Number 7: How Did the Amici Cross the Road?

Statistically, most serious car-bike (and car-car) accidents happen at intersections, including laneways and driveways. When an Amici group ride comes to a road intersection of course the leading rider will call out “stopping!” and/or “car right!” or whatever the best instruction is. Once we have stopped and are waiting for a gap in crossing traffic, what is the best way to get across the road? 

There are a few answers to this question. According to the law we are 6 or 7 or 8 individual vehicles so we should each line up and go, one at a time, as gaps in crossing traffic allow. A group of cyclists never does this, ever. But we should be aware this is what the law says we should do.

What we typically do is when the leading rider(s) see a gap, they calculate if they think the group can get across, and shout "Clear!" or “Go!”. The group behind is often a disorderly line of stopped cyclists with a foot down. Some are taking a drink. Some are chatting. By the time they get organized there may be more cars coming and they have to wait again to get across. Sometimes there are close calls for the rear riders. This is not the best way.

Here’s some math: if we are stopped at an intersection, and a car is 150 m away and coming from the right or left at 80 kph, the car will take 7 seconds to reach us. A bike is about 1.7 m long. A line of six riders in single file is about 11 m long, or about the length of a delivery truck, and two lanes of road measure about 8 m wide. If starting from rest the group averages 8 kph across the intersection, it will take about 4 seconds for the first rider to get to the other side, but 9 seconds for the last rider. We had 7 seconds. Oops. 

Here’s how I do it, and I get in trouble for it, so I know at least some of you are watching. First, I always gear down a cog or two when approaching a stop so I can start more easily. Then, I try not to stop at all- rather, if I can I circle wide of the group so I am in the front row, usually to the right of the group. If I need to, I try to “track stand” so I don’t put a foot down. When I think it’s safe for me to cross, I go regardless of what the leader calls. I sometimes get shouted at, but I am on the other side and alive. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but, well… No matter how safe and predictable we all are, never depend completely on someone’s else’s judgement in risky situations. Always make sure you can see the cars and do what is safe for you.

If the six riders cross together as two rows three abreast, they are only two cyclists or 3.4 m long. If they are ready and paying attention, and go quickly together, they are shorter than a VW Beetle and all get across safely in 5 seconds. Phew.

My point, as the Niagara road signs say, is “Think and drive!” An intersection is dangerous. Be alert, be ready, position yourself so you can see. Don’t just trust when you hear “go!”. Don't just copy me, either. If it takes two tries for everybody to get across, that’s not the worst thing. We are not in that much of a hurry after all.