The following scenarios are designed to give you guidance and awareness of the situations that will arise when you are cycling on the roads today. Please read them carefully, so that you know that correct procedures to carry out quickly and safely when the situations arise.

Road Positioning

There really is no hard and fast rule as to the “correct” distance cyclists should keep from the kerb. Common sense and observations should be your guide.

• Do not hug the kerb
• Try and stay about a metre from the kerb, but with the understanding that with proper observation you can move in or out to avoid danger.
• This approach helps prevent car drivers from overtaking at inappropriate times such as narrowing of the road or corners. The cyclist also has plenty of room for manoeuvre to avoid potholes and other obstructions.

Road Awareness

This means that not only are you alert and aware of all the factors that can affect your journey but that you are aware of how you can affect other cyclists and motorists on the road. You will of course be wearing all the necessary safety and reflective clothing that will enable people to see you on the road.

If you are approaching a junction and you are unsure about the correct procedure for that particular junction, take the safety option and dismount and walk your bicycle over the junction.

As has been mentioned in another section, the weather has a very serious effect on cyclists, which does affect your judgement and general awareness. Too hot, too cold or too wet all effect your judgement and awareness, be aware of how these weather conditions can affect you.

The surface conditions of the road are also effected by the extremes of conditions, with ice being the obvious danger, wet roads and hot tarmac surfaced roads pose just a great a threat as the icy conditions.

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