New bike commuters often absorb a handful of ideas about riding in traffic that sound like common sense but don’t actually hold up once examined.
Myth: riding as far right as possible is always safest
Reality: hugging the curb tightly can put a cyclist in the door zone of parked cars and makes it harder for drivers to judge intent at intersections. A slightly more assertive position within the lane, where appropriate, often improves visibility and predictability.
Myth: sidewalks are safer than the road
Reality: sidewalk riding increases the risk of collisions at driveways and intersections, where drivers aren’t expecting a cyclist moving at road speed from that direction. Most traffic safety research on cycling points to road riding, done predictably, as the safer option in most urban settings.
Myth: eye contact with drivers guarantees they’ve seen you
Reality: a driver can appear to be looking directly at a cyclist and still not register them, particularly at complex intersections with multiple things competing for attention. Riding as if you haven’t been seen, until a driver’s action proves otherwise, is a safer default assumption.
Myth: more caution is always better than clear signaling
Reality: hesitating or weaving to avoid a decision often confuses drivers more than a clear hand signal and a confident, predictable line through an intersection. Predictability, more than caution alone, is what keeps a cyclist visible and safe in traffic.
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