Bike Commuting in the Philippines: Safety First

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I'm starting this series of bike commuting tips to give newbies information on how to get from point A to point B safely with their bikes. With the worsening traffic conditions, you can laugh at the people stuck in traffic while you breeze with your bike.
don't you wish you're on a bike?

I've been riding my bike to work on an average of 3 times a week. My daily route takes me 1 hour for a 20km ride from home to office. I'm faced with the usual Philippine traffic scene where jeepneys try to take you to the gutter or suffocate you with their super black exhaust.  Motorcycles cut your path and cars pass you with less than half a meter of clearance.

What do you need to take on the wild Manila roads? You need guts, gears and skills. Your life is in your hands. Safety is the utmost importance so here are some things you need to know about bike safety.


Spyder Shox
  1. Always wear a helmet. Be sure to wear it properly. Make sure to fasten all the straps and tighten all that can be tightened. Make sure to wear the proper helmet. Buy a cycling helmet and not the hard hat that construction workers wear.
    • I would recommend a helmet with lots of vents. Personally, I would get a Spyder helmet when I buy my next one. 
  2. Make yourself visible. Rear lights and headlights are a must if you are planning on commuting at night. Philippine streets are not well lighted and you are hardly visible at night.
    • I recommend and use the Cateye Rapid 5. It's very bright and guaranteed to get you noticed at night or even during the day. 
  3. Use proper turning procedures. Turning left or right, use your hand to signal others on your intention before proceeding with the turn. Always, take a look before doing the turn. Even when doing slight movement in your lane like avoiding a manhole cover, you need to take a glance at the traffic behind you before moving. A speeding car that catches the tip of your handle bars can send you flying to the gutter.
  4. Follow traffic lights. Even if you're in a bicycle, you are not exempted from obeying the traffic lights. Stopping for a few seconds would not be a big deal. You can catch your breath while waiting for the green light.
  5. Be wary of the terrain. A metal strip can make your tire slip. Pot holes can throw you off course when not noticed. Glass shards and nails can puncture your tires. The gutter incline can sometimes get you off balanced. You need to be aware of the road at all times.
  6. If in doubt, stop. When a huge truck or bus comes from behind, I usually slow down and stop to let them pass. They take most of the lane and are huge. All the gruesome youtube videos of cyclist getting run over the tires and turning them into a road kill is enough to make me stop and just let them pass me.

There are a ton more of tips out there but these can get you going for that bike commute.

Ride safe everyone.


credits to the following for the photos:
http://www.admu.edu.ph/

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