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Say the speed limit is 30, and you can pedal along at 15 mph. If you ride with traffic and get hit, your relative speed at collision will be 15 mph and the col

by jff 12y ago

Say the speed limit is 30, and you can pedal along at 15 mph. If you ride with traffic and get hit, your relative speed at collision will be 15 mph and the collision will push you away from the car. If you ride against traffic and get hit, you're dealing with a head-on collision at 45 mph relative speed. That's why I always ride with traffic.

Alupis 12y ago
Probably a decent thing to do in high-traffic/large cities. But in more rural areas, where speed limits are 45-65MPH, getting hit is deadly no matter which direction you are riding. It's safer to see oncomming traffic in this situation so you can get out of the way.
- michael_h 12y ago
  If you are removing yourself from the road for _every single_ car, regardless of the direction of travel, then maybe it doesn't matter. If you are going to stay on the road with other vehicles: You _never_ ride against traffic. Drivers are less likely to see you if you are biking where they normally don't anticipate any traffic. Even in a rural environment, biking with the flow of traffic gives the driver better visual cues that something else is on the road (you) and they have more time to plan their approach. It also gives them more time to find something appropriate to throw at you.
  - Alupis 12y ago
    that doesn't make sense. you are on their right-hand side no matter which side of the street your ride on. the only difference is you see them or you don't (depends which way you are facing).
    - michael_h 12y ago
      ... If you ride against traffic, then you still "don't see" the vehicles that are going in the same direction as you, and you are now on their left. Sure, they're on the opposite side of the road, but you don't know if they are paying attention or what. Thus: no more safety gained by riding on the opposite side of the road, where you aren't supposed to be. The most dangerous area is, obviously, an intersection, where being on the wrong side of the road is demonstrably less safe[1]. After that, it's the blind spot over the crest of a hill. If you are going against the flow of traffic, you will be moving your slowest when you are in that blind spot. Moving with the flow of traffic -> moving quickly through that blind spot. Knowing when a vehicle is coming up behind you, with plenty of time to react if necessary, is solved with a $12 helmet mirror. [1] http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/riskfactors.htm http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/riskfactors.htm
ceejayoz 12y ago
That's valid assuming I have an equal chance of getting hit in both situations.

by jff 12y ago

Alupis 12y ago

Probably a decent thing to do in high-traffic/large cities. But in more rural areas, where speed limits are 45-65MPH, getting hit is deadly no matter which direction you are riding. It's safer to see oncomming traffic in this situation so you can get out of the way.

michael_h 12y ago
If you are removing yourself from the road for _every single_ car, regardless of the direction of travel, then maybe it doesn't matter. If you are going to stay on the road with other vehicles: You _never_ ride against traffic. Drivers are less likely to see you if you are biking where they normally don't anticipate any traffic. Even in a rural environment, biking with the flow of traffic gives the driver better visual cues that something else is on the road (you) and they have more time to plan their approach. It also gives them more time to find something appropriate to throw at you.
- Alupis 12y ago
  that doesn't make sense. you are on their right-hand side no matter which side of the street your ride on. the only difference is you see them or you don't (depends which way you are facing).
  - michael_h 12y ago
    ... If you ride against traffic, then you still "don't see" the vehicles that are going in the same direction as you, and you are now on their left. Sure, they're on the opposite side of the road, but you don't know if they are paying attention or what. Thus: no more safety gained by riding on the opposite side of the road, where you aren't supposed to be. The most dangerous area is, obviously, an intersection, where being on the wrong side of the road is demonstrably less safe[1]. After that, it's the blind spot over the crest of a hill. If you are going against the flow of traffic, you will be moving your slowest when you are in that blind spot. Moving with the flow of traffic -> moving quickly through that blind spot. Knowing when a vehicle is coming up behind you, with plenty of time to react if necessary, is solved with a $12 helmet mirror. [1] http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/riskfactors.htm http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/riskfactors.htm

ceejayoz 12y ago

That's valid assuming I have an equal chance of getting hit in both situations.