Hanover Etiquette
Riding on the roads of Hanover means sharing. Just as cars must share the road with cyclists and pedestrians, cyclists have to share with these other constituents. With the goal not only of keeping safe, but also of promoting good relations between these groups, here are a few simple rules that we would all do well to observe.
First and foremost, wear a helmet. The helmets available these days are lightweight, well ventilated, completely adjustable, and quite comfortable. They can save your life. Enough said.
Be visible. Drivers typically come up from behind, and depending on the circumstances they may have very little time to react to your presence. Wearing bright colors that contrast with the surrounding environment gives drivers a little extra reaction time. If you are riding at dawn or near sunset, put a red blinking LED light on the back of your bike. These are inexpensive, last nearly forever on a single battery, and attach easily to the back of your seatpost.
Don't block the road. This is the single most offensive behavior that groups of cyclists occasionally exhibit. It's easy to do; you're riding in a group of five or ten, cruising down a quiet country road with two or three riders abreast, and are in the middle of an engaging conversation. A car has quietly come up from behind. He sits there, unable to pass, and your don't even notice his presence. Proper Hanover etiquette demands that the cyclist at the back of the group check for cars, ready to give the standard "CAR BACK" shout to the group when a vehicle approaches. At this cue, the group moves to a single-file formation as close to the right side of the road as safety allows. This is easily done if the front rider accelerates a bit to open up spaces for the bikes in the middle. It can be done gracefully (as a school of fish might merge), and soon becomes second nature. Before long you won't even notice the gaps in your conversations.
I'll note that a few years ago it was illegal in Hanover for cyclists to ride two abreast in any circumstances. Thankfully that is no longer the case. But law does require that we move to a single-file formation when traffic approaches. Not to do so only tempts the ire of drivers. It is also illegal.
When riding alone you are both the first rider and last rider in your group. Shouting "CAR BACK" is probably not necessary in this case, but keeping aware of approaching vehicles is paramount. Wearing an iPod (or any device with earphones) is out of the question; you need your ears to listen for traffic. I will occasionally move to the center of my lane and block an approaching car from passing if it is dangerous for him to do so, for instance, if I'm about to crest a rise, or if I'm on a blind turn. But I'll reward the driver with a quick wave as I pull to the right when conditions are safe for passing.
Another dynamic that I've noticed that is important for safety: If you are riding alone and several cars need to pass you, expect that once the first car passes the rest will follow immediately (even if it is unsafe to do so). This must be some aspect of human nature, and it can be stressful for the cyclist. My point is to always expect another car to follow behind a passing vehicle. Never drift left after being passed without checking for a second car. Simply expect it.
Obey traffic signals. There is a temptation to ignore stop signs and even traffic lights when riding a bike. It's not a good idea. Cyclists are allowed by law to use the roads, and we rightfully demand to be treated with respect by vehicle traffic. But if we view ourselves as existing "outside" the traffic laws we simply cannot expect to be viewed any differently by others.
Avoid danger. Some roads are simply not good cycling roads. Route 54 west of Ashland, for instance, or routes 1, 301, 30, or 33. Traffic density is high, shoulders are narrow or nonexistent, speed limits are high and actual speeds are higher. Although I'll hasten to add that at 6 AM on a Sunday morning some of these roads (e.g. routes 30 or 33) can be safely ridden by a group.
When riding in a group, signal potholes, gravel, and other obstacles to those behind you. Simply point to a hole and shout "HOLE". You get the idea. And before you hit the brakes, yell out "SLOWING". The idea is that when another bike is a foot or so behind you, a verbal cue is needed to allow sufficient reaction time.
Finally, dogs. Man's best friend sometimes reserves special treatment for cyclists. Some of my best sprints have been with a large dog close behind. I generally pull out a water bottle at the first sight of an approaching dog. A quick squirt in the face is harmless to the animal and quite effective in buying you some valuable time to escape.
Is it safe to ride the roads of Hanover? If you choose your routes and times carefully and follow these simple tips, most definitely. The drivers on these roads are your friends and neighbors. Do your part to make their trip a pleasant and safe one, and expect the same from them. I've been biking these roads regularly since 1993 with very few memorable incidents of any kind with traffic.
