Cycling is a great way to get around in an environmentally friendly way. It’s also fantastic exercise and cost effective. However, you need to make sure you’re cycling safely and sensibly, here are a few tips to consider:

• Up to 9 out of 10 cyclists involved in road accidents suffer head injuries – so wear a cycle helmet to help protect yourself .
• Be seen. Wear high-visibility clothing and don’t cycle too close to cars who may not have seen you.
• Use cycle routes.
• Cycling on the pavement causes accidents too. The Police can caution you if you are caught cycling in any pedestrian area.
• Lock your bike – don’t lose it.
• Take a cycling safety class to make sure you know exactly what you should be doing and how. Contact your local council to find out more.

Laws about safe cycling

• You must ensure that your brakes work properly.
• Always stop when required to do so by a traffic warden or a police officer.
• Never ride dangerously.
• Do not leave your bike on the roads or pavements where it may be a danger to others.
• You must not carry a passenger on a bike designed only for one rider.
• You must make sure that your front and rear lights are lit at night.

Who can help?

For news and articles about cycling, BBC sport has a great cycling section: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/default.stm

The official body for cycling in Britain is British Cycling and you can visit their website at www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/bchome/home.asp