Cycling Skills & Safe Practices
Begin by learning the basics, and start cycling with a more experienced friend or family member. Then…keep going!
First, click Getting Started to see tips for beginners.
Next, read all the cycling skills and safe practice tips in this section.
Lastly, you can take your skills to the next level with online or in-person courses—see Cycling Education.
+ Getting Started
Ride on a flat space away from pedestrians and vehicles, such as an empty parking lot.
Holding your grips firmly, straddle your bike frame.
Plant one foot firmly on the ground and step on one pedal.
Push forward, mount the saddle, and begin pedalling with both feet in a fluid motion.
At slow speeds you may find yourself wobbling a bit to stay upright.
Try cycling in a straight line—it’s important to maintain your momentum to stay balanced.
Pedal forward with your head up and looking ahead.
Practice stopping and starting—use both brake levers to gently apply and release pressure.
Look behind you to the right and to the left over your shoulders while maintaining a straight line; this is a 'shoulder check'.
Practice turning at different angles and speeds.
Look in the direction of your turn and lean slightly into it—your bike will tend to go where you are looking and leaning.
When leaning into a turn, keep your inside pedal up to avoid scraping the road surface.
Straighten out from a turn smoothly.
Your saddle should be low enough that you can touch the ground with both feet—after you’ve gained confidence, raise your saddle to increase pedaling efficiency and reduce knee strain.
Braking and Stopping
Brake gradually, giving yourself time and distance to come to a stop. More time and braking distance may be needed in wet conditions.
Shift your weight back on the saddle and bend your elbows to lower your body and your centre of gravity to gain more stopping power and stability.
Front brakes provide most of the stopping power due to a bike's forward momentum.
Back brakes help you avoid going over the handlebars.
Brake before initiating a turn rather than after; braking mid-turn tends to alter your turning radius.
Prepare for more sudden stops by keeping two fingers on each brake lever.
Hand Signals
Communicate your movements to other road users using hand signals.
Hand signals— see Chapter 318, Part 3, S.183 (17) of the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act.
Hand signals require taking one hand off your handlebars; practice first.
First shoulder check, then hold your hand signal for 3-5 seconds, then shoulder check again before making your move.
Sometimes you may need to keep both hands on the handlebars for safety; in such cases, safety should prevail.
Gear Shifting
While cycling in a straight line, shift gears up (‘high gear’) and down (‘low gear’) to find a comfortable rhythm, level of exertion, and speed.
Use lower gears to make it easier to cycle uphill or in headwinds; shift down when it feels like you’re working too hard.
Use a higher gear to build momentum and go faster, or when you feel yourself bouncing on the saddle from pedaling too fast.
Before stopping completely, shift down to a lower gear so it's easier to get moving and build momentum back up again.
Pushing too hard in a high gear is tiring, and can eventually cause knee and lower back pain.
Speed
The higher your cycling speed, the more restricted your field of vision, and the less time and distance you have to make decisions.
Posted speed limits apply to all road users, including bicycle/e-bike operators.
At higher speeds, increase the space between you and other road users, as more distance is needed to brake safely.
Avoid cycling at higher speeds on poor or wet road surfaces - braking and turning can be more difficult.
When cycling in a group, ride at a speed that is comfortable for the slowest rider.
Road Position
Your position and behaviour on the road can make your movements more predictable to other road users, and may make you more visible.
Ride on the right with the flow of traffic, as near to the right side of the road as is safe and reasonable, keeping 1 metre (3 feet) away from curbs.
Stay at least 1 metre away from parked cars; watch for opening doors, people emerging from between parked cars, and cars leaving parking spots.
Maintain a straight line and avoid weaving in and out between parked cars; motor vehicle operators may not see you, and you could be 'squeezed' when merging back into traffic.
Do not cycle in right-turn or left-turn lanes if you intend to continue straight through, unless indicated by road markings or signs.
Taking the Lane
Cycling in the middle of a travel lane, or 'taking the lane', may make you more visible and prevent close passing by motor vehicles. Drivers are less likely to notice people on bikes or make space where traffic volumes and traffic speeds are high, and where there is traffic in the opposite direction.
Consider taking the lane in the following situations:
Where traffic is low and motor vehicles speeds are slow (eg. neighbourhood bikeways)
Where the travel lane is too narrow for motor vehicles to pass without providing passing distance of at least 1 metre
When overtaking and passing another road user
When travelling at the same speed as other traffic
To stay out of the door zone of parked cars
To avoid road surface hazards
When preparing for a left turn
When waiting at a red light
Yielding Right of Way
Respect right of way rules when cycling near other road users; you may need to yield.
