Ever had that scary moment when a car passes way too close?
Or maybe a driver deliberately tried to intimidate you?
I know where you’re coming from… it’s not a lot of fun!
Read these proven strategies to help keep you safer on the roads.
Take Command of Your Lane Position
Your position on the road can literally save your life.
When you’re descending or riding on winding roads, don’t be shy about taking the full lane if it’s unsafe for cars to pass.
Riding too far to the right might seem safer, but it actually encourages dangerous close passes and puts you at risk of hitting debris or road hazards.
As one experienced cyclist says:
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byu/xnsax18 from discussion
inBAbike
Just remember to move right when it’s safe to let traffic pass – but always put your safety first.
Invest in Safety Technology
Modern tech can be your best friend on the road. Here’s what to consider:
- Rear-facing radar to alert you of approaching vehicles
- Front and rear-facing cameras to document incidents
- Bright daytime running lights for visibility
- Rear-view mirrors for better awareness
One rider swears by their setup:
This kind of documentation could be super important if you ever need to report an incident.
Know How to Handle Harassment
If someone’s giving you trouble, here’s some tactics to consider:
- Don’t make eye contact – it can escalate things
- Keep riding predictably
- Find a safe spot like a busy parking lot
- Document everything you can
🚨 It’s important not to escalate the situation. Keeping cool is a big part of that.
We’ll get to that later!
Report Dangerous Incidents
See something scary? Report it!
Here’s what to note down:
- Vehicle description
- License plate number (even partial helps!)
- Location and time
- What exactly happened
Don’t feel bad about reporting.
As a rider on Reddit says, “Too many people just let this kind of assault go without trying to report it. All that does is encourage these anti social freaks to keep doing it.”
💭 I wholeheartedly agree!
The more cyclists report genuine threats, then the more I believe drivers (and I mean the ‘bad apple’ drivers – I think the majority are good!) will respect us.
Plan Your Routes Strategically
A little planning goes a long way. Of course, you may be on an adventure on a new route, so you can only do so much, but:
Look for roads with bike lanes or lighter traffic.
Try to avoid peak traffic times when possible.
Know your escape routes and safe places to stop.
💡 Pro tip: Local cycling groups on Facebook and Strava often share the safest routes in your area!
Stay Visible and Predictable
Being seen is being safe!
Here’s how:
- Rock those bright colors
- Use lights – even in daylight
- Signal your turns early
- Keep your line steady
- No sudden moves!
💡 Pro Tip: I tend to set my bike lights to flashing mode during daylight hours 🔦
Think of it this way: the more predictable you are, the easier it is for drivers to pass you safely.
Keep Your Cool
This might be the most important tip of all.
When someone’s being aggressive, take a deep breath and stay focused on your riding.
“I chose not to react, not wanting to escalate the situation—especially considering they had a 3,000-pound weapon.”
Remember: getting home safe matters more than proving a point.
Final Words
Look, we know cycling can be scary sometimes. But with these strategies, you’ll be better prepared to handle whatever comes your way.
Avoiding confrontation as much as possible is key, I think.
Sometimes it’s unavoidable. Whatever you do, keep calm, and try to grab as much detail as possible from any incident.
Was there anything we missed?
Drop a comment below with your own safety tips or stories. We’d love to hear from you! 🚴♂️✌️
The roads in California are so bad that riding on the far right is dangerous. For some reason, the right side of the road is full of damaged asphalt including cracks, divots and potholes. Drivers fail to realize this issue. Either California repairs the roads or California should strongly make this issue known to drivers.
All pretty common sense stuff. I remember reading an account of two guys out riding when a guy in a large 4×4 flew past, leaning on the horn, nearly hitting one of the cyclists. He then stopped at the red light (about 30 metres up the road), got out and started screaming abuse. As they sailed past him through the now green light, the front rider said to the guy telling the story, “Let us not allow our minds to be polluted with his poisonous rage”. Which seems to be a perfect, zen way to deal with other people’s issues 🙂