Cycling is an environmentally friendly way to stay fit, reduce traffic congestion and it’s great fun too. To help you stay healthy and safe, here are some bike safety tips to keep in mind.

Know the Road Rules

Make sure you know the bicycle road rules.

In NSW, bicycles are considered vehicles – therefore cyclists are required to obey the road rules like any other vehicle – like stopping at red lights and stop signs, giving way.

Always give way to motorists and pedestrians when they have right of way. Use hand signals to indicate change of direction so others know what you are doing.

Keep Your Bike in Good Condition

Be sure to keep your bicycle in good working order with regular bicycle maintenance. Your bicycle must have:

• At least one working brake
• A bell or a horn to sound a warning to other cyclists or pedestrians.

Gear Up For Safety’s Sake

Wear the right bicycle safety gear:

• You must wear a correctly fitted and approved helmet when riding a bike in NSW
• Consider also wearing reflective clothing and have additional lights and reflectors to help improve your visibility.

Defensive Cycling

Keep a constant look out for what’s happening on the road around you – constantly scan the road for other vehicles, pedestrians and road hazards:

• Avoid cycling in a driver’s blind spot. As a rule of thumb if you can’t see the vehicle’s mirrors then the driver won’t be able to see you
• Watch for cars entering the road from driveways.

Stay Visible at Night

If you’re riding at night then you’re bike must have:

• Front light: a flashing or steady white light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the front of the bicycle, and
• Rear light: a flashing or steady red light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the rear of the bicycle, and
• Rear reflector: a red reflector that is clearly visible for at least 50 metres from the rear of the bicycle when light is projected onto it by a vehicle’s headlight on low-beam.

Use Cyclepaths

• Be sure to use cyclepaths and bike lanes whenever possible
• Avoid roads with heavy traffic

Enjoy the Ride

At all times use your common sense and keep yourself and others safe while you’re on the road.

And of course, enjoy the ride!

For more information on safe biking, you can download the NSW government’s A Handbook for Bicycle Riders here.