You Want To Bike In Boston? 10 Things You Should Know

More and more people are biking around Boston these days but the 2013 Boston Cyclist Safety Report suggests that we're not biking as safely as we could be. So here are 10 important safety tips every Boston biker needs to know. Just make sure you heed this sage advice, okay, or you’re gonna have a bad time. Thankfully, you have allllll winter to prepare.

1. Light up

Photo credit: Richard Masoner / Via Flickr: bike

No, smoking is bad for you. Bike lights are good for you! Lights are the most important things you can buy for your bike. Boston and Cambridge require them if you’re riding after sunset. White lights up front, red lights in back are pretty much the standard. They help you see, and — more importantly — they help people see you. Reflectors are great (they are also required by law), but reflectors are not enough. For one thing, reflectors only work when light shines on them at just the right angle. (To learn more, consult the website of late bicycle legend and Massachusetts native Sheldon Brown.) Flashy lights make you the most visible, so definitely try those. You need an especially bright light up front, since collisions are usually caused by something in front of you, not behind you. Go get lights for your bikes right now, all of you.

2. Be more predictable.

Hate drivers who don't use their turn signals? Well it's especially dangerous on a bike. You can't muscle your way into traffic when it's your frail human body versus a four-wheeled metal monster with a fire-breathing internal combustion engine. At the very least, use hand signals; the law requires it. Also try to stay where everyone can see you. Weaving in-and-out of the traffic lane around parked cars is very dangerous. It looks erratic and you remove yourself from a driver's view every time you dip closer to the curb (i.e. behind the parked cars). While it may feel considerate and/or safe to move as far over to the right as possible, that isn't always the case. (Getting doored — when someone opens his or her car door and you crash into it — is among the most common of biking accidents, so leave some space on your right for that reason, too.) And one more thing: riding on sidewalks is okay for beginners, and allowed in most of the city, but it's forbidden in "business districts" and FOR THE LOVE don't regularly switch between the road and sidewalk unless you want to cause an accident. In fact, try to stay off sidewalks entirely or Ryan Gosling will reprimand you.

3. Don't forget the gorillas

Photo credit: Petr Kratochvil / Via publicdomainpictures.net

Invisible gorillas! If you’ve read anything about "inattentional blindness" or even just seen the video-that-named-the-book-that-explains-the-phenomenon then you might already know you really can’t rely on other drivers, other bikers, or pedestrians to notice you at all ever. That doesn’t mean they’re bad, awful, or terrible people. And it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare yourself with lots of shiny flashy fun lights either (see #1 you silly goofs). What it does mean is that you should always, always, always be alert and on your guard when you’re on your bike. Don’t assume that everyone sees you, or that anyone sees you, and always be ready to stop or swerve. Laws in Boston and Cambridge require you to keep at least on hand on the handlebars at all times, too. Yeah sure, you want to be über-cool, rolling around town on your retro fixie. But remember, human attention is extremely finite. In fact, it’s quite literally impossible to attend to more than one thing at a time, and attention is largely allocated according to expectation. So it doesn’t matter if the driver pulling up to the intersection across from you is texting, thinking of what they want for dinner, or just driving — if they aren’t already looking for you then they might not see you at all. Science says be safe out there, you guys.

4. Some bans apply

Don't use your cell phone, smart phone, handheld mobile phone, or rotary phone while biking. Please. We just covered the whole attention thing. Just stop. Seriously, distracted driving doesn't only take place in cars. It's extremely risky behavior and something police track in the event of an accident. Even listening to music is distracting and earphones can block out noises from your surroundings. One exception I might make: turn-by-turn directions. Those aren't too bad and they route you along normal roads, so you won't be one of those fools going the wrong way down a one-way street. Use one earbud and take advantage of the technology. But a special warning for you, young men! [Disclaimer: I am one of these "young men" things.] The majority of accidents in Boston involve men 18-30. Granted, the majority of bikers in Boston are men 18-30, but you know what I'm getting at. Also, and this one's gonna hurt: just because you're confident in your multitasking abilities doesn't mean you're good enough to get away with it (in fact, most research shows the opposite). Be humble and put your phone away.

5. Brakes are your new best friend(s)

Via vote29.com

Bikes aren’t nearly as expensive as cars, nor are they under the same strict maintenance regulations. They always pass emissions amiright? Regardless, you need to take good care of your little baby bike, especially the brakes. Regular maintenance is important. For example, rust can compromise the structural integrity of your bike. But nothing is as important to maintain, nor as easy to screw up, as brakes. Again, feel free to consult Sheldon Brown and John Allen (if you don’t read anything else they’ve written, read about brakes). First, you should have two brakes. Second, you need to keep the brake pads clean, as well as the rims on your wheels. Third, make sure the pads are replaced after they’ve worn down. Same goes for the rims, or things can get nasty. And keep in mind that bicycle brakes are not car brakes, so the “spongy” feel of a brake lever doesn’t mean the same thing as soft brakes on a car. It’s not a problem — unless your lever hits the handlebars before the brake fully engages. If your brakes need to be adjusted or replaced, stop by your local bike shop ASAP (and try not to ride there if your brakes aren’t working). Finally, make sure you brake well to stay safe. Most experienced bikers brake with their left hand because the front brake has more stopping power — the rear wheel can skid under hard braking. But there are limitations, too; you can’t brake too fast, or you’ll fly over the handlebars. So it’s usually best to brake steadily with one hand, and fine tune with the other. You might need a lot space in front of you to brake without crashing, so pay attention to your surroundings.

