Rec | SAFETY FIRST

🚲

- Invest in bike lights and reflectors - make yourself KNOWN on the road - Invest in a HELMET, better safe than sorry!! - Bike lanes are there for a reason; if you have them, use them! Just like car traffic, the right side is for going, the left side is for coming back - If you don't have bike lanes, stay to the right side of the cars and try to mitigate weaving between traffic - even if you're a great biker, the CARS are the unpredictable ones, and you can't be lucky 100% of the time - ALWAYS BE ALERT, ESPECIALLY BEFORE MAKING A TURN - TO PASS SOMEONE (pedestrian or biker), YELL "ON YOUR *insert side you intend to pass on here*" BEFORE YOU REACH THEM - BE LOUD AND CLEAR, RING A BELL IF YOU'VE GOT ONE, IF THEY DONT HEAR YOU, KEEP YELLING AND GO AROUND WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO - HAND SIGNALS (as seen on attached image) are KEY for communicating with other bikers and drivers! Learn them and use them to better telegraph your intentions to other people on the road! - Stay OFF the sidewalk as much as you can! I know it's right there and it's easy, but pedestrians are unpredictable too and it's there for them, not you - Cars and drivers suck. If they start to ride up on you, play it safe and get out of their way. They can run you over and likely not even be charged with anything. If you get harassed at traffic lights, start recording with your phone and get a pic of the license plate in case they decide to do something dangerous for both of you

@haydenaugust

3d ago

see likes

Comments (5)

Make an account to reply.

@persimmons

this is so helpful, especially the hand signals. it can be hard for me to take up space so biking has been scary but i know it’s worth it! thank you for taking the time to write this all out xoxo

2d ago

@haydenaugust

@PERSIMMONS absolutely, glad this was helpful! It is 100% worth it, I hope your cycling journey is fulfilling and fun!

2d ago

@worldonfire

This + a helmet, truly went too many years without one and am so lucky I was fine when I got hit by an escalade without one. it’s truly not ever worth the risk. esp a PIP certified one!!! And also using hand signals when you’re turning! some people won’t know what they mean but other bikers should.

3d ago

@haydenaugust

@WORLDONFIRE You’re 100% correct, editing to include helmets and the hand signals now!! I also got hit by a car without a helmet and was also lucky, definitely an essential!

3d ago

@casts

This is it

3d ago

Related Recs

😃

FUCK CARS

that’s the mentality you have to have as a biker. their job is to protect you from themselves so do not worry about offending cars. Let them be offended!! it’s much worse imo to bike on the sidewalk

@its_just_kate

3d ago

🚲

take up space

dont Feel bullied by cars and buses. Where bike lanes don’t exist, take Up as much space as you need to feel safe. And watch for potholes - they’ll ruin your day.

@tunnelvisiontv

Apr 24, 2024

😃

Start at the park

start small! I built my courage biking around prospect park (one of my fave places on earth) and from there I felt braver to navigate the streets. also, act like a car when you’re on the road. keep an eye for pedestrians, flick off drivers that get too close, and for the love of god don’t try to bike across the Brooklyn bridge or you WILL run over a toddler ppl do not pay attention nor care.

@its_just_kate

Sep 25, 2024

Top Recs from @haydenaugust

🎞

[FILMGRAB]

A website with a collection of screengrabs from nearly every movie you could think of, and you can sort by film title, director, cinematographer, year, genre, country, etc. Great for visual references for lookbooks, or just to discover a new film you might be interested in seeing! I've attached one of my favorite stills, a great moment from Chungking Express (Dir. Wong Kar-Wai, 1994).

@haydenaugust

Dec 30, 2024

📼

Second hand Physical media

Just going out and picking up any kind of used physical media (books, CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes) makes the archivist in me happy, like I’m preserving somebody else’s story/ enjoyment of something My personal favorite thing is VHS tapes, I’ve got a decent collection (all thrifted) and they’re usually the cheapest things offered

@haydenaugust

Jan 3, 2025

📽

Supporting local INDEPENDENT cineMas

At my local indie cinema for a projection of the new Nosferatu, infinitely grateful I have a place like this I can go to see new stuff and incredible programming!

@haydenaugust

Dec 25, 2024