Guide to safety & security
Fit your helmet correctly
Wearing a correctly fitted helmet helps provide protection in the event of an accident or fall. Your helmet should sit level on your head, just above your eyebrows. The side straps should sit flat against the sides of your face to form a V shape and fasten securely beneath your chin, with space for two fingers between the strap and your chin. When you shake your head from side to side your helmet should stay in place.
Wear bright, warm and waterproof clothing
You don’t need special clothing to ride a bike, wear what you feel comfortable in. Here’s some top tips for choosing appropriate clothing for cycling:
- Wear bright clothing, something reflective if you have it for good visibility, especially when you are cycling at night.
- Wear a waterproof jacket and trousers to keep dry when it’s raining.
- Layers and gloves are essential when it’s cold out!
- Shorten your trousers by rolling them up or tucking them into your socks to keep them away from a moving and greasy chain.
Cycle with lights at night
Cycling at night, photographer Anne Glass, image courtesy of Dumchapel Cycle Hub
Use a white headlight at the front and red light at the rear of your bike for good visibility and safety at night. You may want to carry spare batteries to keep them bright, or even a spare or emergency set of lights. Also ensure you have a rear reflector fitted.
Know your rights as a cyclist
To understand your rights as a cyclist, it is worth familiarising yourself with the Highway Code.
Cycling is not inherently a dangerous activity; you are much more likely to face serious health problems from leading a sedentary lifestyle than riding a bike in a city! However accidents on the road do happen and when they involve other road users it is important to know what to do.
Cycle Law Scotland offer guidance on what to do if you’ve been involved in an accident, as well as specialising in representing cyclists who have been injured in road traffic incidents through no fault of their own.
Respect all road users
Many of Glasgow’s and Scotland’s cycling organisations work with car, van and public transport drivers to educate them about cycling and cyclists. This includes the following Cycling Scotland campaigns:
Carry some essentials
A mobile phone, map, filled water bottle, puncture repair kit, spare inner tube, multitool and bicycle pump may come in handy on your ride.
Check the weather
Knowing the weather in advance means that you can prepare. If it is cold you can wear extra layers to keep you warm. If it is to be wet, road surfaces may be slippery so you can adjust your riding and speed when crossing surfaces that may be affected.
Get your cycle set up right
Adjusting the bike to your body dimensions can make a massive difference to how comfortable cycling can be.
1. Adjust your saddle height
Cycling with a too low saddle can put excess strain on your knees and make it feel harder to cycle. As a guideline, when the pedal is at its lowest point and you are seated on the saddle, your leg should be bent slightly at the knee.
To adjust the saddle height, release the fixed or quick release seat post clamp, adjust the height of the saddle as required and re-tighten the clamp.
2. Lateral position (distance from front to back)
When seated in the riding position with the pedal arms horizontal to the floor, the front of your knee should vertically align with the centre of the pedal. You can adjust this lateral position by moving your seat forward and back on the saddle rails at the top of the seat post, and adjusting the length of the stem to your handlebars.
3. The height of your handlebars can also be tweaked. As a rough rule, high handlebars offer a comfortable position (like a Dutch bike). Lower handlebars will give you a more aerodynamic position (make sure you can still reach the brakes comfortably).
Cycle Security
Follow this advice to keep your bike secure at all times, whether at home or out and about:
- If possible, keep your bike out of sight as best you can
- Lock your bike securely with a good quality lock – Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council’s If You Love It, Lock It campaign recommends using a D-Lock with an approved Sold Secure label.
- Lock your bike through the back wheel and frame to a secure fixed object, such as a bike rack, sign post, lamp post
- If you have quick release wheels, use an additional lock or a quality security cable for the front wheel
- When out and about, lock your bike in a busy, well-lit place, in view of people or CCTV cameras, if possible
- Remove small parts and accessories, such as lights, pumps and water bottles, that cannot be readily secured
Familiarise yourself with the location of bike racks, alongside cycle routes and automated bike hire sites, in the city.
When you first get your bike, further advice is recommended to protect it:
- Photograph your bike, recording its details and distinguishing features, including the serial number usually found underneath the bottom bracket (the part of the frame the pedals/cranks connect to). Keep these photographs in a safe place.
- Security mark your bike’s frame with a UV pen or other method, ensuring the mark includes your house number and postcode.
- Insure your bike, either on contents insurance or separately if required.
- Register your bike on the Bike Register, the national cycle database
In the event your bike is stolen, you should report the theft to Police Scotland by calling 101.