DRIVERS on Spanish roads are now all aware – or should be – that they are required to leave a 1.5-metre distance when passing cyclists, and that this is expected to increase to two metres, but cyclists themselves may not be fully conversant on their own rights and duties when sharing tarmac with other wheels; or, indeed, feet.
If you live in Spain or spend a lot of time in the country, and you're seriously contemplating getting on your bike – it's quicker than walking, doesn't involve parking problems or fuel expenses, and is emissions-free, which the planet will thank you for – then you need to do some homework first about what's allowed and what's not.
Or, simply read on and take advantage of the fact that we've done some of that homework for you.
You're very welcome.
Stay off the phone – oh, and no headphones, either
The first of these may seem obvious – not using a mobile whilst riding – and, in any case, it's not easy to do as bikes tend to swerve and fall over if you let go of the handlebars or, if you use a hand-bike, it'll stop.
Just in case there are spiders in your family tree and you can comfortably spare two of your eight limbs to text your mates or watch baby kitten videos on YouTube whilst on the road, still don't – it means you're not watching what's in front of you and could cause an accident.
Also, it'll cost you €200 if you're caught and fined.
The latter may not seem quite so cut and dried – you might have suspected you could be hit with a €200 fine for taking a phone call using airPods and hands-free mode, but the 'no headphones' rule applies to music, too. And audio-books, and podcasts, or whatever else comes down the wires or the airwaves.
You may have grown up with a walkman in your coat pocket, attached to a dodgy metal Alice-band with spongy ear-bits that were always coming off, whilst biking around the streets of your youth. The reality is, though, that you cannot help but engage with what you're listening to, which means you'll miss 'sound signals' around you, and this could lead to accidents.
You might ask why this is considered a problem when, of course, a deaf cyclist would not be able to hear 'sound signals' either – but it's not so much about hearing as about focus, which includes what you see and how much you're concentrating on the road or path ahead of you.
Warn others if you're going to brake
In the interests of avoiding a pile-up, if there might be any cyclists, electric skateboard-users or runners behind you, make a hand-signal when you need to stop or slow down, and do the latter gradually if possible.
This is merely a recommendation by Spain's General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), not a requirement, since authorities are aware that it may not always be safe to take a hand off the handlebars or your concentration off the road; furthermore, it may not be safe to even take the time to warn anyone if you have to slam on the brakes to avoid someone or something in your path.
Where it's safe, though, and there's no emergency, it is strongly advised, in order to avert a bike-tangle and grazed knees.
Read full article at thinkSPAIN.com