Celebrate Bike Week 2016

Bike Week, June 3 to 12, is the perfect time to get out and explore our region’s many bike routes and urban and rural greenways. It’s also a great time to gear-up for a season of safe cycling.

Many of us hop on a bike for fun, exercise or our daily commute. Sometimes, being a seasoned cyclist can cause us to be complacent when it comes to safety. We encourage motorists and cyclists to prepare for an enjoyable season of safe cycling and to work together to share the roadway for everyone’s safety.

An easy way to start is to do the “ABC check” every time before you ride: ensure there’s Air in your tires, your Brakes work and that your Chain is well lubricated and in good working order.

Make sure that your bicycle is equipped with a working bell or horn, a white headlight and a rear red light or reflector if you’re riding after dark. It’s also essential to equip yourself with a well-fit, brightly coloured, well-ventilated helmet with an energy-absorbing liner to withstand impact from the pavement. It should have front and rear straps that meet below each ear when tightly adjusted and a chinstrap that’s snug without pinching.

HRP/RCMP Partners in Policing encourage shared care and responsibility between motorists and cyclists with some safety tips:

Motorists must:

• Allow one meter clearance when passing a cyclist.

• Not park or drive in bike lanes.

• Treat cyclists as vehicles and provide them with the same rights as other motorists.

Cyclists must:

• Ride on the right side of the road, in the same direction as traffic.

• Wear a helmet.

• Ride in single file if you’re with other cyclists.

• Obey all road signs and traffic signals.

• Not drive on the sidewalk if either of your tires exceeds 350 mm.

• Signal your intentions clearly before you turn or stop.

Bike safety is particularly important for younger cyclists. Start your child on the road to safe cycling with a bike safety refresher course. There are a number of bike rodeos for children throughout the municipality during Bike Week. Visit www.halifax.ca/bikeweek to find an event in your area.

Your Partners in Policing hope these bicycle and road safety tips will help keep you safe this cycling season. Have fun and remember to cycle safely!