What one tip would you give a commuting cyclist starting out in 2012?

One tip only? Read EVERYTHING from cover to cover on the link below - Bicycling Street Smarts. As another stated - one tip won't cut it. More tips? Be SEEN or visible. If they (motorists) can't see you clearly, they are more prone to hit you. Another good link is Bicycle Safe.com.

Don't be afraid to "take the lane". Google those 3 words. Google your own local bicycle laws. You have more rights & rules than you might imagine. "There is no right answer on this imo, just interesting knowledge." Interesting knowledge that could save your life!!! Or at least prevent a wreck. Note I didn't say "accident", I said wreck. Whenever two or more "vehicles" are involved, someone is at least partially responsible. And a bicycle is a "vehicle" - by law - in all 50 states & Canada.

Why do I consider this important to share? Again - we're talking about your life. On every bicycle is someone's Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, Son, Daughter, Cousin, Niece, Nephew, Aunt, Uncle, Grandparent, etc. Because I get around 99.9% of the time on 2 wheels - no car.

Member - St. Louis Bicycle Federation

Member - Trailnet - http://www.trailnet.org/

Member - Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation - http://mobikefed.org/

It's a fact of life that occasionally you will get cut up on the roads. Take that as a reminder to cycle assertively and defensively - get some lessons or read John Franklin's Cyclecraft book if you need some help. But whatever you do, don't give up cycling - you are doing the right thing by pedalling along rather than just pushing the "gas" pedal,

The single most useful thing anyone told me was this: Cars tend to give you the same amount of space that you give yourself.

E.g., if you ride 6 inches away from the kerb, cars will pass you too close. If you ride a metre away from the kerb then they'll tend to pass you about a metre away, which is much more comfortable and less dangerous!

Although it doesn't always feel like it, you're much much safer if you're a good way out into the road and not right over to the kerb side - you're easier to see, there's less rubbish and fewer drains to make you swerve, and cars have to take you into account and not just ignore you.

Move over a little to let traffic past you if you're going slower than surrounding traffic and if there's space for cars to safely pass you. Move out to the middle of the lane to prevent overtaking where there isn't enough room.

Makes you feel so much more in control, and keeps you safer (much more than helmets do!).

Remember that every vehicle around you outweighs you by at least a ton. You lose in any encounter with a motor vehicle, regardless of who was right.

1. Be visible. Lights, flashers, bright clothing, its all good. Stand out from the background. Project a large presence. Even if it annoys drivers, its sometimes necessary to 'take the lane' to discourage nimrods from making an unsafe pass. Its better to make them really think about passing you on that blind turn than to let them think they can squeeze by, then get hipchecked into the bushes when they can make it.

2. Be predictable. Collisions (there are very few true accidents) happen due to surprise or confusion, usually when one or more parties is not paying attention or does something unexpected. Know and follow traffic laws. Ride with traffic. Stop at stop signs. Signal turns and lane changes. Be where motorists are expecting to see something.

3. Be aware of everything around you. Keep your head on a swivel. Leave the ipod at home, turn off the phone. You need every bit of your reaction time and sensory input.

4. Watch for heads through rear windows. When you're riding alongside parallel parked cars, a head means someone is getting ready to door you. Don't ride too close to the parked cars either. Old 2 door Pontiacs have really, really long doors.

5. Be vocal if you need to. "HEADS UP" if it looks like someone is about to roll through a stop sign. I've annoyed more than a few nimrods, but I've also embarrased a few and save my own skin. Including a cop who was too busy with his phone to notice he was turning on top of me.

When you ride every day, you can't take chances, because the odds WILL catch up with you.

If you don't already have a good bicycle, make sure to buy one that is appropriate for the distance and terrain you will be riding. Commuting is hard on a bike, you may be caught out in bad conditions sometime so you need one that will be reliable. A good commuting bike will be safe to ride and you have to consider how to carry the things you will bring along. Protection from road dirt when it rains makes a set of mudguards a useful addition. One of the best types of bikes and one of the least mentioned is a touring bike. Touring bikes are designed to be rugged and safe. They are designed for carrying gear. They are designed to be durable and reliable. All these attributes make them ideal commuters, especially for longer commutes.

Helmet. My ex-husband was hit by cars twice while riding to work. Also put a little bag under the seat with extra tubes in it and attach a small pump in case you get a flat. You'll also want to find a way to keep your clothes clean, perhaps change at work. Good luck!! It's an awesome thing to do!!

Get a road, commuter, or hybrid bike. If you have a long way to ge get a road bike. Commuter bikes usually have fenders and a rack. You can add fenders and a rack to a hybrid. Buy from the local bike shop not Halfords.

Everything everybody else has said plus be seen. A reflective vest and a good set of taillights and headlights makes the ride a lot safer.

Make sure that other road users can see you, so get some high viz clothes and plenty of good front and rear lights.

Go for it and enjoy getting fit and saving money.

avoid going up hills or walk up steep ones so your legs wont hurt when you get to the top. wear bright clothing or viz light vest. don't give up it will get easier as time goes by