Not only is cycling free, but it is also a great way to boost your fitness and use a greener mode of transport.
Getting on bikes is a convenient way to travel, avoiding congestion and parking charges. However, to ensure a safe journey, always wear a helmet and protective clothing, and ensure your bike is fitted with a light, for darker seasons and evening travel.
If you decide you want to get on your bike, you might be interested in some of the training available in Essex.
These include:
- FREE cycling training for adults
- FREE family cycling training
- Bikeability training for schools
Visit the Essex Highways website for more information on the courses available: https://www.essexhighways.org/safer-greener-healthier/safer-greener-healthier-cycling
- In addition to good road positioning, high visibility clothing will help drivers spot you, especially in low light conditions.
- You must always use lights on your bike when cycling in the dark.
- In the event of a collision, our crash data shows that wearing a cycle helmet will halve your risk of receiving a serious head injury.
We also recommend that you watch this short video produced by Cycling UK:
It covers:
- Checking your surroundings
- Brake sense
- Observe and anticipate
- Road positioning
- Finishing your journey
One very important area to learn about is road positioning, and how to tackle junctions safely. Cycling UK has produced this handy video guide, which is well worth a few minutes of your time:
It covers:
- Basic road positioning
- Passing simple junctions
- Turning right from a major to a minor road
- Turning left from a major to a minor road
- Turning left from a minor to a major road
- Turning right from a major to a minor road
In flowing traffic, when it is safe for following vehicles to overtake, you should position yourself at least an arm’s length away from the kerb. When cycling past parked cars, keep a door’s width away from the vehicles, in case somebody opens a door unexpectedly in your path.
Dealing with junctions
Did you know more than 70% of collisions involving a bike happen at, or near, a junction?
When approaching a junction, obstruction or narrowing in the road, take a centre-lane position. Check over your right shoulder and signal before moving out to make sure it is safe to do so.
Rules for all types of road users were updated in The Highway Code in 2022, to improve the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.
Click here to read more about eight of the changes that you need to know.
Extra Eyes
You can help us reduce collisions and casualties and make roads across Essex roads even safer by reporting instances of poor and dangerous driving.
Click here to visit the Extra Eyes homepage