Your Interview

I typically ride as close to the curb as possible. This often results in me edging out into traffic to avoid pot-holes, grates, drains etc.. Is it better/safer to ride close to the curb and come out when nessesary or to continually ride a little further away so that you don't have to move closer to traffic?

Sherri Byer: Adeel,

The safest strategy is always to give yourself about a metre from the curb. By law, you have as much right to the road as every other driver, be it auto-powered, or people-powered. Stake your place in the right lane in the position that best allows you to follow a straight line of travel. That means that you should be able to avoid swerving around maintenance-hole covers as well as parked cars.

Both car drivers and other cyclists are unprepared for cyclists veering out from the curb unexpectedly, and a cyclist confidently holding ample space in their lane is much less likely to get squeezed to the curb by drivers.

How should I best respond to drivers who try to do me a favour and stop to let me through an intersection when I am the one at a stop sign and not them? This happens to me all time time!, on average once a day on my commutes to and from work in downtown Calgary. The driver is asking me to do something illegal, and also dangerous given that approaching drivers wouldn't understand what's going on if I did go. I can partially prevent this by stopping further back, but I need to stop fairly forward to see what traffic is coming. My response is to point to the stop sign I am at. The driver invariably feels offended that I am not being gracious of their gesture--most cyclists I think would go. This is a frustrating and dangerous trend. Please help.

Sherri Byer: Aaron,

I feel your frustration: I’ve noticed the same trend! But you’re correct to observe the same rights and obligations as motorists. I can only suggest that you continue to give the right-of-way to those who have it — legally and safely. This is a question of awareness and education on behalf of both cyclists and drivers and for now you are doing your small part, however frustrating, in enforcing that. Keep up the good work.

Are there any electric-assist outfits that are worthwhile and cost effective for everyday commuting?

Sherri Byer: Scott,

In the past couple of seasons I have noticed a proliferation of E-Bikes on the road, which leads me to believe that we must be seeing a market of more affordable options than were previously available. As a bike mechanic, I have not had occasion to work on more than one electric assist bicycle — they just don’t come my way, and they are not part of the focus of the market that I work in.

However, there are plenty of people talking about them online! Try these for answers:
http://www.ebikes.ca/faq.shtml
http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/248066
http://www.e-ride.ca/Electric_Vehicles_Info/How_to_select_bike.htm

Cycling is becoming more popular, however fewer cyclists are operating their vehicle safely in accordance with traffic laws. Do you see need for increased enforcement on bicycle traffic violations, if not for cyclist safety, then for the continued dual-use of roads?

Sherri Byer: Tom,

You raise a tricky question. While I agree that there appear to be many cyclists operating without concern for safety or legality, I would suggest that it is most likely a problem of exponential increase: as we see more cyclists on the road, it is just as likely that we will see an increase of both careful safety-minded cyclists and reckless riders.

In my opinion, increased awareness is necessary on the part not only of cyclists, but of drivers and pedestrians as well. Is enforcement more effective than education? I am not convinced that it is.

Are skinny slick tires on a mountain bike a hazard on wet roads compared to knobby tires?

Sherri Byer: Warren,

Thank you for addressing this popular misconception! Regardless of whether your bike is of a construction and geometry intended for mountain or road use, the style of tires you use on the road answers to exactly the same type of specifications.

If you are riding on the road, you want as much road contact from your tires as possible. If you are riding on knobby tires, then only the lugs contact the road surface at any given moment. In comparison, the advantage of slicks is that the whole outermost surface contacts the road when you are riding. The result is that, contrary to popular belief, your best traction on the road will come with slicks — even if you are on a mountain bike, and even if it’s raining!

Any idea on how to attach my daughter's bike to mine so that she doesn't have to pedal? She still uses training wheels and sometimes gets tired of pedaling.

Sherri Byer: Ali,

Good question! Keep her riding with you now while she’s little, and she’ll grow up with it!

You have two options:

1) an attachment that comes with a rear wheel and comes in different sizes and gearings, according to the child (see your local bike shop for Trail-a-Bike brand), or
2) an attachment that hooks up the adult bike to the child’s bike, allowing you to use this with various bikes as the child grows (see your local bike shop for Trailgator brand).

