Bicycle Safety

Safe riding tips

When riding your bicycle, there are some areas you are allowed to ride and some areas you are not.

Places you can ride include:

• Bicycle lanes and cycling routes
• Most roads
• Multi-use trails and pathways

Places you cannot ride include:

• Highways like the Ontario 400-series highways
• Sidewalks
• Crosswalks

Children under the age of 10 are allowed to ride on the sidewalk as they do not have the experience to ride on the streets safely.

Road safety

When riding your bike on roadways, you must follow the same rules as vehicles. Cyclists need to ride in the same direction as traffic in your lane and stay to the far right side of the lane when possible.

You do not need to stay to the right when:

• Avoiding obstacles in your way
• Preparing to make a left turn
• Passing a vehicle
• The lane is too narrow to share

Remember that all traffic signals apply to you as well. This means you need to stop at red lights and stops signs too.

When riding your bike you should use hand signals to tell other road users when you are going to turn or stop.

Safety equipment

Use the following safety equipment to keep yourself safe while riding your bike.

• Bicycle helmets
• A bell or horn
• Lights and reflectors
  • A white light on the front of your bike
  • A red light or reflector on the back at night
• Reflective tape
  • White reflective tape on the front forks
  • Red reflective tape on the back forks

Wearing light, bright and reflective clothing is recommended so you are easy to see, especially at night.

Wearing a helmet can greatly reduce your risk of injury if you ever fall off of your bike. A helmet is legally required for cyclists under the age of 18 and is highly recommended for adults over 18. Cyclists under 18-years-old not wearing helmets could lead to a fine of $75.

The best helmet is one that:

• Fits your head properly
• Meets strict safety standards
• Is worn properly

Are you wondering if your helmet fits properly? Use the 2-V-1 rule to find out!

• Your helmet should rest strait on your head not tilted forward or back. The helmet should rest about two fingers width above your eyebrows.
• Check that your ear straps form a snug V shape around your ears.
• Your helmet's chin strap should be tight enough to fit only one finger between your chin and the strap.

If you are looking to register your bicycle with the WPS then head to our Bicycle Registry page.