Hi all,

I’m brand new to road cycling. I love it so far - but some close calls with cars are scaring the **** out of me.

Since I started about 3 weeks ago I’ve not been able to stay off the bike long. I’m absolutely loving being out and exploring town. I’m doing 15-30 miles and largely using Strava for route building + a bit of common sense.

Today scared me.

My ride today took me out to Percy Warner and back on Belmont Blvd, and 16th Ave back to downtown.

While trying to handle some of those descents safely (still learning) I had some close calls with cars a few times. Going down 16th, a car pulled in front of me to start a left turn while I was in the bike lane going down the hill. I braked to avoid running into the side of the car and my back tire skidded hard. I swerved, but saved what would have been a really hard fall.

Am I crazy for being a bit shellshocked? I’m realizing I’ve had a few close calls like this over the past couple weeks.

What do you all do to ride safe? How do you stay visible, find safe routes, and learn to handle these moments?

Is this just par for the course here in Nashville?

TLDR:

I’m new to road cycling - but feeling unsafe on Nashville roads. How do you:

• Make sure you’re seen by cars turning while riding in the bike lane
• Find routes without fast car traffic and “bike lanes” that are just the shoulder
• Stay safe in general while riding in town

OR are close calls with cars just part of cycling in Nashville.

Do you know of a ride this upcoming week? Feel free to post it! Include some details like average pace, is it a drop ride, how big of a group on average, etc.

I was googling for information related to a Lebanon Pk Safety Study for NDOT's VisionZero and was linked to some posts from this sub ... Seems a lot of the concerns of this sub are projects NDOT is slowly trying to address.
I'm subbing both to see what active concerns you folks have and see what your response is to the improvements that NDOT does make. If anyone has any questions about the engineering side of things, I'll try my best to answer.
ETA: I work as a consultant, not for a Metro entity.

Do you know of a ride this upcoming week? Feel free to post it! Include some details like average pace, is it a drop ride, how big of a group on average, etc.

Hey, y'all - visiting from Portland Oregon through Tues morning.

While at a bar tonight, we saw a group (about six or seven) of cyclists (not lycra types, lights on a trailer, etc) ride by together.

Are there group rides that are more like themed or critical mass group rides? In Portland, we have many group bike rides that are themed (shift2bikes.org) and I'm curious if there are similar type events here.

Kind of a long shot, but we have BCycle passes and we've been enjoying getting around the city by bike.

Thanks in advance - and if you're ever in Portland, check out the calendar linked above for some fun rides!

This is great news! I have lobbied for this in every Titans post game survey for a long time! Their finally going to do it starting this Sunday 9/22/24. And I quote from the latest news letter from the Titans:

Also new this year: FREE bike valet with Walk Bike Nashville!
Drop your bike off at their tent on S. 2nd St. and Shelby Ave. and it will be waiting for you after the game.

Do you know of a ride this upcoming week? Feel free to post it! Include some details like average pace, is it a drop ride, how big of a group on average, etc.

Can anyone recommend bike shops or events where you can fix your bike on your own with tools that the shop or events provide?

Anyone with any experience riding any of the greenways at or around dark? How strictly are the 'dusk' hours enforced?

Do you know of a ride this upcoming week? Feel free to post it! Include some details like average pace, is it a drop ride, how big of a group on average, etc.

Never heard this one before.... drivers fear for their safety because of flexpost delineators on their street lol.

https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/residents-speak-traffic-calming-measures-antioch/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwY2xjawFIpnFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVl_hGgSPIngVKScRCdJDL2pDjMiuAXalW9-HkHzxavXVIe0xck6O3AN5Q_aem_GsVEltoQGdVQnFvjf4TgvQ

My bike has been stolen

What shops have a good selection of women's bibs to try on?

On the hunt for a big climb. Longer the better. Long enough to settle in and spin.

I know this isn’t really the area for that kind of thing - this is the land of 0.3 miles at 9%.

I like the eastbound climb on 96 onto Waddell Hollow. But I’ve also done that many many times. Looking for something new.

Do you know of a ride this upcoming week? Feel free to post it! Include some details like average pace, is it a drop ride, how big of a group on average, etc.

Do you know of a ride this upcoming week? Feel free to post it! Include some details like average pace, is it a drop ride, how big of a group on average, etc.

I ride to work all the way up 2nd ave, where there is no bike lane. A school bus driver got up behind me in the right lane and started following me honking! I've mostly started ignoring all the people who are so mean to me while I bike, but the driver really upset me because I feel like they should be held at a higher standard. I wish I had turned around and gotten the bus number. How do you guys put up with the harassment? Or avoid it? I imagine most of you are much faster than I am, since I'm mostly new to biking around town, but it really makes me not want to go out. I do wear my work clothes, so maybe if i had cycling gear, others would be more respectful.

Do you know of a ride this upcoming week? Feel free to post it! Include some details like average pace, is it a drop ride, how big of a group on average, etc.