1 Ensure you are prepared:
Bicycle in good condition with properly inflated tyres, effective brakes, a bell, reflector, spare tube, basic tools and optionally a rear view mirror and/or rear light.
Yourself; wearing gloves, helmet, appropriate shoes, high visibility clothing.
Carry a drink and some money and/or card, ID with emergency information and optionally a mobile phone, food, clothes for wet or cold weather and a small first aid kit.
2 Know your own capability and ensure that you can handle the terrain and distance.
3 Focus on the road or pathway in front of you. Manage gears effectively on ascent (change down prior to hills).
4 If you find the hill too difficult and you have to get off your bicycle, keep to the left so other riders can get around you.
5 Be aware of other cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles around you (including behind you).
6 Riding on the footpath (other than shared pathways) is against the law. If you ride on the footpath for reasons of safety, or because you feel you have no alternative, you take full responsibility for your actions.
7 When riding on shared pathways, bicycles do not have “right of way”. Be considerate of other users, give them space and if necessary get off the pathway. When stopped in a group, avoid obstructing other users.
8 On pathways the leader will warn pedestrians we are coming. Following riders should make judgement on their own personal safety, to also ring their bells. Be polite to pedestrians and give them a friendly greeting.
9 Be careful of inattentive pedestrians and those with earphones/earbuds and warn them you are approaching.
10 Do not ride too close (keep a minimum of at least one metre behind the bike you are following).
11 Call out to the rider in front if you intend “passing.
12 Ride predictably, do not suddenly turn left or right, speed up or slow down.
13 Value and support your leader and his/her directions. Generally stay behind or close to the leader.
14 Make sure you know who the Tail End Charlie is.
15 Be aware of the riders behind you. When you notice they are no longer there, wait for them to catch up.
16 Let the leader and the Tail End Charlie know if you wish to leave a ride early. Leave from the back of the group (so that other riders do not follow you).
17 Communicate your intentions and any hazards that you see. Signal your intention to stop or change direction.
18 Before you move off after a stop on a pathway or the road, look behind you for other bikes, pedestrians or traffic.
Riding on the Road
1 Ride in bunches of about 12 or less.
2 Follow the Road Code, (which states that cyclists may ride no more than two abreast and when overtaking a vehicle they shall be in single file).
3 Keep well to the left on busy roads, or where vision is restricted.
4 Stop well before an intersection if directions need to be given. When waiting, stop where the whole group will be clear of the intersection to avoid obstructing other users.
5 Don’t run amber, red or warning lights. It’s breaking the law, annoys motorists and gives cyclists a bad reputation. With a bunch, an amber light will most likely turn red before the last rider is through the intersection.
6 When going around traffic Islands “own” the traffic lane.
7 Use long and defined hand signals, after checking in your mirror and/or LOOK back to see what traffic is coming.
8 Thank traffic that has shown you courtesy.
9 Don’t “slalom” parked cars, hold a straight line, about 1 meter out so that any opening door will not wipe you out.
10 Make no sudden moves; communicate your intentions and any hazards that you see:
by giving voice signals. eg. “Stopping”, “Slowing”, “Car back”, “Car Front”, “Glass”, “Pothole”.
by giving clear hand signals for left and right turns, for stopping, and to point out hazards to avoid (e.g. potholes, parked cars).
11 When talking to other riders (riding is a very social activity) stay alert for traffic and road hazards.
12 Before moving off from a stop, check behind for other cyclists, pedestrians or traffic.