Some basic tips from 12 years of safe urban riding:
The faster you ride, the more space you need on either side of you. Rather than hug the parked cars, drift to the left as you accelerate. The bike lane is sometimes not the safest place for an e-bike.
Some riders choose to ride often in the center of the traffic lane, in theory preventing drivers from passing unsafely. This is a personal choice, and in some situations an appropriate one. Other riders prefer the rightmost third of the traffic lane, or on top of the left line of the striped bike lane.
If you ride in a striped bike lane, avoid the door-zone. Car doors opening without warning is one of the leading causes of injury to urban cyclists. Use special caution around taxis and Ubers as any door can open once the car stops moving (and sometimes before).
To this effect, if you must cut a path between stopped cars and moving ones, you are usually safer hugging the moving ones since they will nearly never open their doors.
To know if a driver is about to pull away from the curb, watch their front tires.
Always scan ahead. Evidenced by collision statistics, road hazard is almost always ahead of us rather than coming up from behind. Riders are rarely hit from behind, so don’t preoccupy yourself with the overtaking traffic.
Look for possible points of conflict ahead and brake if something is fishy. Don’t outride your vision and visibility.
Sunburn is probably the biggest hazard a bike rider faces. Even on a 20 minute ride, it is a good idea to put on some sunscreen.
Ride peacefully. Always be prepared to give up the right-of-way to an errant driver. They are often uninformed or inexperienced in dealing with bicyclists, and you will both appreciate skipping the confrontation and going on with your day.
Stop at stop lights. Riding courteously helps the e-bike community maintain positive relations with law enforcement. Rolling slowly through stop signs is usually considered acceptable, if there is no other traffic present (this is known as the Idaho Stop).
Remember that if you’ll be exceeding 20 mph on an e-bike, a helmet is required in California. It is also good practice to wear one.
Eye protection can be advisable at high speeds, where a pebble, insect, or other bit of debris can disable the rider and force him/her into making an unsafe stop. At speeds approaching 28 mph, wind can also be a distraction which earplugs can help with.
The most important piece of safety gear on scooters, motorcycles, and e-bikes alike are protective gloves. Leather, mesh, or synthetics are all okay. Along with your feet, your hands are your most likely parts to be injured in a fall. Fingerless or full-fingered gloves are okay.
Ready to go beyond the basics? Check out Advanced Urban Bicycle Riding.
