Aggressive driving behaviour puts all road users at risk. Anthea Hargreaves looks at the causes of road rage, and best approaches to deal with it. The toot of a horn, an aggressive swerve, a deliberate too-close pass or abusive obscenity yelled from a window – for too many riders, road rage is seen as an
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Like your body language says as much as your words in a conversation, your riding language —where you ride on the road—tells others what you’re doing. Simon Vincett suggests strategies for communicating to the traffic. Whether you are blessed with bountiful bike lanes or you have to mix it with the traffic for all your
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Whether it’s road works, parked cars or a hazard, you will sometimes need to overtake something that’s in the way of where you would like to ride. Simon Vincett explains how it’s done, with illustrations by Karl Hilzinger. Life is often littered with obstacles and the riding life is no exception. No sweat. It’s just
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The footpath has its own special set of hazards to be aware of and to anticipate. With a bit of practice, scanning and preparing for these become second nature. Simon Vincett explains. Riding on the footpath is an art in itself. It’s still not allowed for adults in three Australian states but for kids under
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Know the rules and best strategies to reduce your risks and ride with confidence. Simon Vincett explains. Communication Scan ahead and slow down if you’re not sure whether someone has seen you or if they will give way. Communicate using your bell, your voice, hand signals and eye contact. Put on your lights when it
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This right for bike riders creates one of the most confusing situations for riders and drivers to negotiate. Simon Vincett explains the Australian road rules with practical examples. Bikes are the only vehicles on the road in Australia that can legally overtake other vehicles on the left [RR141]. This special entitlement follows logically from
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Harriet Edmund advises what you need to do—and what you need to know—if you are involved in a crash. You know the importance of staying vigilant while you ride into work but the road is greasy and nothing has prepared you for what’s about to happen. A motorist suddenly turns left, cutting in front of
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Do you use a hook turn to turn right? It’s a great risk-reduction tool for riders, Simon Vincett explains. Moving to the middle of the road to turn right is a nerve-wracking situation for many bike riders but fortunately it can be mostly avoided. The answer is a hook turn. Hook turns are familiar to
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There are many confident riders who have the knack of identifying the risks on the roads, and who have developed good riding practices to manage the uncertainty that shadows every vulnerable road user. But are riders totally responsible for their welfare, or do other road users, and roads management authorities, also have an obligation
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Are you confident of when to give way and when to take your turn in a roundabout? Simon Vincett explains. To ride a roundabout confidently you need to be assertive about taking your turn and you need to indicate clearly. Traffic can flow quickly, so you must be clear about what you’re doing. The rules
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