After two years of commuting through the Sydney CBD I’ve picked up a few survival tips which I thought I would pass on. Most of these are also useful for riding out in the suburbs as well.

Be seen & heard
        Try to be as obvious as possible so that drivers can’t say that they “didn’t see you”. Wear something bright. I wear a fluoro yellow jacket most of the time so that I stand out, especially if the light isn’t perfect. Often if it’s overcast I’ll switch my rear light on, and if I’m riding in the rain I always switch it on.
        When riding at night, being seen is even more important. The absolute minimum as required by law is a white front and red rear light. For the front it is better to get something fairly powerful - I use a home-made 20 watt light, though this is probably overkill. At the rear I use a flashing LED light. The batteries last for a long time and they can be seen at a fair distance. Don’t wear black or dark coloured clothes.
        By law a bell or other warning device must also be fitted to your bike. I use an air horn with a plastic bottle as a reservoir which can be refilled using a bike pump. The usefulness of this is debatable, but it lets drivers know that you’re unhappy with them after they cut you off or pass too close. It’s REALLY loud too.
        At intersections try to make eye contact with drivers. Even if you have the clear right of way, if you can’t see their eyes then you can’t be certain that they have seen you, and it pays to be careful. At all times keep your head up and your eyes open - you never know what your fellow road user might do next!

Know the law
        It’s important to know your rights and responsibilities as a cyclist. We have to obey the same laws as other traffic, but there are also rules which apply specifically to us. It shouldn’t have to be said, but obey the law. Don’t ride through red lights, no matter how safe you think it is. If we want to be treated as equals on the road, we have to be prepared to play by the same rules as everyone else.
        On single lane and unlined roads cyclists have to travel as close as practical to the left. This does not mean riding in the gutter. Rather it means that we should ride far enough from the edge that it is safe. The RTA recommends riding at least 1 metre from the curb. You should also ride at least 1 metre from parked cars to avoid being hit by opening doors.
        On multi laned road cyclists are allowed to take a whole lane. Especially in the city, where it is easy to keep up with traffic, you should do this. It discourages drivers from trying to squeeze past to overtake, forcing them to change lanes instead. They’re supposed to leave at least 1 metre when passing, but this doesn’t always happen. Cyclists can also ride two abreast when taking a lane, but three abreast is illegal. When stopped at traffic lights you should also wait in the centre of the lane. These measures often seem to annoy impatient drivers, but at least if they are annoyed then you know that they have seen you.

Riding in the rain
        I try to avoid riding in the rain, but there are some times when I get caught out. You have to accept that you are going to get wet, and more than likely your legs will end up covered in black crud, but there are ways of avoiding getting wetter than necessary. A good quality jacket will help keep your top half relatively dry, and a pair of mudguards will stop most of the water which gets flung upwards. A pair of clear or yellow lensed glasses will prevent drops of rain from getting in your eyes.
        If it’s cold, riding harder will help you warm up. I also find riding in the rain more bearable if there’s a warm shower waiting at the end! I always carry a plastic bag or two so that if I’m caught out, my uni books and other stuff will stay dry. I also always carry a rear light and a light rain jacket with me.
 

Locking up
        Unfortunately, bike theft is a reality, but there are a few steps you can take to decrease the risk. Use a good quality U-lock. Remember, you get what you pay for, so it's a good idea not to skimp. Lock your bike to a soid object. Put the lock through the frame at least, and preferably the rear wheel as well. If you have a quick release front wheel, it's a good idea to remove this and lock it up as well. Remove anything which isn't permanently attached, such as lights, pump, drink bottles, computers, etc. I even know of some people who take their seats with them!