Riding safety on electric...tips?

[morphix]

As I gain more riding experience with my electric bike it's apparent the increased risk of accidents with electric bikes over normal bikes.. obviously electric bikes are technically vehicles. Anything capable of moving by itself has the increased potential to crash into someone or something. Does anyone have any tips to avoid collisions and ride electric more safely?

Here are a couple of tips of my own...

1) Don't ride pedal assist on footpaths or in heavily built up residential areas. I find riding pedal assist on footpaths is a no no. I either switch off power or use the throttle on low so I can slow down to a crawl, or stop power quick for pedestrians..they have a habit of popping out from behind corners and hedges.

2) When stopping at traffic lights or give way signs I switch to throttle or lowest pedal assist level, with hands on brakes.. when I first started riding I frequently made the mistake of leaving bike in highest pedal assist and the bike would run over the give away or traffic lights if I my pedal moved slightly..

 

[Mussels]

Even with full assist switched on I'm far from the fastest pushbike on the roads so I just ride like any other quick cyclist. Chaos is usual on my commute, at one red light this morning I estimated about 30 cyclists waiting with me, it's like critical mass every morning.
The only thing I really avoid are the cycle superhighways, they are usually congested, slow and dangerous so I'd rather ride on main roads.

 

[morphix]

Even with full assist switched on I'm far from the fastest pushbike on the roads so I just ride like any other quick cyclist. Chaos is usual on my commute, at one red light this morning I estimated about 30 cyclists waiting with me, it's like critical mass every morning.
The only thing I really avoid are the cycle superhighways, they are usually congested, slow and dangerous so I'd rather ride on main roads.

Phew that sounds like a nightmare! How many of these cyclists are electric, do you see many others? Do you ever see cyclists crash into each other?

Where I live cyclists are few and occasional sight, it's mostly country lanes or bus route lanes.. everyone uses cars even just to drive up the road to the shops for a newspaper, much to my annoyance as they all park outside my place..

 

[stevebills]

When riding on footpaths always look out for dogs and old people

I always look for cars and police when I go through red lights for my own safety

 

[morphix]

When riding on footpaths always look out for dogs and old peole

I always look for cars and police when I go through red lights for my own safety

Haha steve you crack me up. When I was riding last weekend I noticed the police had pulled some motorist over..one of them took a good look at my bike as I went past... a bit later they over took me on a main road and then reversed and parked up a farm lane overlooking the main road... laying in wait they were, like crocodiles ready to ambush.. I thought aye aye am I gonna get pulled and checked over...but they paid no attention to me, must of been on the look out for speeders..

 

[HarryB]

Even with full assist switched on I'm far from the fastest pushbike on the roads so I just ride like any other quick cyclist. Chaos is usual on my commute, at one red light this morning I estimated about 30 cyclists waiting with me, it's like critical mass every morning.
The only thing I really avoid are the cycle superhighways, they are usually congested, slow and dangerous so I'd rather ride on main roads.

I have noticed more people are waiting with me at red lights now. I think in the case of drivers it must be "careful what you wish for". When the lights turn green the large number of bikes in front of them hold them up a lot more than if many had filtered through safely on the red.

 

[theskip1]

never ride to close to the kerb. it seems to be an unwriten law that says the closer you are to the kerb the more chances drivers will take to get pass you.

 

[Scottyf]

To be honest depending on the traffic I usually take a commading postion on the road if traffic is slow moving. This nigates the idea that a car motorist will over take you dangerously.

I use most of the techniques picked up on my motorbike DAS and advanced course to help with riding on the road.

Over shoulder checks and just being vigulant are key with any road saftey.

However I do blat through Birmingham city center on the bike down the high streets etc on the morning and weaving through the walkers can be an interesting task.

 

[Mussels]

Phew that sounds like a nightmare! How many of these cyclists are electric, do you see many others? Do you ever see cyclists crash into each other?

Where I live cyclists are few and occasional sight, it's mostly country lanes or bus route lanes.. everyone uses cars even just to drive up the road to the shops for a newspaper, much to my annoyance as they all park outside my place..

I've seen some electric bikes but very few, surprisingly I've never seen cyclists crash into each other. I've had a few near misses, bounced off some cars and fallen off due to poor tyre grip but never had anything I'd describe as an accident.

