You are reading the Original Version (CLB5+) Read Simple Version (CLB3-4) After reading Bike safety for newcomers, it’s time to get the right equipment and proper safety gear to start biking: Before you get out there, it important that you have the proper equipment. By law, your bike should have a white light in front and a red or amber light or reflector on the rear. A blinking LED light on the rear of your bike is an added protection, especially if you bike at night. The more visible you are to motorists, the better. Wear brightly coloured clothes and use those with reflective material if you plan on biking longer distances. Younger kids who are learning to bike may need additional protection such as knee and elbow pads. Always make sure that your bike is in good shape and safe to ride. Check if your tires are inflated and the brakes are working (do the ABC Quick Check from the Bike Safely booklet). There are many bike and sporting goods stores all over Manitoba that sell high-quality bikes. You can also opt to rent, build one or buy second-hand. When buying second-hand through Kijiji, Craigslist and similar sources, check the bike’s serial numbers. Sellers should post it on their ad. If it’s not posted, ask the seller and check it in the Canadian Police Information Centre database to make sure that it is not stolen. It is Manitoba law that anyone under 18 years old must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet. Parents or guardians can be fined if they allow their young children to ride without a helmet. While adults are not required to wear them, why would you not? According to recent statistics, approximately 60 percent of cyclists injured and almost 95 percent of cyclists killed in collisions with a vehicle were not wearing a helmet (from the Traffic Accident Report database 2011-2015, as cited from Bike Safely, MPI). Wearing a helmet is not only safer for you, it is also a way to model good behavior to your kids. Watch this video from Can-Bike to know how a proper helmet protects you and how to choose the right one: CAN-BIKE // Bike Helmets 101 from Manitoba Cycling Association on Vimeo. Bicycles do not come cheap nowadays. To prevent your bike from being stolen, be proactive: Provide a detailed description. Supply your bike’s serial number, model, color, unique markings or engravings. It will be even better if you have a photograph. The more accurate your description, the better the chances that your bike will be retrieved. Please login to tell us what you think.Skip to:
Proper safety gear
Where to get a bike:
Helmet
Lock it or lose it
Article updated March 17, 2021.
Sources: Bike Safely, MPI; Stolen Bicycles, Winnipeg Police Service; and ‘Lock it or lose it: Winnipeg Police offer tips to cyclists’, CBC News Accessed May 28, 2019.We'd love to hear from you!