’re doing. It could be as simple as making eye contact with other road users before making a manoeuvre, using your bell to make people aware of you, or just giving a nob of the head all these will help others notice you and give you confidence in your safety when out on the road.