I have noticed more people are waiting with me at red lights now. I think in the case of drivers it must be "careful what you wish for". When the lights turn green the large number of bikes in front of them hold them up a lot more than if many had filtered through safely on the red.

In several places in London the ASL boxes are too small and if cyclists never jump the red lights then the guys at the back end up in the middle of traffic and it's not good. Many cyclists jump many red lights and in general it works well, road design is for cars and there are a lot of places where it makes sense to interpret the law your own way.

 

[morphix]

I've seen some electric bikes but very few, surprisingly I've never seen cyclists crash into each other. I've had a few near misses, bounced off some cars and fallen off due to poor tyre grip but never had anything I'd describe as an accident.


In several places in London the ASL boxes are too small and if cyclists never jump the red lights then the guys at the back end up in the middle of traffic and it's not good. Many cyclists jump many red lights and in general it works well, road design is for cars and there are a lot of places where it makes sense to interpret the law your own way.

Just wanted to check something...it's not legal for a bike on the road to go over red lights is it? But there's nothing to stop you moving to the pavement and going that way I guess, assuming there's a path available?

 

[Mussels]

Just wanted to check something...it's not legal for a bike on the road to go over red lights is it? But there's nothing to stop you moving to the pavement and going that way I guess, assuming there's a path available?

It's not legal to ride on the pavement but as soon as you step off the bike you become a pedestrian. If every bike rider in London started pushing their bikes across stop lines and pedestrian crossings there would be a much bigger problem.

 

[Scottyf]

I'm always running red lights, never really thought it was a problem.
Always look though just incase the plod may be about...

I don't mean I go through them when the other directional traffic is mid flow. Just start pedalling alot earlier when the lights are changing...

 

[stevebills]

never ride to close to the kerb. it seems to be an unwriten law that says the closer you are to the kerb the more chances drivers will take to get pass you.

The kerb always takes me out first

 

[Mussels]

I'm always running red lights, never really thought it was a problem.
Always look though just incase the plod may be about...

I don't mean I go through them when the other directional traffic is mid flow. Just start pedalling alot earlier when the lights are changing...

I think that's normal, I see plod stopping a lot of cyclists but usually it's clearly unsafe riding.
I saw a speed trap in Greenwich park a few days ago and the pursuit vehicles were pushbikes, I hope they weren't targetting speeding cyclists.

 

[flecc]

It's not legal to ride on the pavement but as soon as you step off the bike you become a pedestrian.

Yes, here's the ruling:

Anyone pushing a bicycle is a "foot-passenger" (Crank v Brooks [1980] RTR 441) and is not "riding" it (Selby). In his judgment in the Court of Appeal in Crank v Brooks, Waller LJ said: "In my judgment a person who is walking across a pedestrian crossing pushing a bicycle, having started on the pavement on one side on her feet and not on the bicycle, and going across pushing the bicycle with both feet on the ground so to speak is clearly a 'foot passenger'. If for example she had been using it as a scooter by having one foot on the pedal and pushing herself along, she would not have been a 'foot passenger'. But the fact that she had the bicycle in her hand and was walking does not create any difference from a case where she is walking without a bicycle in her hand."
.

 

[allen-uk]

When riding on footpaths always look out for dogs and old people

I always look for cars and police when I go through red lights for my own safety

Oi! I AM an old people (and ride a Wisper), so where do I come in your scheme of things?

Not too keen on the 'when I go through red lights' bit either!


Allen (smiley old face)

 

[Scottyf]

If I stop I get warm... lol

 

[stevebills]

Go on clothes line the bastard!

 

[Bikealot]

Remember the door safety zone when passing parked cars.

I once saw a postman who should have taken note of this. His sudden crash to the ground was spectacular, almost gymnastic, but very painful. The driver started to blame the postman for riding too close but with several witnesses who were clearly prepared to get involved (including me) changed to making an unreserved apology.

 

[allen-uk]

Remember the door safety zone when passing parked cars.

.

I know it's true, and I know it makes sense, but the width of roads and the lines of parked cars on both sides make it an impossible rule to keep to, whether in a car or on a bike.

I take it as 'guidance' in both cases, and keep a very close eye on any car which appears to have occupants!

A.