Life is precious, cycling requires caution — Essential cycling safety knowledge you must know
Data shows that 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 in a car accident every 0.9 minutes. In other words, about 299.6 people die in road traffic accidents every day, which is equivalent to a fully loaded Boeing 777-200 airplane crashing every day. In such circumstances, when you go cycling, you must have a strong sense of safety, as well as extensive safety experience and knowledge.
1. Do not compete with motor vehicles for road space:
No matter whether it’s a non-motorized vehicle lane or not, no matter whether it’s illegal 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 loses. Being in the right doesn’t help. Drivers in China hardly ever have the habit of yielding to pedestrians. These drivers are like fighter jets among drivers — driving recklessly and completely ignoring cyclists by the roadside. I don’t know if they’re confident or I’m just timid, but it really feels like we need 500 lifetimes of looking back just to pass them by once. It makes me feel like those backward glances must have been filled with ill intent and contempt, hence this karmic payback.
2. Always be wary of motorcycles and electric scooters:
They often dash around recklessly. If you're used to city cycling (like obeying traffic lights, keeping to the right, yielding to pedestrians, etc.), you'll find it hard to adapt. So in such an environment, you must stay highly alert, dodge if you can, slow down if you can't — the slower, the better.
3. Don’t hug the edge just because you’re worried about your bike:
There are often lots and lots of gravel by the roadside, with no cleaning or maintenance. Cyclists seem to be an overlooked group in road design and maintenance. That bikes can ride here at all is lucky, since there's actually a path — some places don’t even have bike lanes. In such situations, don’t think that cars won’t dare hit you or worry about your tires. You must honestly stick to the side, ride outside the road. Isn’t it obvious which costs more — fixing a flat tire or having surgery? A good riding buddy is one whose tires wear out.
4. Car exhaust fumes and noise:
Those who’ve heard Guo Degang’s comedy skits will probably remember that hilarious scene where someone pants and runs into a (dry) toilet to escape. Similarly, when cycling uphill, drenched in sweat, a large truck or tricycle suddenly blasts a cloud of black smoke right next to you before speeding off. What can you do?
I rarely wear a cycling scarf, so I've been ambushed many times, suffering miserably. Later, I’d rather get heat rash on my neck than go without one — I wear it anytime, anywhere, to block dust and smoke. Noise is also a hassle while cycling. Riding long-term in noisy environments can make you irritable and lead to strange behavior. So when encountering heavy traffic and constant honking, avoid rush hour, take breaks off the road, reduce time spent cycling, and finish your ride earlier.