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Cycling Safety

Richard Birdsey16th September 2009

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Basic safety factors

Gear and bikes

Road rules

Skills and situational awareness

Routes

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Equipment

Bike Brakes, tyre pressures, steering Bell / horn / voice Lights / reflectors Pre ride check / ongoing maintenance

Clothing Helmet, gloves, glasses, bright clothes Weather related clothes and sun protection Be careful of street clothes

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Road rules Bicycles are ‘vehicles’

Obey traffic lights and signs

Ride on the left and ‘filtering’ is legal

Must use bike lanes where existing

Keep off the footpath

Use transit / bus lanes NOT “Bus Only”

“No hands” is an offence

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Common lethal situations

Intersections and roundabouts

Busy roads or public places

Vehicles approaching from behind

Narrow stretches of road or spaces

Parked or stationary cars

Bad weather / poor road surfaces / debris

Inattentive drivers, passengers or pedestrians

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FIVE key survival skills

Situational awareness

Planning for different scenarios

Judging distance and speed at a glance

Consistent, predictable riding

Respectful assertiveness

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Prevent / avoid

Look out and stay sharp! – scan around you constantly (including behind) to maintain

Be predictable – don’t weave / swerve (unless emergency) and straight line riding.

Signal your intentions to move or stop well in advance.

Be politely assertive - you have a right to be on the road but consider others.

Keep left where possible but take the lane if it is safer, then move out of the way.

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Prevention (cont)

Beware car doors - stay a safe distance out but not too far onto the road.

Avoid the crush - take the whole lane when going through narrow sections, speed humps and single lane roundabouts.

Make eye contact with drivers (and they see you!) before riding in front of them.

Be noticed! Position yourself do other road users can see you. Use lights and reflectors at night.

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Reacting to threats

Slow or stop pedalling

Assume ‘swerve or stop’ attitude

Check behind (fast)

Work your options

React

If in doubt - STOP

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Wet and windy weather

All traffic has reduced visibility in the rain

Lights and reflectors Slow down, no sudden moves Avoid smooth, slippery

surfaces Take the train! Check the weather Wear the right clothes

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Safe routes

Find a route best for YOU

Best source of info is other riders

Avoid main roads and busy areas

Ride it when quiet at your own pace

Consider conditions at other times

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Consider Your skills and your group

Distance, time of day, time taken and purpose

Road conditions (hills, complexity, quality)

Traffic conditions (volume, speed, type)

Other hazards (pedestrians, animals etc)

Main and fall back alternative routes