I have had good and bad feedback on both of these options from customers, and this is it, in a nutshell:

- the Trail-a-Bike is the more stable and easy to use of the two, but doesn’t grow with the rider, while the Trailgator does exactly the opposite

- the Trail-a-Bike can be purchased with a variety of weights (i.e.chromoly vs. aluminum) and gearings

- the Trailgator, on the other hand, can be attached or removed from the child’s bike mid-ride and clipped out of the way on the adult bike, as needed, allowing your child to ride independently as desired.

Weigh your priorities and shop accordingly — most bike shops should be able to order these for you if they do not regularly stock them.

When traffic is heavy and not moving, is it best to pass on the right near the curb, on the left between lanes, or not at all?

This is a source of confusion and many other regular commuters.

Sherri Byer: Sam,

Always keep safety at the forefront of your movements on the road. If motorized traffic allows for passing on the right, next to the curb, then you are at liberty to make use of that. It is never in anyone’s best interest to pass between lanes; it is unpredictable and therefore sets you at risk as a cyclist as well as creating unpredictable responses from motorists.

If motorists have slowed or stopped close enough to the curb that you are leaning or struggling for space, then you are better not to pass at all, as frustrating as that may seem! Stay safe.

When I come to an intersection and it is a red light, I often don't know whether to stop right next to the curb or closer to the middle of the intersection so that a car can turn right on the red. What is the correct thing to do in such a situation?

Sherri Byer: Sarah,

I can understand the confusion in this scenario, so think of yourself as a car driver in this situation. If the lane is a turning lane, then by all means move to the left of it (that is to say, take the right of the middle/right lane). However, if it is a regular lane then hold your spot and remember that you are not blocking traffic, you *are* traffic! If it were a car in the same scenario, the driver behind them would be required to wait.

How does one adjust cantilever brakes for optimal stopping power?

Sherri Byer: James,

There is a broad range of cantilever brakes: between the earliest and the most recent models there is a gradual progression of brake arm angle which changes the way cantilevers respond. Regardless of the era or generation of your cantilever brakes, there are a few things you can do to optimize their stopping power.

Always, you want to set them up to optimize the linear action between the brake pad and the rim when the brake pad actually hits (meaning that this should not be based on the position of the brake pad when the brake arm is resting, but when it engages closest to the rim).

Additionally, you want to “toe in” the brake pads, so that the front of the brake pad hits the rim just slightly before the rear of the brake pad (only about a millimetre). And finally, expect to be able to pull the brake levers about halfway from their resting position to the handlebar when you engage the brake.

I'm debating on putting a different type of tire on my bike. Can you tell me the advantages and disadvantages between the size and style of tire? (knobby, slick, semi-slick)

Sherri Byer: Jeff,

This decision always depends on the terrain you normally ride on. If most of your cycling happens off-road, on rutted, rough, or gravelly terrain, then knobbies are your best bet. The nature of lugged design will allow the tires to grab whatever surface they encounter. (In that case, you also want to keep the tires somewhere within the optimum PSI level, but not at maximum, for best traction.)

If you are someone who always rides on paved surfaces, then slicks are the answer: you want the most tire-surface to ride-surface contact for best traction, so slicks on pavement make the most sense, as the tires is always touching the road.

On the other hand, if you mainly ride on roads but want to have the option of doing light off-road from time to time, then go with the semi-slick option. The slick surface in the middle of the tire will allow you to get good traction on paved surfaces, while still offering back-up traction from the side lugs.

What should I do if I'm waiting at a stoplight, but the light won't change unless a car is there? Dismount to push the button for the pedestrian signal?

Sherri Byer: Robert,

This is a cyclist’s grief, for sure!! In a lucky scenario, a pedestrian comes by and you have the opportunity to be friendly with a fellow human-powered person and ask them to press the button for you! Otherwise, as always, keep safety as your priority. Dismount and walk your bike to the pedestrian button, as you have already suggested.

1. Ontario law: Are stop signs queues--one at a time per lane--or shared as moving traffic may share a lane?

2. What is your initial reaction to the following proposed graduated licensing system?

a) rules of the road more strictly enforced as you progress;
b) for violating the rules, penalties which explicitly affect which license may be held increase as you progress; and
c) vehicle classes in order of progress are:
human; add wheels; add gears; add a motor; add a protective cage to the vehicle.

Sherri Byer: Josh,

Yes, in Ontario, as in all provinces, stop signs are legal queues, with specific sequences: whoever arrives first at the stop sign has the right of way, with the person/vehicle to the right (in the intersection) having the right to move next. If you, as a cyclist, are waiting your turn at the intersection, feel free to move forward in conjunction with the motorist sitting beside you.

