Cycling in the DC area can be very rewarding, but it's important to know the basics of city riding.

"Bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles"

 

Bicycles are part of traffic

• Check for oncoming traffic before entering any street or intersection
• Ride on the right, with the flow of traffic.
• Use the lane furthest to the right that heads in the direction that you are traveling.
  
• Ride in the right third of the right-most lane that goes in the direction you are going.
• Take the lane if there is insufficient road width for cyclists and cars to share, less than 12 feet (in DC most lanes are 11 feet wide).

Follow traffic laws

• Obey traffic control devices: stop signs, stop lights, lane markings
• Use hand signals to let pedestrians, other cyclists and motor vehicle drivers know your intention to stop or turn
  
• Anticipate hazards and adjust your position in traffic accordingly
  
• Ride in a straight line – not in and out of parked cars on the side of the street/road
  

Ride safely

• Ride far enough away from parked cars to avoid hitting a surprise open door. Don’t ride in the door zone!
  
• Ride far enough away from the curb or edge of the roadway to avoid hazards and debris
• Check, signal and move into the adjacent lane if there are hazards in a bike lane
• Take the lane before intersections and turns to assert your position on the roadway
• Take the lane if traveling the same speed as other traffic or if hazards narrow the usable width.
  

Bike Lanes/Paths

Courtesy

• Yield to slower users, especially children
• Obey posted speed limits for the safety of all users.
  

Announce when passing

• Clearly indicate your intention to pass other users
  
• Warn other trail users in advance so you do not startle them
  
• Use a bell, horn, or say “On your left” or “Passing on your left” when passing
  

Yield when entering and crossing

• Slow down before intersections and when entering a trail from the road
  

Keep Right

• Stay as close to the right as possible, except when passing.
  
• Give yourself enough room to maneuver around any hazards.
  

Pass on left

• Scan ahead and behind before announcing your intention to pass
  
• Allow plenty of room, about two bike lengths, before moving back to the right
  
• Do not pass when visibility ahead is limited

Be Predictable

• Travel in a straight line, except to avoid hazards or to pass.
  
• Always indicate your intention to turn or pass
  

Be Visible

• Wear brightly colored clothing
  
• Make eye contact with motorists to let them know you are there (but don’t always expect them to see you)
  
• Always ride in or near a travel lane
  
• Stay visible by riding where drivers are looking, i.e., do not pass on the right
  

At night – conspicuity

• Legally, cyclists must have a front white light and a red rear reflector and/or a rear red light
  
• A bright red [blinking] light is much more conspicuous than a passive reflector
  
• Make sure that your lights are visible to motorists, and not pointing up or down
  
• Clear obstructions from the back of the bike that might block the light
  

 

Report a Problem

Notice something amiss in the bicycling environment ? Report It!   Have you seen storm drain grates parallel to a bicycle tire direction of travel, a pot hole in a bike path, or other bicycle-related problem in DC?

Report it using the DC City Services Request website.

Login using the WABA User Account:
UserID: waba12
Password: waba12

By using one user id and password, we can track all bicycling issues.

Stolen Bike Registries

Free: stolenbikeregistry.com

Fee ($10 non-members):   nationalbikeregistry.com

Buy a NBR registration at the WABA Store ($7 members)

Lost and Found

DC craigslist (community, lost & found; or for sale, bikes)

Request a copy of WABA's new Guide:

Safe Bicycling in the Washington Area.

Browse The Guide>>

 

 

10 Essential Bike Skills

"Every person bicycling on a roadway has all the rights and duties of a driver of a vehicle"

 

1.  Stopping

Quick Stop. Emergency stop by shifting your weight back, straightening your arms, and using both brakes. If the rear skids, ease up on both brakes. Know the limits of your front wheel to avoid a dangerous front skid.

2.  Right of way yielding, look before entering (left, right, left)

 

3.  Ride on the right

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Scanning to the rear

5.  Signaling turns, slowing/stopping, straight through

 

6.  Turning safely

Watch for the "Left Cross." Left turning motorists tend to look down the center of the lane for other motor vehicles, and are less likely to notice bicyclists who are close to the curb and smaller. Avoid this danger by being vigilant, and more visible by positioning yourself closer to, or even straight down, the middle of the lane. Keep from being visually screened by other motor vehicles.

Fend off the "Right Hook." Motorists sometimes overtake bicyclists only to wind up cutting them off when making a right turn. Guard against this type of danger by being further from the curb, forcing the driver to make a more sweeping turn. Expect the "right hook" to happen, and be able to "Instaturn" if necessary.

 

7.  Lane position for left turns

 

Turning left. There are two ways to turn left: "vehicular" style and "2 Step" style. It should rarely be a necessity, but use a "2 Step" turn if traffic is too heavy for you to turn left like other vehicles. Go through the intersection, align yourself facing left, and proceed when clear or on the green if at a signal.

 

8.  Recognizing and avoiding hazards

Quick Dodge. Watch out for road surface hazards: potholes, large rocks, gravel, bad drainage grates or other slots in the direction of travel, wet metal surfaces, and assorted debris. Avoid sudden unforeseen hazards such as potholes by turning left then right back quickly around the object. The rear wheel should also miss the threat. You may also "bunny hop" a hazard. If you must ride over something, rise off the saddle and use your legs like shock absorbers.

 

9.  Passing parked cars

 

10.  Planning safe bike routes