Safe Riding Practices

As a rider on a club tour,  you are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of the group as a whole.  The OCC strongly suggests that all riders be courteous to other road users as cooperation with both motorists and other members of the community will only enhance our safety on the road.

Helmets:  In Ontario, cyclists under 18 years are required by law to wear a helmet.  The OCC strongly recommends that a properly fitted helmet be worn at all times when riding.

Equipment:  A portable tool kit and air pump strapped to a bike can be a saving grace when something goes wrong during a ride.  Consider including the following items in a tool kit:  spare inner tube, tire levers, patch kit, spare change for emergency calls or a cab ride, a set of Allen keys or a prepackaged tool kit, first aid kit, food, water bottle, and sunscreen.  All of these items can be stored in a bike bag or strapped to a bike rack, which fits underneath the seat, over the rear tire or over the handlebars.  Prepackaged kits can also be purchased at your local bicycle shop.  Note that both Bicycles Plus and Impala Cycles offer a 10% discount to all OCC members.

Maintenance:  All riders should have a well-maintained and fully functioning road or touring bike.  Before taking the first ride of the season, the OCC recommends a professional tune-up.  If a mechanical failure occurs, the rest of the pack is placed at risk.

Destination/Pace:  Although club members should adhere to the ride schedule as much as possible, the final destination and pace of any given ride is ultimately decided upon by the good judgment of participants and volunteer leaders, weather permitting.  For example, the originally planned ride may, on occasion, be altered due to strong winds and/or impending bad weather.  As well, riders may decide to split into two separate groups in order to accommodate differing paces and/or the desire to tag on additional mileage.

Group Riding:  Two-abreast cycling is safer, more enjoyable and more efficient.  It allows riders to meet and converse with other riders, saves energy (particularly when riding into the wind), and allows experienced riders to guide and direct more novice riders.  Riders are also able to assist each other if someone within the pack gets a flat or experiences any other problem.

The default formation for group riding is double file, changing to single file if traffic and road conditions dictate.  Although there are currently no bylaws preventing two-abreast cycling in the Durham Region, common sense should prevail.  By law, a bicycle is the equivalent of any other motorized vehicle, and as such riders must obey the traffic laws and follow the rules of the road.  Please adhere to the following guidelines when riding in a group formation:

• Be alert.  Whether you are riding in city traffic or on a quiet countryside road, you need to keep your eyes open so you have time to react to unexpected situations.
• Ride in a straight line.
• Both hands on handlebars on rough roads and railroad tracks.
• Use hand signals or verbal communication to caution other riders of upcoming road hazards or to indicate traffic from front or back of pack ("car up", "car back", "single file", "all clear" at intersections, etc.)
• Do not cut back in too soon when passing a rider.
• When crossing railroad tracks that are not 90 degrees to the road, cross at an angle to avoid falling.
• Do no overlap the back wheel of the rider in front of you with your front wheel.
• Keep a safe distance behind the person in front of you - six or eight inches is more efficient than twelve inches.
• Remember that the accordion effect is greater the further back you ride in a group.  STAY ALERT!
• Caught on the back wheel of the rider in front of you?  Pull back gently on your handlebars.  This move should be used with caution, as it could cause the rider behind you to have a problem.  An alternate method is to lean your bike out away from the wheel and your body the other way.  This move can also be used when you come too close to the edge of a hole.
• Release a pedal in ample time when stopping to avoid falling.
• Track stands are for competition only, not advisable within a group when stopping because you could lose your balance and cause a spill.
• Keep to the right but leave about a meter of space between yourself and the curb so that you have room to react properly in the event of hazards.
•  Take extra care at intersections.  A cyclist should follow the same procedures as a motor vehicle, so use the appropriate lane.
• Never ride through red lights.  If you are at the back of a pack when the light changes to red, please stop.
• Keep out of right turn lanes when going straight or turning left.
• Don’t pass stationary vehicles on the right side.
• When passing a stationary car, watch for the left door opening suddenly.  Take extra room.
• Watch the weather.  Rain can change road conditions dramatically, making it easier to slide and harder to brake.
• Crosswinds are a problem.  It is not advisable to ride too close to the rider in front of you.