More than 330 cyclists are seriously injured on Victorian roads each year. Bicycles are not toys; they are vehicles, and under the law cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as car drivers. Cyclists need to increase their safety, obey the road rules and maintain their bicycles properly.

Facts about bike accidents
Always wear a helmet and bright clothes
Make sure your bike is the right size
Look after your bike
Obey the road rules
Introducing children to riding a bicycle
Make safety your priority

Facts about bike accidents
Bike crashes occur in metropolitan and country locations, on quiet streets, bike paths, busy roads, in fact any place cyclists ride. Accidents happen to adults and children alike.

Key facts about bike accidents:

• Approximately 30% of cyclist casualties occur when a driver crosses the path of an oncoming cyclist.
• Up to 24% of cyclist casualties occur when a cyclist rides on to the road from a footpath or driveway and is hit by a car. Over half of these cyclists are under 15 years of age.
• Approximately 20% of cyclist casualties occur when a driver hits a cyclist from behind or from the side.
• Almost 10% of cyclist casualties occur when a driver opens their door into the path of a cyclist.

Always wear a helmet and bright clothes
All cyclists in Victoria and their passengers are required by law to wear bike helmets when riding in public places such as roads, bike paths, bike lanes, shared and separated footpaths, recreational parks and car parks. This is because research shows bike helmets greatly reduce the risk of head injuries, which are the major cause of death and injury to cyclists.

When buying a bike helmet be sure that:

• it is an approved helmet with a sticker showing the Australian Standard AS 2063, AS/NZS 2063;
• it fits firmly and comfortably on your head and cannot be tilted in any direction; and
• the straps can be adjusted so there is no slack when they are fastened.

The clothes you wear for cycling should be comfortable and brightly coloured. Make sure they cannot get caught in the chain or wheels. It is important that you always wear enclosed footwear when riding. Thongs are not suitable footwear for cycling. At night or early morning make sure you wear reflective clothing and your bike has working lights.

Make sure your bike is the right size
Having a bicycle that is the right size is very important. A bicycle that is too big or too small can be difficult to control and dangerous, especially for children.

To test for size, stand over the bicycle with both feet on the ground:

• For medium or light weight bikes, there should be at least 2 centimetres between your crotch and the crossbar (or where a crossbar would be if the bicycle had one).
• For BMX and mountain bikes, there should be at least 5 centimetres between your crotch and the crossbar.

Make sure all controls are within easy reach and comfortable to use, and that the seat can be adjusted to suit you.

Look after your bicycle
It is important that you check your bicycle regularly to make sure everything is in full working order, including tyres, wheels, chain, brakes and lights. This makes your bicycle easier and safer to ride. Your specialist bike shop can help with any repairs you can't do yourself. If possible, you should also get them to give the bike a full service once or twice a year.

Obey the road laws
When on the road cyclists must obey the road rules in the same way as any other road user. See: Road Rules for Cyclists.

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Introducing children to riding a bicycle
In order to ride safely in traffic a rider needs to be able to manage all the following simultaneously:

• control the bike on road surfaces of varying quality
• deal with obstacles appropriately
• be aware of and predict the traffic movement around them
• understand the road rules that apply both to cyclists and drivers
• make safe, split-second decisions.

Children do not have the ability and experience to do all of these things simultaneously and consistently until age 12 or 13, and, like young drivers, need plenty of supervised practice before gaining their independence.

To get your child started, follow these tips:

• Right size - parents should ensure that a child’s first bike is the right size and be prepared to change the child to bigger bikes as the child grows.
• Supervise - when introducing a child to riding, parents should be prepared to spend a lot of time supervising while the child masters the skills of balancing, steering and braking. Choose a flat, open space away from traffic with a surface that is suitable for falling on. A helmet should be worn whenever the child rides.
• Give lots of practice - once the basic skills are mastered, the child should be given as many opportunities to ride under supervision as the family can manage. Use bike paths. While under the age of 12, children and adults supervising them can legally ride on the footpath – but remember to give way to pedestrians on footpaths and shared footways.
• Be aware of driveways - parents should demonstrate to children that driveways and intersections must be approached with caution. Riding on to the road from a driveway is particularly risky for children as parked vehicles can obscure their presence from oncoming drivers.
• Support Bike Ed - parents should find out if their child’s school teaches Bike Ed to children in grades 4, 5 and 6. Many schools would appreciate parental help in running the on-road component of Bike Ed.
• Don’t ride at night - children should not ride at night. Special equipment (lights, visibility vests), acute traffic awareness and understanding of driver behaviour and sophisticated skills are needed.
• Assess skills - parents need to observe their child’s cycling behaviour when they are alone or with one or more friends to assess their readiness for more independent cycling.

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Make safety your priority
Keep safe - obey the road laws and be alert to the traffic around you. Also next time you cycle, remember these points:

• Cycle in the same direction as other traffic and keep your bicycle 1m from the kerb.
• Before changing lanes and turning, always scan behind and signal your intentions to other road users.
• When signalling, try to make eye contact with drivers so you know they have seen you.
• Take extra care when cycling at night. It is harder for motorists to see you and for you to see hazards. Try to cycle on well-lit roads and wear bright/light coloured clothing or a reflective vest. Your bike must have a white light on the front, a red rear light and reflectors on the front and back.
• Choose safe routes, preferably those with bicycle paths and shared footways.
• Ride defensively. This means being alert to other vehicles and acting predictably yourself.
• When using a shared or separated footpath ride in a manner and a speed that will enable you to give way to pedestrians. Always let people walking or slower cyclists know you are about to pass by ringing your bell or simply calling out.
• It is recommended that children under the age of twelve years cycle under adult supervision.
  

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