However, if you arrive at the intersection a little before or a little after any given motorist, keep in mind that you are subject to the same rights and responsibilities as they are.

As for your graduated licensing suggestion, I’m afraid the three options are not very clear to me — perhaps a rephrasing or clarification would leave me with a clear initial reaction.

What is required as far as yearly maintenance? Is oil on the chain and air in the tires enough?

Sherri Byer: Karen,

Air and lube are certainly a good start, and definitely the kind of bike maintenance every cyclist should be able to manage. But for those details, you should be thinking in terms of something more like monthly or biweekly, depending how much you ride, rather than yearly.
For all bike maintenance, the quantity, style and condition of your cycling needs to be taken into account when defining what kind of regular maintenance your bike will need.

If you are someone who rides your bike daily as your main form of transportation, regardless of whether conditions, your bike will require a whole different attention to maintenance than if you are a recreational rider who takes your bike out on fair-weather weekends as your schedule allows.

The best thing to do is to find a local bike shop that does free assessments. Most shops will charge for service but not to assess your bike’s needs. If you drop by a shop with your bike and discuss your riding style with the intake mechanic, they should usually be able to recommend appropriate maintenance plans for your bike, and only charge you if you agree to repair and maintenance work.

I know I'm not supposed to bike on the sidewalk but the traffic in Toronto frankly scares me silly. I don't feel the least bit comfortable or confident enough to ride with ongoing traffic. Does that mean that I can only ride recreationally and will never be able to commute by bike?

Sherri Byer: Annie,

Absolutely not! I have known people to *start* riding a bike as adults, learn to ride confidently in traffic, and go on to become what I’d call “hard core” commuters!

My suggestion to you is to get training from someone who is confident and knowledgeable about cycling and road rights/responsibilities, such as a CanBike instructor. If you are serious about wanting to be able to commute in the city, then spending the time and money on one of these courses is definitely worthwhile (less than driver’s education!)

The official Can-Bike site does not seem to be updated with local 2008 schedules, but if you Google Can-Bike for your specific city you will be able to details on this course, in addition to finding local schedules.

- I'm sick of stopping behind busses at every bus stop in the bus/bike lane, usually if I'm ahead of a bus I stay ahead of the bus. Is there a safe way to pass the bus?

- What is the best way to turn left on a busy 6-lane road? i.e. you are in the right lane and you have to make your way to the left lane to turn left. Often these turns are not a cross-walks or traffic lights.

Sherri Byer: Shawn,

Having not ridden in Winnipeg, I can only assume that lane configuration puts you in the same position — physically and legally — as the cities that I am more familiar with. It’s true: sometimes you fall behind them, sometimes ahead of them, and always we are traffic, just like motorized vehicles. The safest way to pass is on the right, when the bus is moving (that is to say not stopped with the doors opened for passengers).

Sorry, but I don’t have any special loopholes for bypassing regular traffic legally!

For your second question, if you are unable to cross traffic safely by regular means (i.e. signaling and cycling to the left turning lane), then you should progress to the intersection and walk your bike across when signals allow for crossing, even if they are not specifically directed to pedestrians.

Is there a recommended child seat for bikes? I have a front mount one and am wondering how safe it is?

Sherri Byer: LeeAnn,

I have installed child seats of many makes, and there is not a specific one that I recommend, although some I have felt better about than others. Invariably I can tell you that there are a couple of models that are sold by IBDs (Independent Bicycle Dealers) that will be better than those offered at department stores. All the department store models that I’ve installed have had mounting systems that left me feeling dubious.

There is only one front mount model available in Canada that I am aware of. While a number of people that I have talked to prefer the idea, the model that I have installed left me a little cold for two reasons: the mounting system seemed dodgy to me, and the requisite cycling style with that seat is so awkward that I wonder whether the payoff of having the child within visibility range outweighs the poorer (less safe) bike handling that results.

Does anyone know if you can still find lights powered by pedaling? I've been looking all over for such a system...

Sherri Byer: Anthony,

Yes, these are definitely still available. In fact, you can get them in various prices and levels of quality! I’m not surprised, though, that you haven’t found them at retail level, as very few shops that I know of actually keep them in stock.

However, I can think of three different distributors that carry them (there may be more), so if you visit your local bike shop they should, at very least, be able to order such a creature for you — it is not extinct yet!