First and foremost, wear a helmet. The helmets available these days are lightweight, well ventilated, completely adjustable, and quite comfortable. They can save your life. Enough said.
Be visible. Drivers typically come up from behind, and depending on the circumstances they may have very little time to react to your presence. Wearing bright colors that contrast with the surrounding environment gives drivers a little extra reaction time. If you are riding at dawn or near sunset, put a red blinking LED light on the back of your bike. These are inexpensive, last nearly forever on a single battery, and attach easily to the back of your seatpost.
Don't block the road. This is the single most offensive behavior that groups of cyclists occasionally exhibit. It's easy to do; you're riding in a group of five or ten, cruising down a quiet country road with two or three riders abreast, and are in the middle of an engaging conversation. A car has quietly come up from behind. He sits there, unable to pass, and your don't even notice his presence. Proper Hanover etiquette demands that the cyclist at the back of the group check for cars, ready to give the standard "CAR BACK" shout to the group when a vehicle approaches. At this cue, the group moves to a single-file formation as close to the right side of the road as safety allows. This is easily done if the front rider accelerates a bit to open up spaces for the bikes in the middle. It can be done gracefully (as a school of fish might merge), and soon becomes second nature. Before long you won't even notice the gaps in your conversations.
I'll note that a few years ago it was illegal in Hanover for cyclists to ride two abreast in any circumstances. Thankfully that is no longer the case. But law does require that we move to a single-file formation when traffic approaches. Not to do so only tempts the ire of drivers. It is also illegal.
When riding alone you are both the first rider and last rider in your group. Shouting "CAR BACK" is probably not necessary in this case, but keeping aware of approaching vehicles is paramount. Wearing an iPod (or any device with earphones) is out of the question; you need your ears to listen for traffic. I will occasionally move to the center of my lane and block an approaching car from passing if it is dangerous for him to do so, for instance, if I'm about to crest a rise, or if I'm on a blind turn. But I'll reward the driver with a quick wave as I pull to the right when conditions are safe for passing.
Another dynamic that I've noticed that is important for safety: If you are riding alone and several cars need to pass you, expect that once the first car passes the rest will follow immediately (even if it is unsafe to do so). This must be some aspect of human nature, and it can be stressful for the cyclist. My point is to always expect another car to follow behind a passing vehicle. Never drift left after being passed without checking for a second car. Simply expect it.
Obey traffic signals. There is a temptation to ignore stop signs and even traffic lights when riding a bike. It's not a good idea. Cyclists are allowed by law to use the roads, and we rightfully demand to be treated with respect by vehicle traffic. But if we view ourselves as existing "outside" the traffic laws we simply cannot expect to be viewed any differently by others.
Avoid danger. Some roads are simply not good cycling roads. Route 54 west of Ashland, for instance, or routes 1, 301, 30, or 33. Traffic density is high, shoulders are narrow or nonexistent, speed limits are high and actual speeds are higher. Although I'll hasten to add that at 6 AM on a Sunday morning some of these roads (e.g. routes 30 or 33) can be safely ridden by a group.
When riding in a group, signal potholes, gravel, and other obstacles to those behind you. Simply point to a hole and shout "HOLE". You get the idea. And before you hit the brakes, yell out "SLOWING". The idea is that when another bike is a foot or so behind you, a verbal cue is needed to allow sufficient reaction time.
Finally, dogs. Man's best friend sometimes reserves special treatment for cyclists. Some of my best sprints have been with a large dog close behind. I generally pull out a water bottle at the first sight of an approaching dog. A quick squirt in the face is harmless to the animal and quite effective in buying you some valuable time to escape.
Is it safe to ride the roads of Hanover? If you choose your routes and times carefully and follow these simple tips, most definitely. The drivers on these roads are your friends and neighbors. Do your part to make their trip a pleasant and safe one, and expect the same from them. I've been biking these roads regularly since 1993 with very few memorable incidents of any kind with traffic.
