5 set up for safe riding bike

How to Ride a Bike Safely

Checking your bikeDress appropriatelyRoad rules and road senseBe seen and be clearImprove your children's bike safety

Edited by Nathan Wong, Ben Rubenstein, Paul Katz, Sondra C and 54 others

Riding your bike can be a great deal of fun, and it's a brilliant way to keep fit. Nevertheless, bike riding has its hazards, especially when you're sharing the road with motorized traffic. To keep safe, it is important to have a bike in top condition and to pay attention to some basic but very important cycling requirements when sharing your ride with the general traffic.

This article is based on right-hand traffic; if you live in a country with left-hand traffic, please bear this in mind when reading the directions.^[1]

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Method 1 of 5: Checking your bike

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   Check your cycling equipment. Before you even set out, it is important to ensure that your bike is roadworthy and safe. This is especially important for aging bikes. Checking your bike means looking at the following:
   • Air -- are your tires inflated adequately?
   • Brakes - do they work, are they clean?
   • Chain - is it clean, free of debris, and able to turn with no problems?
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   Check the brakes. Wheel your bike around a flat surface, pulling the brake levers on and off. If they do not work, and you're not sure how to fix them, contact your local bike shop and ask them to help.
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   Check the bike's tires. Put the whole tire into a small bowl of water. See if there are any bubbles coming out. If there are any bubbles, it means your tire is punctured and you can get it fixed by a bike shop or do it yourself. Repeat for the other tire.
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   See if the bike is the right height for you. This is very easy as all you need to do is sit on your bike and make sure that the tips of your toes touch the ground (and nothing else). Adjust the bike seat as needed, and the handles too.

Method 2 of 5: Dress appropriately

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Wear bright clothing, a reflective vest, or have flashing lights. These all increase your visibility. When buying t-shirts or tops make it a policy to buy bright or at least white colours. You can also add reflector lights or reflective tape to your backpack if