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Bikes are slower, quieter, and less visible than most other vehicles. So you should make drivers notice you, and try to communicate with them. And because a lot of bicyclists don’t follow traffic laws, drivers don’t always know what you’ll do—even if you think it’s obvious. Here are some ways to communicate.
Use
Hand Signals
Whenever you change lanes or turn, signal with your arm. If you’re about to move in an unexpected way—like around a bunch of glass—point to the part of the road you’re moving to. Also signal when slowing down—you don’t have brake lights! The law says you must signal 100 feet before making a turn, so you might have to signal while shifting and braking—but don’t do it if you’ll lose control. You can yell your intentions, but remember that noisy traffic might prevent others from hearing you. (Note that the law requires signaling a right turn with your left arm, but many cyclists use the right-arm signal shown.)
Yielding
When you’re waiting for a car to pass you before
you cross an intersection or change lanes, the driver might not realize you’re
yielding. Wave at the driver to go ahead. Also, when drivers correctly yield
the right of way, it’s a good idea to thank them by waving or nodding.
Pretend
You’re Invisible
In some situations—like a car turning in front of
you—it’s a good idea to pretend the driver doesn’t see
you. Know in advance how you’ll avoid that driver. Can you stop in
time? If not, slow down or plan how you’d steer out of the way.
How to decide whether a driver sees you
- Watch for the car to move slower than it would if you weren’t there.
- Look at where the driver’s eyes are. If
they’re not looking at you, slow down and be ready to get out
of the way.
Make
Noise
Just as a car honks its horn when it comes out of an alley,
you should make noise when you emerge from places where people can’t
see you—like when you emerge from between two vehicles to get into
an intersection. Use a horn, bell, or whistle, or yell if you have to.
Headphones
Don’t wear them! As a bicyclist in traffic, you can hear more of what’s going on around you than motorists can. In fact, people you share the road with expect you to hear their engines, horns, or shouted warnings. If you wear headphones you might not hear something that can help you avoid a crash.