I’ve been safely riding around Des Moines for five years armed with a fair amount of confidence, a healthy dose of fear, and a friendly, small town wave. I’ve only been hit once. It was within the first six months of riding on the roads. I was in the driver’s blind spot as she turned into my path while turning right into a parking lot. My pedal got caught under her running board and she drug me a few feet before I pulled free and tumbled into the grass. No broken bones, only a few scratches, jangled nerves, and new knowledge of how to be a safe and smart rider.

I can sum up my rules of the road in three sentences.

Wear a helmet. Use your senses. Don’t be an ass.

Wear a properly fitted helmet. Always.

Use your senses.

Before you mount your bike, look at it. Touch it. Squeeze the tires. Do they have enough air? Squeeze the brakes. Do they work? Do what you will with your technology before balancing on your bike. I use Strava to record my rides. Hit “start” before putting your feet on the pedals.

I do not encourage the use of headphones or mounted stereos while you ride. You lose one of your most important riding senses, your hearing. You need to listen to AND hear what is going on around you. It is illegal to wear headphones while you are driving a vehicle. It should be extra illegal to wear headphones while you are riding a bike.

Mount up…oh yeah. Say hello to the beautiful machine you are balanced on, get comfortable (but not too comfortable), and ride on.

You are not and never will be a car. You are the smallest and most unstable MOVING thing on the road. Never forget this. If you understand this fact and it scares you a little, good, you are ready to ride.

Always scan with your eyes. Always scan with your ears. “Always scanning” is my mantra when I ride. “Always scanning” is what I say out loud after I’ve caught myself zoning out. I remember my dad teaching me this during my first driving lessons as a teenager. The rule also applies for riding. Keep your focus about five to ten feet in front of you. Activate the awareness of your peripheral vision. Always scanning.

Little mirrors are cute. Looking behind you can save your life. When in doubt, turn around and look at what might be behind you. And always be in doubt when riding. Using the range of motion of your neck, even for one second, is better than only using your cute little mirror. I use both.

Signal. Use your body and voice to show and tell where you are and where you are going. Be over-the-top about this. Wear bright clothing. Clarity is appreciated when you are the smallest one on the road. I know there are correct ways to signal with your arms but I don’t use them. If I am turning left, I put my left hand out with my finger pointed to indicate my left turn. If I’m turning right, I put my right hand out. If I’m at a stop sign and I am going straight, I point straight ahead and keep my focus straight ahead so my arm and my gaze are communicating where I intend to go.

I believe if all the cyclists on the road would communicate more clearly about where they are going there would be fewer pissed off drivers and fewer accidents.

You are not a car but you need to ACT like a car.

There are two ways to approach and move through an intersection. If there is a bike lane painted on the road, use it. Stay in your designated lines and act like a car. If there are no bike lanes, you have two options. The safest option – move into the middle of the lane and act like a car. Signal and move forward when it is your turn. The second option – move to the far right side of the lane, signal and move forward when it is your turn. Do not stop in a right hand turning lane and expect to turn left.

Stop at all stop signs. This includes the stop signs on the trails. I have been known to roll through a few stops signs. I do this only after I’ve slowed my speed and have been intently looking and listening for possible cars. STOP and remember you are balanced on two wheels powered by your body and your brain. You will always be smaller and slower than the two ton, engine powered, fast moving machines that are driven by people who have their windows shut, radios on, and are talking on their phones. If this scares you a little and you still want to ride, good.

Clarity is also appreciated on the trails. If you are passing someone on the trails use a bell or your voice to let the slower person know that you are passing. Passing etiquette in Des Moines is to say, “On your left”, as you get within ten feet of the person you are passing. I also use, “Beep Beep” or “behind you” when I am coming up on a dog walker or a family with kids/dogs running/riding all over the trail.

And what about that friendly, small town Iowa wave? Use it. I like to wave at the driver who has patiently waited for me to get through an intersection or has waited behind me as I take up a lane. I do this even when I have the right of way and it is my turn. Drivers are typically in a hurry. A little “thank you” hurts no one and increases the exposure of safe and smart riding. Road rage on a bike never works. Trust me.

Wear a helmet. Use your senses. Don’t be an ass.