Welcome!

Level 1: The BasicsKnow these skills before you hit the road

The GearHow to stopCycling in a straight lineMaking hand signalsVisibilityLane PositioningSidewalksShifting GearsAvoiding Obstacles

Level 2: On the RoadPractice these skills to become a confident commuter cyclist

How to take a laneHow to navigate intersectionsHow to make a left turnHow to pass other vehiclesHow to activate traffic signalsHow to carry childrenParking tips

All information in this presentation comes from the Bike Sense Manual

The Gear: The BikeMountain bikes and hybrids are well suited for city riding

thanks to their upright sitting position, accessible gear shifters and brakes, rugged construction and manoeuvrability.

Road bikes are faster and more efficient for longer distances

Any bike can be used. Always be sure it is in working order

Tires make a lot of difference. Ensure there inflated to the recommended pressure listed on the sidewall.

The Gear: HelmetsWear one. It’s the law. You look stupid without oneA helmet will greatly reduce your chances of a serious

brain injury. Hockey or other types of sports helmets are not

designed for cycling types of impacts.Helmets are designed for a single impact. Replace your

helmet if it involved in a collision.Helmet materials degrade and compact over time.

Replace your helmet every 3 years.

The Gear: HelmetsProper helmet fit:

Proper size fits snuggly and does not ride up or roll loosely on head

Adjust straps so that you have: Two fingers width between your brow and the rim One finger width beneath your earlobe and the V of the straps Two finger width under your chin

Avoid black helmets. A bright coloured helmet is very effective at increasing your visibility

The Gear: LightsCyclists are required by law to have

a front white headlight and a rear red light

Lights should be visible at a minimum of 100 metres

Set your rear light to ‘flashing’ mode for greater visbility

The purchase of a higher power front light is recommended for riders on trails and debris-ridden routes (eg potholes)

The Gear: ClothingBright clothingReflective materialsAvoid black helmetsPants – designed to wearRain gearGlovesShoesEye protection

The Gear: CommutersSpare tube or patchTools: pump, tire lever, allen keys, screw

driver, wrenchesFendersWork clothes, lunch, water bottle, laptopPanniers:

Allow you to keep your hands on the handlebars Low centre of gravity Reduce the weight on your bum Do NOT hang bags from handlebars!

How to: Stop!Front brake accounts for up to 80% of the stopping power

Forward momentum puts most weight over your front wheel.

For optimum stopping power: shift your weight towards the rear keep your centre of gravity low. Use both brakes

Practice stopping as quickly as you can to get a feel for how much distance is needed at different speeds and under different conditions.

How to: Cycle in straight line Ride in a straight line under varying conditions is the key:

Head up Looking 1-2 blocks forward Speed helps

Riding in a straight line makes you predictable to other road users: Minimize wobbles Practice following a painted line as closely as possible at

different speeds.

Shoulder checks: Your body determines the path of your bike Difficult but critical traffic skill. Mirrors are good but do not replace shoulder checks

How to: Make Hand SignalsAlways make hand signals well in

advance of any turn, not just when you think they are

needed.

The proper turning sequence is: first shoulder check, then a hand signal, and then, with

both hands on the handlebars, shoulder check again before making the turn or the stop.

VisibilityAs a narrower vehicle, cyclists can be less visible to motorists. It is

therefore extra important for cyclists to use all means available to make themselves conspicuous:

Wear bright clothing Turn on your lights – lights are a must in the dark! Put reflective material on your bike and clothing Do not pass on the right Position yourself where motorists are looking Take extra precautions at dawn, dusk, and during difficult weather Be aware

Lane PositioningThe law requires cyclists to keep to

the right, but that does not mean hugging the curb. You should be approximately one metre away from the curb, both to reduce the risk of hitting the curb or debris, and also to better place yourself within the motorists' field of vision. This allows you to move away from traffic to avoid an obstacle, an open door, or crowding by another vehicle. Avoid riding in a motorist's blind spot.

SidewalksIt is against the law to ride on sidewalks, unless

specifically directed to do so by a sign or local bylaw.

Several studies have proven that cyclists on sidewalks face a far greater collision risk than cyclists on the roadway.

The main danger points are driveways and street crossings where sidewalk cyclists surprise motorists and pedestrians by appearing from unexpected directions.

How to: Shift GearsThe basic rule is that low gears are for

slow speeds, and high gears are for high speeds.

Always shift into a low, easy gear before you stop. Check ahead and shift into a lower gear well in advance of hills. On the level, use a gear that gives you a fast comfortable spin ('cadence') of

around 70-90 rpm. Pedalling in a gear that is too fast can tire

you more quickly. However, pedalling in a gear that is too hard can cause

strain in your knees and lower back.

How to: Avoid obstaclesKeep an eye on the road well ahead of you to see if

there are potholes, gravel, glass, drainage grates or other hazards coming up.

Ride no closer than one metre from parked cars to avoid being hit by an opening door.

If you have to move over into traffic to avoid these, look over your shoulder first and use a hand signal if necessary. To abruptly swerve into traffic can easily lead to a collision. To make riding safer for you and other cyclists, report unsafe road conditions to local authorities as

soon as possible.

