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Let's say you persuade some significant other to ride with you in the city. You both have good bikes, they are inexperienced, and you are (I am) used to commuting, including in traffic.
How do you prepare the inexperienced rider to ride in traffic, and keep them safe while they learn and practice? How do you instruct them while riding?
I ride behind: she sets the pace, concentrates on the road ahead. Being behind I can watch, control the distance between us, speak advice, and manage (i.e. observe and give hand signals to) any vehicles approaching us from behind.
Edit: I just found a quote on the front page of The VEHICULAR CYCLIST (December 2011)
"I’ve taken three cycling courses since becoming a community officer with the Ottawa Police Service and am on schedule to become a cycling instructor this fall. At the end of every course, I’m absolutely amazed at all the bad habits that I had taught myself throughout the years, ...".
http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/safety/index.htm mentions "CAN-BIKE" courses. One idea might be to take that kind of lesson: I'd at least see how they teach it.
I had some instruction a few days ago (to find out what bad habits I've accumulated), and after checking my bike and handling away from the road, and working through some scenarios on (almost) empty residential streets, the traffic section worked like this:
On longer straight sections, the instructor would ride alongside (traffic permitting) and discuss the next (or previous) step. You can (we did) segue straight into the next leg of the journey if there is enough time and space to talk it over on the move.
The important thing seems to be that you both know where you're going, what junctions or road layouts are involved, and how to approach each one.
Remember that leading (or instructing) is about building both parties confidence: your SO will enjoy it more if they know what they're doing, and you'll enjoy it more if you're confident in them.
IMO (having run some Boy Scout cycling classes, among other things), before you go "play in traffic" with teens/adults you should have a "chalk talk" explaining the various basic rules/techniques for riding in traffic, and then, on a quiet road, demonstrate the techniques and have the "student" practice them a bit.
Granted, if by SO you mean a spouse or romantic interest such pedantry may not go over well, but it's the quickest and safest way to teach the techniques.
Of course, before you do this read up on how to ride in traffic yourself, from some reasonable authorities -- it's amazing how many adult cyclists have no idea how to properly ride in traffic, and how many bad habits they have.
How do you prepare the inexperienced rider to ride in traffic, and keep them safe while they learn and practice? How do you instruct them while riding?
It depends on how inexperienced the other rider is...and providing that you had a pre-ride discussion of cycling safety. A rough idea is to take progressively small steps:
Your idea of riding in back is good to start out. Once your SO/partner/friend is up to speed, then try things out where you lead, and see if it is working.
