Bike safety

Learn how to bike safely. Find cycling safety tips and videos, learn about crossrides, bike boxes and cycling near ION tracks. Sign up for a course.

On this page:

  1. Watch cycling safety videos
  2. Ride safely
  3. Bicycle Crossrides
  4. Use Bike Boxes safely
  5. Cycling near ION tracks
  6. Learn how to ride with CAN-BIKE courses
  7. Register your bike against theft

Watch cycling safety videos

Watch our 3 videos to learn safe cycling skills.

Be seen and heard

Riding around Waterloo

Using multi-use trails

Ride safely

Follow these tips to stay safe.

Check your bike and gear before every trip:

  • check your chain, tires and brakes
  • wear a helmet
  • make sure your lights and reflectors work
  • add a bell or horn – it’s required by law

Share the road:

  • ride in the same direction as traffic in bike lanes or near the right side of the road
  • obey all signs and traffic signals
  • use hand signals to show turns or stops
  • watch for opening car doors

Be careful around pedestrians:

  • yield to pedestrians and give them space
  • walk your bike through crosswalks
  • only bikes with tires smaller than 50 cm can ride on sidewalks.

Provincial resources: 

Use Bicycle Crossrides

Bicycle Crossrides let you ride your bike through a signalized crossing:

  • stop before the white line and wait for the green bicycle signal
  • follow the painted bike markings beside the pedestrian area
  • sensors under the pavement detect bikes and mobility devices

Watch our video to learn how to use Crossrides safely.

Use bike boxes safely

A bike box is a green space at the front of a lane where cyclists can wait ahead of vehicles at red lights. It helps make cyclists more visible and gives them a head start when the light turns green.

Bike box markings showing cyclist waiting area ahead of vehicles

Cyclists:

  • move into the green bike box from the bike lane
  • stop in front of vehicles and wait for the light to turn green
  • when the light changes, move ahead through the intersection or into the bike lane

Drivers:

  • stop behind the bike box so cyclists stay visible
  • wait until the light turns green and the bike lane is clear before proceeding

Cyclists:

  • use the bike lane to go straight or turn right
  • signal and merge into the left turn lane if turning left
  • watch for vehicles turning right

Drivers:

  • share the road with cyclists
  • check the bike lane before turning right
  • wait until the lane is clear before moving

Find Bike Boxes at these intersections:

  • Davenport Road and Lexington Road
  • Lexington Road and Bridge Street
  • Lexington Road and University Avenue
  • Caroline Street North and Erb Street North
  • Columbia Street West and Erbsville Road

Cycling near ION tracks

Cross light-rail tracks safely by following these steps:

  • cross only at marked crossings
  • cross at a right angle
  • never ride along the tracks
  • follow posted signs – some intersections no longer allow left turns

Watch the Region of Waterloo video on cycling safely near ION tracks.

Learn how to ride with CAN-BIKE courses

Build your cycling skills with a CAN-BIKE course, Canada’s national bike riding and safety program. These courses teach everything from beginner basics to advanced riding, including how to ride on roads, trails and in city traffic.

Register for CAN-BIKE courses on Active Waterloo. Courses are offered for ages 9 and up, including teens and adults.

Register your bike against theft

The city works with Project 529 to help prevent bike theft. You can register your bike online for free. After you register, pick up a free shield sticker. The sticker has a unique 7-digit ID code that links to your bike.

How it works

  • register your bike on the Project 529 website
  • add details about your bike, such as the make, model and serial number
  • pick up your free shield sticker
  • put the sticker on your bike

If someone steals your bike, police or a buyer can search the Shield number to help return the bike to you.

Get your shield sticker

After you register, visit the Waterloo Service Centre to pick up your free shield sticker.