Safety tips

Riding in the door zone

The door zone: the three or four feet next to parked cars in which you could get hit by an opening door.

How to avoid getting doored:

1. Look inside each parked car before you pass it.
2. If you hear the click of a door handle engaging, swerve outside the door zone.

The up-and-down scan

As you ride, you have to avoid two kinds of things: Hazards on the ground right in front of you, and cars and pedestrians up ahead and on either side. You should always know how both the ground and the traffic around you looks. Don't focus on stuff that doesn't affect you.

1. Look at the ground 20 to 30 feet in front of you.
2. Look up at traffic in front and to the sides
3. Look back down at the ground.

Smart idea:
If you want to check out something interesting on the sidewalk, first do a quick look at potential dangers ahead and to the sides. This gives you a few seconds to stare.

Copyright © 2003 by Wordspace Press. Learn more from the source: Urban Bikers' Tricks & Tips.