Cycling safety tips

By TD Insurance

 

Cycling is a great option for getting around the city. You don’t have to endure traffic jams or pay for parking. Cycling is the perfect combination of physical exercise, outdoor activities and city sightseeing. Cycling is not only fun, but it’s also better for the environment!

When you bike around the city, it’s important to understand the basic guidelines when sharing the road with cars and other vehicles. Not only does this keep you safe while riding, it also helps you feel comfortable sharing the road with other vehicles.

If you are a cyclist, remember these safety tips:

  • Ride on the right side of the road and/or in the cycle lane
  • Ride in a straight line and do not change direction at will
  • Don’t be distracted and don’t use mobile devices or headphones while riding so you can easily communicate with others on the road
  • Communicate your intention to change position or direction
  • give the right signal
  • Turn your head to check
  • Never ride in a driver’s “blind spot” as they won’t be able to see you if they decide to turn
  • For safety, wear an approved, suitable helmet
  • Wear light-colored clothing or reflective fabrics that glow in the dark to increase visibility
  • Use bicycle lights
  • Learn the roads and plan your route

Check out cycling maps for these popular cities to help you plan your route with confidence!

Toronto cycling map
Vancouver cycling map
Montreal cycling map
calgary biking map
Edmonton biking map
Ottawa cycling map
Winnipeg biking map
Brampton cycling map
Mississauga biking map
Hamilton cycling map

When driving in the city, it’s equally important to be aware of the cyclists around you and understand the basics when sharing the road. These safety tips will help everyone get to their destination safely.

Driving tips for sharing the road with cyclists:

  • Drive carefully
  • Let cyclists go first
  • Pay attention to cyclists’ hand signals, they may extend their right arm to indicate a right turn
  • Keep a safe distance from cyclists and allow time to stop safely as they do not have brake lights to indicate when to slow down or stop
  • Make eye contact with cyclists whenever possible
  • To avoid collisions with cyclists at intersections, remember the following:
  • When turning right, signal and check your mirrors, including the blind spot on your right, to ensure you are not blocking cyclists
  • When turning left, stop and wait for the bicycle on the opposite side to pass before turning
  • When driving through an intersection, scan for cyclists waiting to turn left
  • Do not honk your horn unless necessary. If you feel you must use your horn, honk it quickly and lightly while you are still some distance away from the cyclist so as not to scare them.

Can I insure my bike?

If you want Insure your bike, you need to buy home insurance. Bicycle insurance is a form of home contents insurance that provides peace of mind for your bike in the event of fire, theft or accidental damage. This coverage pays if your bike is lost or damaged in or outside your home. For example, if your bike is stolen while locked in front of a shop, this means it has “temporarily left your home” and may therefore be eligible for home contents insurance (certain terms apply). Your homeowners insurance can also protect you if your bike accidentally injures someone or damages their property responsibility。

If you have homeowners insurance, there are certain caps on bike insurance, but that limit depends on the type of policy you may have. Your Home insurance There are also some bike-specific conditions. Under your policy, these conditions must be met to give your bike maximum protection against loss.

Keep in mind that home insurance is usually most useful for covering larger losses, so you’re unlikely to make a separate claim for your bike. This is because the policy deductible may exceed the value of your bike itself. You end up paying out of pocket and receive little to no compensation.

If your bike is worth more than your deductible it may be worth making a claim, but this should be weighed against the potential loss of the no-claims discount that would be available if it remained claims-free for 5 years.

You can also add specific and additional coverage to your bike, which will give you the benefit of full replacement cost coverage with a lower deductible than your basic coverage.We recommend you speak to an advisor to ensure you have the right cover to meet your needs.