Waterloo Region Concerned Cyclists

10 Tips for Drivers

1. Share the road

Cyclists enjoy all the rights of other vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act. Expect cyclists to ride one meter out from the curb so they can avoid sewer grates, potholes, and other road obstructions. On rough or narrow roads, cyclists will take the whole lane. Do not pass until it is safe and legal to do so. Remember that one small mistake by a car driver can cost the life of a cyclist.

2. Keep to the speed limit

Speeding makes it harder to see cyclists, more difficult to pass at a safe distance, and reduces response time. The faster a car is travelling, the more distance it should give cyclists, especially on narrow country roads.

3. Don't give the door prize

Before opening your car door, check over your shoulder for cyclists. This goes for both drivers and passengers!

4. Pass safely

Do not pass on hills, when there is oncoming traffic, on narrow roadways, or in any situation where visibility is limited or there is not sufficient space. Many city roads are too narrow to accommodate an oversized vehicle, such as an SUV, mini-van, or delivery truck, and a bicycle in the same lane.

5. Look first

Before making a right turn, check for cyclists travelling in the right-hand side of a lane or in a bike lane. Before crossing a multipurpose path, crosswalk, or bike lane, check for non-motorized through traffic, especially children. Before backing out of a driveway, check for cyclists. Most accidents happen at intersections.

6. Don't underestimate the speed of cyclists

Cyclists can easily reach speeds of 25 to 45 km/hour in town – this is why bikes are such a fun and fast way to get around. Drivers often enter roadways or make left turns in front of oncoming cyclists because they fail to appreciate that bikes can move fast.

7. Don't part in bike lanes

Bike lanes allow motor vehicles and bicycles to travel at their own speeds on the roads: bikes don’t get stuck in car traffic at lights; cars don’t get slowed behind bicycles. Obstructions in the bike lane, such as parked cars, are serious hazards for cyclists who must dodge in and out of car traffic to swerve around the obstacles.

8. Signal your intentions

Before even starting to change lanes, turn, or stop, use your signals so that cyclists know what you are doing and can respond appropriately. When there is confusion about right-of-way, wave the cyclist on.

9. Remember that cyclists make left turns too

Cyclists need to merge across the lanes of the road in order to make left turns. They also use left-turn lanes. Bikes may take up less space on the road, but they are entitled to their turn in the lane.

10. Stay back of the pack

Competitive cyclists train in groups, just like in the Tour de France. When you encounter a training ride on a country road, treat the pack as you would a buggy or a tractor pulling a hay wagon – except that the cyclists go much faster! Stay back until it is safe and legal to pass. Never pass a pack on a hill where oncoming traffic won’t be seen until it is too late. Careful driving makes the roads safer for everyone.