Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Southwestern Public Health Logo

Contact Us
A - Z TopicsNewsroomLocations and HoursContact Us1-800-922-0096
  • Classes, Clinics and Services
    • Dental Clinics
    • Food Handler Certification
    • Immunization Clinics
    • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Needle Exchange Program
    • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Quit Smoking
    • Sexual Health Clinics
    • TB Skin Testing
    • Tick Identification
    • Well Water Testing
  • My Health
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
    • Dental Health
    • Immunization and Vaccines
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Nutrition
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Activity
    • Sexual Health
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
  • Community Health
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
    • Environmental Health
    • Food Safety
    • Health Inspect
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Road Safety
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking
  • Partners & Professionals
    • Child Care Centres
    • Educators
    • Food Service Operators
    • Health Care Providers
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Congregate Living Settings
    • Recreational Facilities
    • Southwest IPAC Hub
    • Outbreak Activity
  • Reports & Statistics
    • Community Health Status
    • Evaluations and Situational Assessments
    • Evidence Reviews
    • Health Inspect
    • General Reports
    • Position Statements
    • Surveillance Dashboards
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate Culture and Values
    • Events Calendar
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Locations and Hours
    • News and Media
    • Performance and Accountability
    Click to view About Us
    About Us

Bike Safety

HomeMy HealthPersonal Safety and Injury PreventionBike Safety
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
Family biking outdoors wearing helmets

Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas are Share the Road communities. Bicycles are vehicles under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, with the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles. Drivers and cyclists must understand their responsibilities and work together to keep roads safe.

Safety tips for cyclists

  • Wear a helmet (by law, all cyclists under 18 must wear a helmet)
  • Wear bright colours and reflective strips
  • Use a front white light and rear red light if biking at dawn, dusk or at night
  • Ride as close to the edge of the road as possible on rural roads
  • Ride at least 1 meter from the side of the road and parked cars in urban areas
  • Be aware of drivers in parked cards opening their doors  
  • Yield to pedestrians
  • Walk your bike (do not ride) across pedestrian crosswalks
  • Take your turn when approaching an intersection and watch for vehicles turning right
  • Always ride in the same direction as traffic
  • Avoid riding in the blind spot of cars or trucks

Safety tips for drivers

  • Pass a bicycle only when there is room and it is safe to do so, leaving at least 1 meter between the bike and your vehicle as you pass
  • Be aware that a cyclist may ride in any part of the lane if their safety warrants it
  • Ensure you are not cutting off a cyclist when you are turning right
  • Watch for approaching cyclists when you are making a left turn
  • Always check for bicycles before opening a car door on the side of the road
  • Stay behind cyclists at railway crossings until they have finished crossing the tracks
  • Avoid stopping or driving in a bicycle lane

Find cycling resources

Find more detailed Share the Road information on page 32 of our Free and Low-Cost Activities guide or on the Share the Road website. 

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation provides the Young Cyclist’s Guide for children and youth, and Cycling Skills information for all ages. You can also learn more about bike safety from CAA.

Find information about cycling routes in Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas on our Walking, Biking, Hiking page.

Subscribe to page updates
My Health
  • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    Toggle Section Personal Safety and Injury Prevention Menu
    • Bike Safety
    • Child Safety
    • Concussions
    • Sun Safety
  • View Full My Health Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
      Toggle Section Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco Menu
      • Alcohol
      • Cannabis
      • Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange
        Toggle Section Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange Menu
        • Naloxone
        • Opioid Monitoring
        • Needle Exchange Program
      • Smoking and Vaping
        Toggle Section Smoking and Vaping Menu
        • Health Effects of Tobacco and Smoking
        • Quit Smoking Workshops
        • Vaping
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
      Toggle Section Animal Bites and Rabies Menu
      • Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
      Toggle Section Child and Family Health Menu
      • Breastfeeding
      • Child Safety
      • Healthy Babies Healthy Children
      • Parenting
        Toggle Section Parenting Menu
        • Babies 0-12 months
        • Toddlers 1-3 years
        • Preschoolers 3-5 years
      • Postpartum Mood Disorders
      • Preconception and Pregnancy
      • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Dental Health
      Toggle Section Dental Health Menu
      • Children and Youth 0-17
      • Seniors 65+
    • Immunization and Vaccines
      Toggle Section Immunization and Vaccines Menu
      • Immunization at Every Age
      • Immunization Exemptions
      • Immunization Records and Reporting
      • Immunizations in Schools
        Toggle Section Immunizations in Schools Menu
        • Grade 7 Immunization Program
      • Immunization Clinics
      • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Infectious Diseases
      Toggle Section Infectious Diseases Menu
      • Common Childhood Infections
      • COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
        Toggle Section COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Menu
        • COVID-19 Resources for Community Settings
        • COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers
        • COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres
        • COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers
          Toggle Section COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers Menu
          • COVID-19 FAQ's for Workplaces and Employers
        • COVID-19 Vaccine
      • Influenza (Flu)
      • Preventing Infection
      • Tuberculosis
    • Nutrition
      Toggle Section Nutrition Menu
      • Healthy Eating
      • Local Food Programs and Services
      • Reducing Weight Bias
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Activity
      Toggle Section Physical Activity Menu
      • Free and Low-Cost Activities
      • Physical Activity in Schools
      • Physical Activity Guidelines
      • Physical Literacy
      • Walking, Biking, Hiking
    • Sexual Health
      Toggle Section Sexual Health Menu
      • Birth Control
      • Cervical Cancer Screening (Pap Test)
      • Pregnancy Testing and Options
      • Safer Sex
      • Sexual Assault and Violence
      • Sexual Health Clinics
      • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
      Toggle Section Vector-Borne Diseases Menu
      • Ticks and Lyme Disease
      • West Nile Virus

Contact Us

Work with Us

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) values our people! We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.

Learn More

Southwestern Public Health footer logo

Southwestern Public Health strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a scent free environment.

  • Classes, Clinics and Services
  • My Health
  • Community Health
  • Partners & Professionals
  • Reports & Statistics
  • About Us

Links:

  • Privacy and Records Access
  • Accessibility
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer and Terms of Use
  • Location and Hours
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback
Scroll to top of page

© 2020 Southwestern Public Health

Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.