Embarking on daily 110km ebike commutes (totaling 550km per week and over 17,000km in a year) has led me to create this list, hoping to assist fellow riders in ensuring road safety..
- Always seek eye contact with other road users before taking any risks. Especially when crossing any intersections and even if you have the right-of-way.
- If you are commuting regularly on a busy road (or high-risk area), aim to commute at the same time of day and take the same route each time. This way drivers will become accustomed to you and are more likely to view you as 'one of them'.
- If you are commuting on the road, aim to ride during peak hours (especially if you stick to the item mentioned above). The drivers will tend to be more alert and skilled during these times.
- Know where you’re riding and the demography before riding there. Pay more attention in areas where cycling may be viewed negatively and misunderstood.
- Look out for number one (yourself) wherever you ride. Take a little more space than you need on the road as no one else will give it to you.
- Use sufficiently bright front and rear lights even during the day.
- Have your lights set to constant ‘on’ and not flashing. Based on my experience, flashing lights may confuse some inexperienced drivers as they fail to judge travelling speeds. Constant light (opposed to flashing lights) also portrays a sense of familiarity to drivers as they perceive this as just another road user. Drivers will be more alert to something which appears familiar and common to them.
- Be confident and stick to your line whenever possible. Don’t let drivers push you around or become scared and drift too far towards road barriers as this can become dangerous.
- Use a handlebar mirror when riding (especially on an ebike as this doesn’t add any significant weight).
- Avoid the ‘shrapnel pit’ to avoid having to carrying out costly puncture repairs on the regular. The shrapnel pit includes areas which fall outside of the cars wheel paths as this is where rocks and sharp objects are flung from tyre treads and can accumulate over time. It is typically in the shoulders of roads.
- Listen to music to drown out the road noise. Based on my experience, if you adopt the methods as outlined above, then you don’t need to hear the cars. In fact, it may ruin your confidence if you do hear them as drivers may shout at you unreasonably also, loud 4x4 tyres or trucks may sound much closer than what they actually are and make you nervous.
- Maintain a safe speed on shared paths.
- Slow down when approaching unknowns or sharp corners on paths as there may be something unexpected behind the next bend.
Unfortunately, you can never be 100% assured of your safety on the road as a cyclist/ebiker and you should always seek out your own experience and do your own research to stay safe on the roads and bike paths. Commuting on an ebike is a great wat to saving money and get some fresh air. If you haven't tried it before I would highly recommend it!