Ride safe, ride smart, and enjoy the great cycling

This is a brief outline of your responsibilities as a cyclist on the roadways of Municipality.

The roadways on our streets are no different than anywhere else in this any province or state.

As a cyclist, you have responsibilities to yourself, to motorists you will interact with, and to pedestrians you are sure to encounter every time you ride your bike.

“CYCLISTS FARE BEST WHEN THEY

ACT AND ARE TREATED AS DRIVERS

OF VEHICLES.”

--JOHN FORESTER, EFFECTIVE CYCLING

Provincial/State Bicycle Law

Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles. Although not defined as a vehicle, a bicyclist upon a roadway shall have all the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle operator.

On the road you are not a pedestrian; you are considered a vehicle and must operate your bicycle in compliance with all applicable traffic regulations.

Provincial/State Bicycle Law

Bicyclists must obey all traffic control devices and signs, as a motor vehicle operator would.

You must stop at stop signs, yield at yield signs, and travel in the correct direction on the correct side of the roadway.

Provincial/State Bicycle Law

A bicyclist upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as is safe.

You make the decision as to where in the lane it is safe to ride. Ride as far to the right as you feel it is safe to ride—considering pavement, traffic, and weather conditions.

Provincial/State Bicycle Law

Bicyclists should use caution when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. No cyclist shall pass other vehicles between lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction.

You make the decision as to where in the lane it is safe to ride—as long as you are not between lanes, also known as “lane-splitting.”

The cyclist in this

image is riding

between lanes of

cars—also known as

“lane-splitting.”

Squeezing through

traffic in this

manner endangers

you as well as

motorists.

When you ride in

traffic, control your

lane by occupying it

properly.

The driver in the

bottom half of this

image is making an

illegal pass.

By occupying your

lane properly, you

will eliminate his

opportunity to

illegally pass you.

Occupying your lane

properly helps you

avoid the bad

pavement often

found at the edge of

your lane.

It also makes you

much more visible

to traffic passing

you in both

directions.

“A bicyclist upon a

roadway shall ride

as near to the right

side of the roadway

as is safe.”

This part of the law

means that the

cyclist has the right

and obligation to

determine the safest

location within the

lane to ride.

One of the most

common causes of

bicycling injury is

when a motorist

“cuts off” or turns in

front of the cyclist.

You can eliminate

this hazard by

maintaining a

proper lane position.

The legal responsibility for the drivers in this image is to yield to

the cyclist and pass only when the way is clear and safe.

When you ride in traffic, ride in a predictable

manner—just as you would if you were driving a car.

When passing an open space between parked cars, do

not change your lane position.

Provincial/State Bicycle Law

No vehicle may pass another vehicle on the right.

• Do not pass vehicles on the right, especially at intersections. Ride as if you were a vehicle.

• At traffic signals, wait your turn. It is illegal for you to pass other stopped vehicles to move to the front of the line.

• If you occupy a space next to a right-turning vehicle and are struck, you are at fault.

Provincial/State Bicycle Law

Signal your intention to turn, slow, or stop. When turning, you must signal continuously at least 100 feet before the turn and while you are stopped, waiting to turn, unless use of your hand is needed to control your bicycle.

Use hand signals to indicate left turns, right turns, or that you are slowing or stopping.

Left Turn

(Left hand extended)

Right Turn

(Right hand extended)

Or…

Right Turn

(Left hand raised)

Slowing orStopping

(Left hand extendedbelow hips)

Provincial/State Bicycle Law

A bicycle used at nighttime must be equipped with a headlamp and rear red reflector. A lamp emitting a red light may be used to supplement the rear reflector.

If drivers are unable to see you on the road after dark, they will be unable to avoid you. If you ride at night, use a light!

…use a light!

…use a light!The best way to protect yourself while riding

between dusk and dawn is to equip your

bike with head and tail lights.

…with Pedestrians

Sidewalks municipalities were developed

for foot traffic—not cyclists.

There is often too little space for

pedestrians and cyclists to share.

Ride on the roadways practicing good

riding behavior as much as you can. Ride

on the sidewalks only when you have no

other alternative.

…with Pedestrians

When cyclists encounter pedestrians, they

should be courteous and announce their

presence and their intentions with catchy

phrases such as:

•“Passing”

•“On your left”

•“Heads Up”

…with Pedestrians

The courteous approach to these encounters

may well prevent serious injury to pedestrians

and cyclists alike.

Slow down—

being courteous

to a pedestrian

will not make you

late to class.

Riding without a bicycle helmet significantly

increases the risk of injury in the event of a

crash. Non-helmeted riders are 14 times more

likely to be involved in a fatal crash than

helmeted riders.

Protect your thought process—always wear

a helmet when you ride your bike—Always!

A proper helmet is lined with rigid

crushable foam or some other

constant-load shock absorber.

When it hits the pavement, the helmet’s shell

stops quickly; but because of the crushable

foam, the head inside has more time to stop.

This prevents banging the brain against the

inside of the skull.

Protect your thought process—always wear

a helmet when you ride your bike—Anywhere!

1. Ride smart—choose your lane positioningbased upon immediate conditions.

2. Ride predictably and signal your intentions.

3. Obey all traffic signs and ride on the correct side of the road.

4. Be courteous; yield to pedestrians, announce your presence and intentions.

5. If you ride at night, use a light!

6. Protect your thought process—always wear a helmet.