Secrets of a streetwise cyclist

Cycling know-how
"A lot of people who cycle haven't thought about the rules of the road since they were kids," says Barb Wentworth, a bicycle-safety planner for the City of Toronto and a Can-Bike instructor. "Can-Bike teaches cyclists how to be more aware of the risks on the road and gives them the skills to avoid those hazards."

Can-Bike does this by emphasizing four basic principles: manoeuvrability, visibility, predictability and communication (MVPC). You can remember it with the phrase "most valuable person cycles."

"Even if people never take a Can-Bike course, if they make decisions with those terms in mind when they're cycling, they'll make the right decisions," says Darrell Noakes, a Can-Bike instructor and national examiner in Saskatoon.

Manoeuvrability
Manoeuvrability means leaving enough room to plan an escape route while riding. Cycling about one metre away from the curb is a good guideline when you think there's enough room to share the lane, because it's far enough out to avoid sewer grates and opening car doors. (Cyclists colliding with car doors is the most frequent type of car-bike collision in downtown Toronto.) When it seemed there wasn't enough room for a car to safely pass me, I rode in the centre of the lane - referred to in Can-Bike as "taking the lane." For the first time, I didn't feel squished and intimidated.

Visibility
Visibility means seeing and being seen. Where you ride in the lane helps make you visible, and when you're too close to the curb, drivers may not see you. Bright clothing also helps; especially at night, wear light clothes, or reflective clothes or bands, and use lights. Also, equip your bike with a bell or horn.

Predictability
Predictability means following the rules of the road and riding in a straight line so drivers, other cyclists and pedestrians can predict what you're going to do. This may sound simple, but if you've ever weaved toward the curb, then away from it, between parked cars or hugged the curb in a right-hand-turn lane and then gone straight through the intersection, you'll know that riding predictably isn't always second nature.

Communication
Communication means giving signals to drivers through actions, such as using the correct hand signals and making eye contact with them. Once you're sure that they know what you intend to do, you can then do it safely.