At all intersections (including traffic circles), yield the right of way to pedestrians who are in, or indicate the intention to enter, a crosswalk.
At intersections with all-way stop signs, the first road user to come to a complete stop has the right of way; if two or more arrive simultaneously, yield to the person on your right.
Intersections Controlled by Traffic Signals
When approaching, watch for signal changes and be prepared to stop. Don't enter an intersection if the signal has turned amber; most signals are timed for motor vehicles and you could still be in the intersection when cross traffic gets the green light.
Watch oncoming traffic, as some vehicles may turn across your path; this is called a ‘left cross’.
Motor vehicle operators don’t always signal their intention to turn; watch carefully and be prepared to stop in the case of a last-minute turn.
If you're in the right-most travel lane, watch for vehicles on your left that may turn right across your path; this is called a ‘right hook’.
If a motor vehicle indicates a right turn and you’re going straight, don’t pass them on the right unless you’re in a bike lane and the driver has yielded the right of way. See Passing Other Vehicles.
Making a left turn
Turn with traffic:
As you approach the intersection, shoulder check on your left.
When the way is clear, signal, shoulder check again, and merge into the right side of the next lane.
Take the lane; repeat the lane change, if necessary, to get to the left-most lane or left-turn lane.
If there is more than one left-turn lane, use the right-most left-turn lane.
Turn when clear, or when signals indicate.
Make a ‘two-stage’ left turn:
Ride in the right-most through lane, cross the intersection, then do either one of two things:
Go to the right-most through lane of the cross street, stop and then turn your bike to face your intended direction. Resume cycling when the signal changes.
Stop and dismount at the opposite curb, and step up onto the sidewalk; when the signal changes, walk your bike across the intersection, and then re-enter the travel lane and resume cycling when it’s safe to do so.
Making a right turn
Keep to the far right of the road before and after your turn.
Stop for red lights and stop signs before making your turn.
Watch out for pedestrians and wait for them to clear your path before turning.
Navigating a traffic circle or ‘roundabout’
Approach traffic circles and roundabouts cautiously, as evidence suggests they increase collision risk.
Yield to any traffic that is already in the circle.
Merge into the circle when there is a gap and the way is clear.
Enter the circle keeping to the right and cycle counter-clockwise around the circle; signal and exit at your destination lane.
Do not stop in the circle unless required due to traffic congestion.
Be aware of and yield to pedestrians when exiting a circle.
Passing Other Vehicles
‘Passing on the right’—see Chapter 318, Part 3, S.158 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act.
Passing a moving vehicle on the right is generally prohibited.
By law, passing on the right is permitted only in the following circumstances:
When the vehicle on your left is turning left or indicating a left turn;
While cycling in an unobstructed travel lane, including a designated bike lane; or
While cycling on a one-way, unobstructed street wide enough for two lanes of moving vehicles.
Even in these circumstances, the movement must be made cautiously and safely.
Passing on the left is permitted.
When positioned behind a slower or stopped vehicle, merge with traffic in the next lane to the left. Sometimes the safest option is to stop and wait.
Cycling Down Hills
Take care when cycling down hills; weight and gravity create force, which increases speed and makes braking more difficult.
Apply the brakes sooner than you might on level ground.
Shift your weight back on the saddle and lower your body’s centre of gravity as you gently (but firmly) apply the brakes.
Cycling Near Heavy Vehicles
Buses, trucks, large SUVs, motorhomes and tractor trailers have larger blind spots than other vehicles, and operators may not see people on bikes.
Do not rely on a bell, horn or your voice to warn the driver of your presence as they may not hear you.
Buses stop and pull out frequently; if you find yourself continuously ‘leapfrogging’ buses, consider slowing down and staying behind the bus.
You must always yield to a bus when it signals the intention to pull out into traffic—yielding to buses is required by law in B.C.
Fast-moving, heavy vehicles can create strong drafts that pull smaller objects towards them, and often pass quite close to bicycles due to their size. The safest option is to choose routes with few heavy vehicles or routes physically separated from motor vehicle lanes.
Large buses and long trucks, particularly those with trailers, usually need extra space to make right turns. Here are a few important tips:
Do not cycle along the right side of a large vehicle that is turning right, signaling a right turn, or that you suspect might turn right—you could get trapped between the curb and the vehicle as it makes the turn.
Wait behind the rear of the vehicle until the driver has made their turn, or pass on the left if safe to do so.
Cycling on Multi-Use Trails
Be mindful of other users on multi-use trails:
Yield to pedestrians
Travel at appropriate speeds
Use your voice or bell to communicate with other trail users
Be extra cautious at trail and road intersections
