How to bicycle safely in traffic--

This video shows League of American Bicyclists certified traffic cycling instructors demonstrating how bicyclists make normal vehicular maneuvers including lane control, lane sharing, left and right turns, through movements and a freeway ramp crossing. These skills are taught by the League of American Bicyclists' Bike Ed program.

* Find out more about Bike Ed in Missouri

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU4nKKq02BU]

If you watch the video and think "I could never do that--I'll get run over!" take heart--I used to think the same thing.

Now I do all my riding exactly as shown in the video--and what do you know, it really works. I have far less conflict with automobile drivers and far less 'close calls' or scary moments on the road.

Some tips:

* Start out by practicing these techniques on low-traffic neighborhood streets.

* Once you feel comfortable, try them on more complex streets (say, 4-lane roads with left or right turn lanes) but find low-traffic roads to practice on or do it at low-traffic times of day--say, early Sunday morning.

* Take a class--it's a lot of fun and even if you've been bicycling for years, you'll learn more than you think.

* Bicycling Street Smarts is a very useful (and free) online booklet that summarizes how to bicycle safely.