How to: Take a Lane 1

If there is no shoulder or bike lane and the curb lane is narrow cyclists may choose to take the whole lane by riding in the centre of it. This can be safer than riding near the curb, which may encourage motorists to squeeze by where there is not sufficient room.

You should also consider taking the lane when you are travelling at the same speed as other traffic. This will keep you out of motorists' blind spots and reduce conflicts with right-turning traffic. Be prepared for the occasional frustrated driver who is not familiar with the safe and legal operation of a bicycle.

How to: Take a Lane 2

If you are uncomfortable in the centre of the lane, consider taking an alternative route. On high-speed roads, it may not be safe to take the whole lane. It is important to cycle within your confidence limits and comfort when dealing with heavy or high-speed traffic.

It is important to know that there is currently no concrete legal definition of 'as near as practicable to the right side of the highway', so the cyclist should use discretion to decide whether to take the lane or how far to the right to ride.

How to: Navigate Intersections 1When you approach an intersection with several lanes,

choose the lane with the arrow pointing in the direction you want to go. You may get cut off by turning cars if you are not in the appropriate lane. If you cannot make it across traffic to position yourself in the correct lane, you have the choice to dismount and walk in the crosswalk instead.

When the curb lane becomes a right-turn-only lane, to go straight, change lanes to the right-most through lane. Shoulder check, signal, and then go to the right side of the chosen lane when an opening appears.

Always enter intersections either ahead of or behind the vehicle in your lane. You may not see the turn signals of a vehicle directly beside you and the driver may not see you.

How to: Navigate Intersections 2 Make eye contact Avoid entering on a yellow light Treat every driveway like an intersection It is illegal to cycle in a crosswalk Watch for vehicles turning across your path and be

prepared to avoid them. Ride in the lane that is closest to the right side of the

road Never make a left turn from the right side of the

road, even if you are in a bike lane.

60% of motorist-cyclist collisions occur at intersections. The majority of these happen when the cyclist is

moving straight ahead.

How to: Make a left turn 1 As a vehicle: Shoulder check, signal your turn,

and when clear, move over to the left side of the lane (1). You should be positioned so cars going straight through cannot pass you on your left. Yield to oncoming traffic before turning

Perimeter style: Proceed straight through the intersection on the right. Then stop, make a 90 degree left turn, and either walk your bicycle in the crosswalk (2), or proceed as if you were coming from the right (3). If there is a signal, wait for the green or WALK signal before crossing.

How to: Make a left turn 2 On rural or high-speed roads, time your left turn

so that you can complete the whole turn at once without compromising your safety. You do not want to get caught in the middle of high-speed traffic.

When more than one turn lane exists, use the right-most turn lane.

If it is a lane where everyone turns left, stay on the right side of the lane.

If traffic can also go straight through this lane, stay to the left side of the lane.

If you turned from the inside lane, make sure you turn into the inside lane. Once the turn is complete, shoulder check, signal, and move over lane by lane to the right, as is appropriate for the road conditions.

How to: Pass other Vehicles When overtaking slower moving traffic, you must

pass on their left and should allow at least one metre of clearance. When passing other cyclists, warn them in advance by voice or bell.

It is legal to pass on the right: when you are in a bike lane; or when the vehicle is turning left or indicating a left turn

When NOT to pass on the right: when traffic is moving; when there is a street, driveway or parking spot a car can

turn into; or when there is less than 1.5m between traffic and the

curb.

How to: Activate Traffic SignalsMany traffic signals are triggered by electrically charged wires buried

under the pavement. When a vehicle stops over the wires, the metal disrupts the current, which sends a signal to a traffic light control box.

Most bicycles contain enough metal to trigger the light, but you should know where the most sensitive spots are. Look for cut lines in the pavement, filled with tar. Depending on the shape, the most sensitive spots are:

* Diamonds: just inside one of the points. * Circles: about a quarter of the way in. * Rectangles: up front, in the middle.

If you cannot trigger the light, and you have waited an appropriate amount of time, treat the traffic light as an uncontrolled intersection and proceed when it is safe to do so.

How to: Carry Children For younger children, a bike trailer offers more protection for the child

if you should fall. Bike trailers are generally considered to be a safer alternative than a bicycle child seat.

Bike trailers and trailer-cycles should be equipped with a taillight and reflector, if being used at night. Bike trailers should also have a bike flag attached to the trailer to improve visibility, since they are lower to the ground.

When using a seat mounted on the back of a bicycle, special care should be taken to ensure that the feet, hands and clothing of the child cannot be caught in the spokes or other moving parts of the bike

All children should wear an approved bicycle helmet and should be secured by a seat belt system when in a trailer or in a bicycle child seat.

Prior to taking your child out in any type of carrier, you may wish to practice turning, stopping, hill climbing and other manoeuvres with a sandbag or other weight, to simulate the effect of the additional load.

ParkingTemporary parking against sign posts, light stands, etc.

No small trees! These can be broken, costing you your bike and the City a tree

Park in pedestrian areas of high visibilityAvoid hiding your bike in low visibility areas

Do not block fire exits, etcBuy a good lock and be sure it is secured to your frameIndoor is ideal for long term parking

Discuss solutions at your workplaceHalf of all bikes stolen are unlockedKeep record your bike’s serial number