Safety tips
Safety tips for:Bicycles are vehicles and belong on the road. While sharing the road with motorists, you must share the responsibilities. Remember to try and keep a distance of about one metre between you and other vehicles when riding through heavy traffic. 
Be aware
Ride defensively. Know what the other traffic is doing. Scan the road behind—shoulder check regularly. Be prepared to manoeuvre for safety even though bicycles have an equal right to use the road. Watch for cars entering from driveways.
Be seen
Use lights at night and have reflectors on your bike. Light-coloured clothing can make you more visible to motorists. 
Be predictable
Ride in a straight line and at least one metre from the curb so you can move around road hazards. Use hand signals. Let others know where you are going. Avoid weaving in and out of traffic or around parked cars.
Be careful at intersections
Proceed with care since most bicycle crashes occur at intersections.
Beware of car doors
When riding beside parked cars, look for people inside. If you see people preparing to exit a parked car, be sure to ride more than a door width away.
Use the appropriate lane
Do not ride in a 'left turn only' lane if you are going straight through. Move into the through lane early. In a narrow lane, on a roundabout or in slow traffic, it might be safer to take a whole lane.
Options for turning right
Signal, move to the right turning lane and turn when safe. While as a pedestrian, ride to the far pedestrian crossing, dismount and walk across the pedestrian crossing.
Follow the road rules
Remember you have the same rights and responsibilities as all other road users.
Paths include footpaths, shared-use paths and segregated paths.With more and more people using paths throughout Queensland, it is important to keep in mind that all users have legitimate rights on certain types of paths—but with those rights come personal responsibilities. Such as, in Queensland, cyclists are allowed to ride on footpaths unless prohibited by signs, but they must give way to pedestrians.
Here are some tips on sharing paths safely:
- Keep left unless overtaking and signal.
- Always check the path is clear ahead and behind you before you pass anyone.
- Ensure you leave plenty of space between you and the person you are passing.
- Ride or skate at a speed that allows you to move safely around others.
- Ride or skate at speeds appropriate to the conditions—ride slower if it is raining or the path is crowded.
- Be predictable—walk, ride or skate in a straight line. Crashes may occur when someone does something unexpected.
- Try not to surprise other people on the path by moving up behind them undetected, passing too close, suddenly changing your direction or stopping without warning.
- Keep your dog on a leash.
- See and be seen—at night wear light coloured clothing or reflective gear. Walkers, joggers, scooter riders and skateboarders might like to wear a red flashing light on their back at night, especially during periods of high use. By law, bicycles ridden at night must have steady or flashing front and rear lights visible for at least 200 metres and a red reflector on the rear.
- Hear and be heard—cyclists use your bell (by law, you must have one on your bike). Others on the path should remember that bike riders sound their bells to warn you that they are approaching, not to demand you get out of the way. However, if you are in the way, move to the left of the path and allow them to pass. Wearing headphones will reduce your awareness of the people around you.
- Teach children to be aware of other people using the path.
- Acknowledge other people on the path—let them know you understand if they signal they are about to change direction by making eye contact or using other body language, and don't make any sudden changes in your direction without warning. Keep in mind that some people using the path might have disabilities which mean they can not always see or hear you.
- Bikes are required to give way to others on a footpath or shared path because they are the fastest moving vehicles. Skaters, rollerbladers and people on scooters must also take extra care and give way because they move faster. Keeping to the left hand side allows room for faster moving walkers, joggers, wheelchairs, rollerbladers, scooters, skateboards and bikes to pass safely.
- On segregated paths, use the side that's made for you (note: rollerbladers, skaters and people in or pushing wheelchairs should use the side that is for bikes).
Note: The tips are not a statement of the law and should not be taken as such.
Bicycles are vehicles and belong on the road. While sharing the road with motorists, you must share the responsibilities.
Bicycles are vehicles and have the same rights and responsibilities on the road as other road users. Motorists can make it easier and safer for cyclists to ride on the road if they follow these simple steps.
Make room
When you overtake a cyclist, give them lots of room (at least one metre or a whole lane if you're travelling over 60 km/h).
Check for cyclists
Check your blind spots for cyclists before changing course, turning or opening your car door.
Give way when required
Treat cyclists like any other vehicle—give way when required and travel at a safe following distance.
Be patient
Wait until it's safe before overtaking a cyclist. It won't hold you up long and it could save their life. If a cyclist is ahead of you and you are turning left, turn behind the cyclist. Overtaking and cutting off a cyclist is extremely dangerous.
Take extra care at night and in the wet
Watch out for cyclists at night, dawn or dusk. Be considerate and dip your headlights when approaching a cyclist. Wet weather means oily, slippery roads and poor visibility for all road users so be especially careful around cyclists at these times.
Look out for kids on bikes
Be aware around schools and places where children might be riding bikes. Many crashes between bikes and cars involve children. Young cyclists are not always predictable and can lack road sense. Give children extra space when passing and slow down around schools.
Be fair
Cyclists are legitimate road users—treat them with respect and courtesy. The cyclist in front of you has a family too—it pays to take care.
Remember, most adult cyclists also own a car and pay registration. By choosing to ride instead of drive, cyclists are helping everyone by reducing traffic congestion, pollution and road wear.
Last updated 30 November 2008
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