As ambassadors of the Bike Rally and PWA, you are expected to be safe and courteous to other cyclists and vehicles on the roads. During training rides and the Bike Rally, you are required to follow all traffic laws and rules of safety at all times. Those who fail to do so are endangering themselves as well as others and may be removed from the ride.

While most Riders are respectful of road safety (and we appreciate that), it has been brought to our attention that there has been some questionable cycling behavior on training rides.  While mostly based on common sense, our policies regarding gray areas such as riding double and stop signs may be unfamiliar, so please read this section carefully.

Respect

Sharing public roadways is not a right - it's a privilege. By law, bicycles are classified as vehicles and so are subject to the same laws (see the Highway Traffic Act in our Cycling Safety & Etiquette article) Most drivers know this. So please consider yourself an representative of cyclists everywhere. Besides potentially causing an accident when you break the law, drivers lose respect for all of us and can become more aggressive as a result. Whether you think this is fair or not, it's easier to play by the rules than widen the unnecessary divide between cars and cyclists.

Please note that the Road Safety Crew will remove Riders who are endangering themselves and others through careless cycling.

Rules Of The Road

Communicate with your voice and hand signals. Always let people know what you are about to do well in advance of your actions.

• Helmets must be worn and securely fastened at all times while cycling.
• Electronic devices are not allowed while cycling. They include, but are not limited to: iPods, MP3 players, cameras, cell phones, Blackberries, iPhones or any other Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
• Use hand signals
  • Left turn - left hand and arm extended horizontally
  • Right turn - left arm extended, bent at elbow, left hand pointing upward (better than right arm extended horizontally so oncoming traffic will see your signal)
  • Slowing - left hand and arm extended downward
  • Stopping - left arm extended, bent at elbow, left hand pointing downward
    
    As you make a turn or brake, keep both hands on the handlebars.
• Use verbal signals. When riding in a group, it’s critical to use verbal signals in addition to hand signals. Verbal signals like “on your left” as you pass a rider, “door”, “tracks”, "hole", "gravel", “clear” leaving a stop sign, and “turning” will become routine and will help your fellow riders stay out of harm’s way.
• Be aware. Expect the unexpected. Watch out for traffic and those obstacles in your path. Keep both hands ready to brake.
• Cross railroad tracks as close to a 90° angle as possible. When in doubt, dismount.
• DON'T veer into traffic Shoulder-check and signal first. Never turn or brake without checking to see what's behind and next to you.
• Be predictable. Stay near the curb - if there are parked cars, ride just far out enough to avoid getting hit by opening doors. If there are is a series of sewer grates or parked cars, don't weave in between them - drivers may not be ready for your sudden reemergence in their lane. Instead, ride in a straight line only as far out as you need to to avoid such obstructions.
• DON'T ride double on streets with any car traffic. Ride in an orderly single line. While it is considered acceptable by experienced cyclists to ride double in certain situations, we must take a no-tolerance approach to enforcing this rule as we are trying to get 300 cyclists of varying degrees of experience to Montreal safely - we can't take any chances!
• DON'T run red lights, not even at T-intersections. You won't save that much time and you demonstrate to drivers that you don't respect the rules of the road, diminishing their respect of cyclists in return. And if that doesn't convince you, maybe a $155 ticket will.
• DON'T roll past stop signs. Most accidents happen at intersections - never assume that the way is clear or that cars will see you.
• DON'T block right turn lanes. When stopped at an intersection, don't block traffic by bunching up in the right lane - line up single file. If you are going straight through an intersection and there is a right turn lane (or off/on ramp), check to see that the way behind is clear, signal your intentions, and steer steadily into the through lane. Once in the lane, ride close to the lane markings on your right as if they were the curb.

Keep your hands, wrists and elbows relaxed to prevent swerving - even try whistling, it works! Focus your eyes 20 feet ahead to provide enough time to make smooth corrections in case something is in your way.

Please help us spread the word and let other cyclists know it's not cool to ride recklessly. By setting an example, you'll make the roads safer for the rest of us and ensure that drivers remember the Bike Rally as a great cause rather than an roadway annoyance!

All new Riders are required to attend a Cycling 101 Clinic (check the Calendar for scheduling) and we also suggest that all Riders read the Cycling Safety & Etiquette article in the Training section of our website.

Last Updated on Saturday, 21 April 2012 19:24