BE SAFE when cycling....Bicycle defensively!

Although you may have the right-of-way, take responsibility for your own safety by riding defensively.  Be aware of vehicles, stopped and moving, and anticipate what they may do so you can respond accordingly.

When approaching an intersection occupied by a car, even if you have the right-of-way, make eye contact with the driver whenever possible.  Do not assume the driver sees you.  Establishing eye contact lets you know that the driver at least sees you.  The car still may go so proceed through the intersection with caution.

Drivers often can’t judge how fast a bicycle is traveling and will either pull out or cut in front of you because they think they have the time.  Be aware of such maneuvers, especially if you are traveling fast.

BE SAFE when cycling.... Always ride with the traffic pattern.

With very few exceptions, the safest way to ride is going with the flow of the normal traffic pattern.  At higher automobile speeds this can be difficult however. Bicyclists who ride with traffic get where they're going faster and, according to scientific crash studies, have about five times fewer crashes than bicyclists who make up their own rules (J. Forester; Effective Cycling. Cambridge, MA, MIT Press, 1985).

Generally, the more you follow the normal traffic pattern, the safer and more predictable you become. The rules of the road set up a pattern for every situation, telling which driver has to wait. Sometimes you have to wait for other drivers -- for example, at a stop sign -- but sometimes they have to wait for you.

In this way, the rules of the road protect you by making it clear what you're going to do next.

Where on the road is safe to ride?

It is not always safe to ride on the edge of the road.  A gravel road edge or broken asphalt, or debris produce unsafe bicycling conditions.  Ride on the usable part of the road - far enough into the driving lane to avoid road hazards and keep your line of vision.  Be visible and predictable. 

Parked cars are a hazard we don't usually think of.  If you are riding the edge of the lane next to cars parked along the roadside and a car door suddenly opens in front of you, you will have little time to react.  Avoid collisions of this sort by riding at least 2 to 3 feet out from the parked cars. The same idea holds for a wall, hedge, or other obstruction.

Do not  weave in and out between parked cars in order to hug the road edge.  It is safer to remain in the lane on a predictable, straight path.

When the road gets narrow.

There is room for cars to pass when the road is wide. Not so on narrow streets and roads.  Cars must cross partway into the oncoming lane to pass.   Stay alert to oncoming passing cars in front of you - in case a motorists pulls into your lane.  Stay as far to the right as possible (on the usable part of the road) so that cars can pass you from behind.