As a long-time resident and someone with a passion for cycling who both bikes and drives in this city, nothing is more annoying and frightening as a cyclist and a driver than witnessing someone else cycling without care. This post will outline some techniques for bikers to stay safe in Vancouver.
The Dos:
Lock Your Bikes Up the Proper Way
Do invest in good bike locks. Notice how this is plural? That's because you need more than one bike lock and not the flimsy wish.com kind. Bike thieves in Vancouver are always hard at work, and they take their jobs very seriously. The proper procedure of bike locking demands at least two strong locks. The first lock is the most crucial; you must lock the body and your front tire to the bike rack. This will prevent anyone from detaching and stealing either your front wheel or the body of your bike. Locking only your front wheel would make your bike vulnerable to detachment, leaving you with only a wheel. The next thing you want to do is to lock the back tire to the body of your bike. Especially if you have a popular bike model, as many people steal bike tires to use on other stolen bikes that are missing tires. More often than not, people are not taking their bike locking seriously enough, resulting in their bikes being stolen.
If you want extra security for your bike, you should look into where our Bike Valet’s seasonal locations are by clicking here. Just drop off your bike, get your ticket, and go about your day with peace of mind that your bike, or anything that rolls, is safe. The Bike Valet also has a new layer of protection by partnering with Optimum Security, so you don’t need to worry about someone stealing your gear. Click here to see what events the Bike Valet will also be at!
Use the Right Lane
Make sure to follow the proper bike lane procedures. For instance, don't bike on a highway. Familiarize yourself with the locations that are good for biking and know the streets. Not all streets are the same; some are much quieter than others. Choose the streets more catered to bikers or streets with separate bike lanes. Avoid shared lanes when possible. Streets like the 49th are shared lanes that tend to get quite dangerous due to careless drivers and heavy traffic. Remember, they are in a metal box; you are not.
Stay Visible and Avoid Dark Streets at Night
This should be a no-brainer but know to have adequate night lights if you are biking at late hours. There are a lot of popular bike lanes with terrible night lighting to protect the ecosystem and nature. Areas like, for instance, North and West Vancouver, have really poor lights at night to ensure wildlife's habitats are not disturbed. It’s quite difficult for drivers to see you if you are wearing full black with no light. A good rule of thumb is to wear something reflective, usually on your riding shirt or carrying belt, and have backlights turned on. Avoid wearing dark colours, especially at night.
The Don’ts
Okay, now that we've talked about what to do as a biker in Vancouver, let's start talking about what NOT to do, which is just as important, if not more. There are tons of tips and tricks to ensure your biking experience is as safe and enjoyable as possible. Be sure to look out for things to avoid while on the road riding.
Focus on the Road, NOT your Music
We all love a good jam while riding, but please, do not blast the music with noise cancellation turned on. It’s crucial to listen to the street noise for your safety. Always maintain a healthy balance between biking and listening. A good playlist helps with the ride but can distract you and shift your focus away from the road. Using bone-conduction open-ear headphones or headphones with active ambient noise is better. The perfect balance between hearing your music and the road is a fine line; best to ensure you hear the road more than you do your music. Of course, it also depends on where you are biking. If you are biking in a very secluded area with low traffic, the situation changes compared to biking on a shared road.
Don't Go Riding Without Checking Tire Pressure
One of the worst things that could happen while riding would be your tire running out of air in the middle of your ride. The bike tires must have adequate pressure on both the front and back. A good rule for bike pressure is that it should be very stiff when applying pressure on them and that no air is lost. Ultimately, it depends entirely on personal preference, but it’s always better to have more air than not enough. Road bikes with 700C wheels demand higher air pressure than mountain bikes, depending on your bike model.
Avoid Bad Roads
Some streets in Vancouver, especially the more popular roads, have inadequate infrastructures for biking (such as Main and 2nd from personal experience) with far too many potholes. Especially for commuting city bikes, these potholes can result in a lot of inconveniences by causing flat tires. Out of the seven flat tires I've ever had, six times were caused by the same intersection on Main and 2nd. This one is especially applicable for city bikes with thinner tires, as those are far more susceptible to flat tires than mountain bikes. Be sure to look out for potholes on the ground for city bikers, as you definitely do not want to push your luck (don't be like me). Mountain bikes, on the other hand, don't have too much to worry about.
These are just some pieces of advice for bikers, the common dos and don'ts. Biking is both a fun and convenient activity, but please be careful as it does carry a certain degree of risks that many underestimate. Remember, safety always comes first!
Written by: Raymond Wen