6. Respect the authorities

According to the 2013 Boston Bicycle Safety report, it looks like the yearly number of accidents involving bicycles is on the rise in Boston. That could be attributed to a number of things, including an overall increase in the number of bikers. It could also be explained by better reporting from the Boston Police. Do you know any bikers who have been "pulled over" for traffic violations, like running a red light or a stop sign? Of the nearly 1,500 accidents reported to the BPD over the last three years, about a quarter of them involved bikers who had run a red light or a stop sign, or were headed the wrong way on a one-way street. That. Is. Cray. Not only can it be super dangerous, but guess who's found responsible in the accident like that? Breaking those laws is crazy because those rules make you stop and pay attention to your surroundings precisely during those moments when they get more complicated and dangerous. Hey, no one likes reading legalese and no one wants a line of cars with pissed off drivers backed up behind them at a red light, but you really do have to stop. At the very least, come to a rolling stop. You might still get ticketed, but stopping even briefly could potentially save your life. As for going the wrong way down a one-way street? No. Just no. It's not only dangerous for you, but for everyone else on the road. How many times have I almost been hit by a fellow biker, or by a car because of a biker I had to avoid, who was going the wrong way in the bike lane.... Don't be that guy. And don't be surprised if police start cracking down on more of these scofflaw biker youths. If the police see you, you won't be able to bike away fast enough.

7. Season optional (clothing required)

Photo credit: Michael Pick / Via Flickr: smashcut

Okay, so biking during the winter might seem like a special kind of crazy, but people do it. This takes a certain level of commitment, but if you decide not to wait until the big thaw this spring, here are some tips. First, make sure you have the right gear. Start with some really warm clothing. Long underwear would be a good idea. You shoud also invest in something to cover your face, like a balaclava or buff. Goggles are also nice, and most Bern helmets have goggle clips, conveniently enough. Make sure that you have gloves or those super fancy mitts that attach directly to your bike. Bike Mitts. Or Bar Mitts. It’s really important to keep your hands warm; you need them for braking. This leads us to the second tip: go slow. Keep yourself in a low gear and take it easy. You’ll also want a lot of clearance, as far as brakes and fenders go, in case the tires build up with snow or slush. Also, disc brakes can outshine more traditional brakes in snowy conditions. Winter might not be the best time to use clipless pedals, either. Finally, it helps to have wide tires, like you’d find on a mountain bike, or at the very least the kind of “cyclocross” tires you can get for some road bike wheels. If you really want to go all out, look into some of the more expensive studded tires that work better than anything else under icy conditions. The most diehard winter bikers understand the toll that winter conditions (and road salt) take and choose to use a second “snow bike”. Oy, good luck out there.

8. Helmet for your thoughts

This tip is an oldie but a goodie. In the 2013 Boston Cyclist Safety Report, it was duly noted that less than half the people involved in bicycle collisions were wearing helmets, whereas average helmet-use citywide is closer to three-quarters of all bikers. It may not be causal, but we can assume that there's some sort of a link between helmet-use and bicycle accidents. Maybe people who are less likely to wear helmets are more likely to get into accidents, or people who are more likely to get into accidents are less likely to wear helmets. We don't know exactly how it works, but the next time you think of riding your bike without a helmet, remember that the relationship does exist. Also remember that the Report said, verbatim, "that helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 85% and brain injury by 88%." If you value your brain, you should really consider going pro with this helmet thing and wear it every time you bike. Meanwhile, let's just hope the "invisible helmet" makes its way across the Atlantic and to our retail shopping centers in time for the holidays next year.

9. Lock up or luck out?

Photo credit: Petr Kratochvil / Via publicdomainpictures.net

MBTA Transit police and Brookline’s finest both got creative this past summer, deterring bike-thieves with cardboard cutouts and luring them with bike-bait. Bicycle thefts seem to be on the rise, so you probably don’t want to leave this one to chance. Recommendations? A u-lock, for one. Cable-locks work, but U-locks are a lot harder to cut, and newer designs eliminate the old problem of being able to pick them with a Bic pen. Yikes. Some u-locks have cable-lock attachments for the front wheel, because if it’s held on with just a quick-release it may be a little too easy to remove. Or you could shoot for the stars, and be more like Massachusetts-native Steve Carell. His character in The 40-Year-Old-Virgin just carried his front wheel with him. Classy stuff. Sadly, bike thieves also take the parts off bicycles. Sigh. If you have a really nice bicycle and you’re a little paranoid (no judgment), check out Pitlock or OnGuard so that you can keep your wheels, seatpost/saddle, and other expensive parts on lockdown too. Boston and Cambridge have both installed more hitching posts for your faithful steed, just don’t forget to lock it securely after your done riding.

10. When to take the T

Sometimes, it just makes more sense to take the T. Especially if it's raining, if it's cold, if you have a flat tire, or some other perfectly valid excuse. But the rules around taking bikes on the T can be a little confusing, so here's the deal: bicycles are allowed on the Red, Orange, and Blue lines if it isn't rush-hour (7-10 AM, 4-7 PM for the most part). Bikes are also allowed on any bus, but you must use the bicycle rack on the front of the bus. They're never allowed on the Green Line, nor are they ever allowed at Park Street, Downtown Crossing, or Government Center stations. There's only one way around any of these restrictions: folding bikes. Folding bikes "are allowed on all MBTA vehicles at all times when completely folded." Folding bikes have also been growing in popularity, from little Dahon folders to full-size Montague road bikes. Bonus: Montague is based in Massachusetts! Get yourself one of those bad boys and you can multi-modal transport yourself all over town.

Thanks for reading! For all the official information, check out the 2013 Boston Cyclist Safety Report (published May 21. 2013) as well as bicycle laws for both Boston and Cambridge.