Crime Prevention
Cycle Safety and Security
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The Facts:
Each year, an average of 270 cyclists are injured in collisions on
Hertfordshire’s roads.
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For more advice, visit the links
below:
Kitted
out for safe cycling
Planning your
journey
Useful
contacts
Keep your cycle secure
Kitted out for safe cycling
As a cyclist you are more vulnerable than other road users, but by
taking some simple precautions you can reduce the risk of accidents
or injury.
• Helmets should always be
worn, even on short journeys. You should only buy a helmet if it
carries a CE mark and one of the normal safety standards, e.g. BS
EN 1078:1997 or equivalent.
• Try the helmet on before you buy it. It should fit
comfortably and should sit level across your forehead without
obscuring your view.
• If you want to improve your cycling skills, you can take
part in one of the cyclist training courses available to young
people and adults. For more information contact Hertfordshire
County Council's Road Safety Department.
• Look after your bike, check moving parts regularly and give
special attention to tyres, brakes and lights.
• Have your bike serviced regularly.
• It is against the law to cycle in darkness without front and
rear lights and a red reflector. Keep these clean and if they are
battery operated, check the batteries before each journey.
• You should always wear fluorescent / reflective bands both
day and night to increase visibility.
• If your bike has a bell, use it but don't assume everyone
can hear you. Still take care when using shared
cycle paths.
• If you listen to your mp3 player or personal stereo whilst
cycling, you are reducing your ability to focus on the road and may
not hear traffic warnings.
Planning your journey
Before setting out on a cycle ride always give some thought to your
journey to ensure it will be safe and enjoyable.
• Wherever possible use cycle
paths. Take care and remember that these are often shared with
horse riders and pedestrians.
• If you have to cycle on the road, try to use side streets to
avoid very busy roads.
• Take extra care at junctions and roundabouts and use clear
hand signals.
• Always double check it is safe before joining a main
road.
• Cycle in single file on busy or narrow roads.
• Remember, it is against the law to cycle on pavements
(unless shared), or through red lights and down one-way streets the
wrong way.
Figures taken from 
www.hertsdirect.org (March
2009).
Useful Contacts
For information about training courses and cycling in Hertfordshire
contact:
Road Safety
Environment Department
Hertfordshire County Council
Tel: 
01992 556800
Visit www.bikeability.org.uk for
information on the national ‘Cycling Proficiency’ scheme.
KEEP YOUR CYCLE SECURE
Hertfordshire is a safe place with
some of the lowest crime levels in the country. Despite this
more than 1,000 bicycles are reported stolen every year and of
those recovered, most are auctioned simply because there's no way
of knowing who the owners are.
Keeping your bike
yours
There are some very simple things you can do to deter
opportunist thieves from stealing your bike:
• Mark the frame of your bike
with your postcode using a UV pen or contact your local cycle shop,
as most will mark them for a small cost. You can contact us
for advice on other property marking initiatives available on
101.
• Register your bike on www.immobilise.com, a free online
property database which police use to check stolen property. That
way, if your bike does get stolen, you have more chance of it being
returned to you.
• Never leave your bike unlocked – even if you're just popping
into the newsagents.
• The best kind of lock is a quality solid steel D-shaped
shackle lock. You can buy these at any bike shop.
• Always lock your bike to something solid like a lamp-post or
railings, preferably in a public area.
• If you have quick release wheels, take off the front wheel
and lock it to the frame and back wheel.
• If you have a pump or detachable lights take them with you
when you leave your bike.
• Make sure you have adequate insurance cover for your
bike.
On
this
leaflet, there is a Record Form which you can print off and
complete with details about your bike. Attach a clear, colour
photograph of your bike and keep this form in a safe place. If your
bike is stolen, you should report the theft to the police and give
them this form – it will help the police identify your bike if it
is found.
Downloads
Download
the Cycle Safety leaflet.