Riding tips

You don't need expensive gear or training to ride, all you need is a bicycle and an open mind. Learning to beat traffic and get around is empowering. Here are a few tips that will help you experience it for yourself.

Helmets: We recommend that you always wear a bicycle helmet to reduce the risk of permanent injury or death from a crash. To make sure your helmet fits right, put it on then use the “eyes/ears/mouth” test:

• Eyes: When you look up you should see the front rim. If not, your helmet won’t protect your forehead.
• Ears: The side straps should come to a “V” just below each ear.
• Mouth: When you open your mouth wide, you should feel the helmet push down on your head. If your helmet doesn’t pass the test, adjust its buckles.

Friendly attitudes go a long way towards making cars less menacing.

Be visible & audible: wear bright clothing, use lights, reflectors, a bell and a mirror to see, be seen and be heard.

Give way to those of the lowest speed. Bicyclists must uphold respect for self, and all others if they wish to be respected as well.

• Keep to the left and yield to pedestrians and slower moving traffic except when passing. Slow down when there are lots of users on the path.
• Advise others when passing. Sound your bell or horn or call out when approaching pedestrians or slower cyclists, then pass safely on the right.

Be bold in your actions and signals. Riding predictably and following the law are the keys to safe bicycling:

• Ride in a straight line and avoid weaving between parked cars, even when they are widely spaced from each other.
• Never ride against traffic. Motorists and pedestrians are not looking for cyclists riding the wrong way down a street.
• Know and follow the road rules to help all road users properly anticipate and react to each other.
• When necessary, use an entire lane of the road. Move towards the centre when the lane is too narrow for motorists to pass safely or when you are moving at the same speed as traffic.

Signal: Use hand signals so that drivers know where you’re going. Signal all your turns and stops ahead of time. Also, before turning, look over your shoulder for any traffic. Check and only move when it’s safe.

• Make eye contact. Confirming eye contact with motorists helps them know that you’re on the road.
• Never use earphones because you won't be able to hear what is going on around you. Using earphones is not only dangerous, it's illegal.

Dodging Doors: Parked cars can be more dangerous than moving ones. Car doors are the number one cause of bike accidents in the city. The “Door Zone” is the 1m/4 feet along the left side of a parked car where an opening door can hit and seriously injure a cyclist.

• When driving, remember, it's illegal and dangerous to open doors into traffic.
• When riding on the road, move out of the door zone (be aware of what is behind when moving out) by riding at least 1m/4 feet from parked cars or ride a bit slower than usual.
• Take a full lane if you’re being forced into the door zone.
• To avoid doors when riding, look: through car windows for heads; in mirrors of trucks and vans; at cars that have just parked; and at cars' tail lights.
• If a door opens in front of you! Don't waste your time fiddling with a horn or bell, go for your brakes & scream! Move out but don't swing into traffic.
• If you get hit: If you get doored & injured or damage results, it is a traffic accident & details must be exchanged. Report uncooperative motorists to the police.

Navigating intersections: Use the lane farthest to the left that points to where you are going.

• If going straight, don’t hug the gutter, as cars may try to turn left around you.
• If turning right, follow the centre or left edge of lane markings. If you can't change lanes to get into a right-turn lane, cross the street first and align your bike with traffic to cross on the next lights/break in traffic (a hook turn).

Tackling Roundabouts: Roundabouts are installed by traffic engineers to reduce car crashes. In doing this they put pedestrians and bicyclists at greater risk! Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk.

• Take the lane! Before you reach the roundabout, move into the middle of the lane. As you enter, look around, make eye contact with other drivers & prepare for evasive action!
• Single lane roundabouts: Watch out for cars on your left who may not give way to you. Give way to cars on your right.
• Turning right: Signal to ensure cars don't think you're going straight.
• Turning at multi lane roundabouts: Be wary of cars going straight from behind or beside you. Do a hook turn or break the turn up into stages if you need to. If you're with a friend you can legally take both lanes. Consider avoiding the roundabout by taking another route.