Cycling Skills
Ontario's Guide to Safe Cycling

Blind spots

Bus and truck drivers have large blind spots where they are unable to see passing vehicles, particularly bicycles. It is extremely important to stay out of the blind spots. Trucks and buses are wider than most passenger vehicles and occupy more space on the road, meaning cyclists should never share a lane with them. Always watch for trucks and buses that may make a right-hand turn in front of you.

If you can see the eyes of the driver in their mirror, they can see you. Try to catch the driver's attention, or stay well ahead of or well behind their vehicle.

Trucks and turning

Cyclists need to take extra care when entering intersections with trucks. Trucks have large blind spots and may not be able to spot cyclists when making right-hand turns. An experienced truck driver will use lane closure (crowd the curb) to shut down the lane to bikes and small vehicles before making a right turn. They then must swing out away from the curb to allow the truck's rear wheels to complete the turn. Not all truck drivers practise this technique, so always take extra care and watch for right-turning trucks.

Position yourself in front or behind a truck near intersections. The experienced cyclist may choose to pass on the left in the passing lane. If you sit between the curb and a truck at an intersection, you lose the comfort space needed to get out of the way if the truck starts to turn.

Truck safety tips

• Leave extra room when stopped behind a truck to prevent a "roll-back" collision. When a truck driver takes their foot off the brake to release the clutch, a heavy load can cause the truck to roll back.
• Trucks require a lot of space to stop. Always ensure there is a large distance between your bike and a truck before you pull in front.
• The length of a truck affects the driver's visibility. If you're riding behind a truck, stay far enough back so that the driver is better able to see you in the side-view mirror.
• Ride on the inside section of a bike lane when a truck is near you. If you're sharing the road, ride far enough behind the truck so that you appear in its mirrors.
• At low speed and when starting from a stop bikes tend to wobble, which can contribute to your handlebars knocking into the vehicle beside you. Cyclists should gear down at stops to reduce the wobble effect at start-up.
• Do not rely on your bell, horn or voice to alert the truck driver of your presence. Respect the driver's limitations and keep a safe distance away.
• Trucks passing cyclists can create a gust of wind powerful enough to throw the most experienced cyclist off balance. When you can anticipate a truck coming up on your side, stop pedalling and concentrate on keeping your front wheel straight.

Streetcars

By law, you must pass streetcars on the right. When they stop to pick up or let off passengers, you must stop two metres behind the rear door until all passengers have boarded and disembarked on the sidewalk. If a safety zone has been designated for the passengers, this law does not apply.

School buses

When the upper red lights of a stopped school bus are flashing, traffic in both directions must stop. If you are coming from behind the bus, stop at least 20 metres away, and a safe distance when approaching from the opposite direction.

The only exception is if you are on a road divided by a median strip. In this case, only vehicles approaching a school bus from behind must stop.

You may not proceed until the bus resumes motion or the red signal lights have stopped flashing. Failing to stop for a school bus is against the law, and if charged, you could be subject to a fine of $400 to $2,000. This law applies on all roads and to all drivers, including bicyclists.

Travelling in groups

There are a few safety tips to keep in mind when travelling in groups.

If you are travelling in a large group, break up into smaller groups of about four to six. Keep about one kilometre between groups to allow traffic to pass.