Life is precious, so be cautious when cycling. Essential cycling safety knowledge you must know
According to data, in China, an average of over 100,000 people die in traffic accidents each year—more than the casualties of a war. That means one person dies in a car accident every 4.8 minutes, and one person is injured or disabled every 0.9 minutes. In other words, about 299.6 people die in road traffic accidents every day, equivalent to a Boeing 777-200 passenger plane crashing daily with all seats occupied. When cycling under such circumstances, you must have a strong sense of safety and possess rich safety experience and knowledge.
1. Do not compete with motor vehicles for the road:
Whether it’s a non-motorized lane or not, whether it’s against the rules or not, if it’s a motor vehicle, you must give way. Because whether it’s a stone hitting an egg or an egg hitting a stone, the egg always ends up broken. Having the moral high ground won’t help. Drivers in China almost never yield to pedestrians—these drivers are like fighter jets among drivers, driving recklessly and completely ignoring cyclists on the side of the road. I don’t know if they’re confident or I’m just too timid, but it feels like it takes five hundred lifetimes of looking back just to cross paths in this life. It makes me think those backward glances must’ve been filled with ill intent and disdain to deserve such karma.
2. Always beware of motorcycles and electric bikes:
They come speeding through without warning. If you’re used to urban cycling (with traffic lights, right-hand driving, pedestrian priority, etc.), you’ll find it hard to adapt. So in such environments, you must stay highly alert—dodge if you can, slow down if you can’t, and the slower, the better.
3. Don’t avoid the side of the road just to protect your bike:
There are often lots of loose stones by the roadside, left uncleared and unmaintained. Cyclists seem to be an overlooked group in road design and maintenance. It’s already lucky that you can ride a bike here—there’s at least a road. Some places don’t even have bike lanes. Don’t assume cars won’t hit you or worry about ruining your tires. Always stay on the side, ride off the main road. Isn’t it obvious which costs more—fixing a flat tire or paying for surgery? A good riding buddy is one who’s willing to wear out their tires.
4. Car exhaust, fumes, and noise:
If you’ve listened to Guo Degang’s comedy routines, you might remember the embarrassing scene of someone panting as they run into a toilet (an outhouse) to escape. When cycling uphill and sweating profusely, a large truck or a three-wheeled motor scooter zooms past, blasting a huge cloud of black smoke before disappearing. What can you do?
I rarely wear a cycling scarf, which is why I’ve suffered so much—I felt like I was dying. Later, I’d rather get heat rash on my neck than go without a scarf, wearing it anytime and anywhere to block dust and smoke. Noise is another hassle of cycling. Riding long-term in noisy environments can make you irritable and cause strange behavior. So when encountering heavy traffic and constant honking, avoid peak hours, take breaks off the road, reduce your time on the street, and end your ride earlier.