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Cycling Safety Tips
Being observant, obeying the laws and wearing a helmet is the best way to ensure you have an enjoyable and safe cycling experience.
Safety tips you should put into practice.
- Make it a habit! Six point safety check your bike every time before you ride. Check your tires, wheels, seat and handlebars and the brakes and ensure they are all functioning properly. All bicycles must be equipped with a horn and brakes that work.
- Stay alert. Listen and Look at the traffic and pedestrians around you.
- Remember that some drivers just don't see you.
- Don't ride in traffic until you can safely negotiate it.
- Avoid riding at night, but if you do, see and be seen. Be visible. Wear bright, reflective clothing especially at night.
- Be predictable. Don't surprise anyone else on the road.
- Prevent bicycle theft. Lock up your bike with a good quality chain. Record the serial number of your bicycle for identification purposes.
Rules of the road you should follow:
- Obey traffic signs and signals. Bicycles, by law are bound by the same rules of the road as all motor vehicles. This includes stop signs, yield signs, traffic lights, etc. A person can be charged the same as the driver of a motor vehicle for any of these violations.
- Use your hand signals and signal when turning.
- Stop for pedestrians crossing the roadway.
- Walk your bike if crossing in a pedestrian crosswalk.
- Ride in the same direction as traffic.
- Stop for school busses when they indicate.
- Do not ride with more than one person on a bicycle.
- If riding a bicycle one half hour before sunset and one half hour after sunrise you must have the bicycle equipped
with a functioning front and rear light.
- Do not ride your bike on the sidewalk and interfer with pedestrians. This is very dangerous for both riders and
pedestrians. If a cyclist cuts off or interferes with pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk, the cyclist can be
charged under the bylaw.
(Note: If you feel uneasy riding on the roadway you can walk your bicycle on the sidewalks and ride on quieter
residential streets.)
Safety equipment your are required to have:
- A bell or horn.
- A front light and back light (or front and back reflector strips.
- Proper working brakes.
- If you are under 18 years old, you must wear an approved helmet. Cyclists over 18 are encouraged to wear helmets
for their own safety.
Obey the Law
Remember if you are stopped by police you must identify yourself.
The laws you must follow as a cyclist can be found in the Highway Traffic Act (HTA). If you disobey these laws or fail to have the required equipment
you can be charged and fined.
Click here for an online guide to
key sections in the HTA concerning cyclists.
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