TORONTO - As gas prices surge across the country, some motorists may be eyeballing their two-wheelers for more than just recreational fun.
With analysts predicting national average gasoline prices will top $1.40 a litre this summer, leaving the car at home in favour of cycling to work or to run errands could become an increasingly appealing alternative for those seeking to alleviate pump pain.
But before you dust off the bike in the garage or shell out for a new one, experts say cyclists should ensure they're properly equipped to ride and that safety is a consistent, top-of-mind priority.
A critical tool in the safety arsenal: a helmet.
Currently, five provinces - British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick - have adopted bike helmet legislation.
Suzanne Robillard of the Canada Safety Council said there have been significant declines in injury rates in provinces that have made helmet use mandatory, with a 45 per cent reduction in bicycle-related head injuries, compared to a 27 per cent reduction in jurisdictions that haven't adopted legislation.
Barb Wentworth, a bicycle safety planner for the City of Toronto, said when it comes to ensuring a proper fit, riders should make sure the helmet fits snugly on the head but doesn't pinch.
"What you do is you put your helmet on straight across your forehead and you should have two finger widths between your eyebrows and the level of the helmet," said Wentworth, who is also a national examiner for CAN-BIKE, a national cycling education program offering courses to adults and children.
Next step: take your fingers and make a 'V' shape with them, placing them under your ears so that the two straps come down, and a little glide goes underneath your ear.
The straps should come down smoothly and clasp right under your ear, and you should be able to slide one finger under the chinstrap when it's done up.
Wentworth said many people make the mistake of wearing the helmet as a bonnet on the back of the head - a faux pas because it gives you no protection for your forehead.
Robillard said if you are in a collision and your helmet has sustained impact, you should always replace it - even if there are no visible damages.
"It may not be obvious if there's a defect now or a crack or some sort of a stress was caused to it," she said from Ottawa. "It may not protect you as well the second time."
Now you've made sure your helmet is the right fit, but what about your wheels?
When sizing up a new model, users should be able to comfortably straddle their bike with clearance. But while some parents may think of purchasing a larger bike their child can grow into, it poses a real safety hazard because they should be able to sit comfortably on it from the get-go, Wentworth said.
Lowering the seat to the level where a child can sit on it and put their feet on the ground is easiest when they learn how to ride.
"Once they learn how to balance and stop and start and go, then you want to start raising the seat because you need to have the seat height at an appropriate level so that you don't get muscle strain," Wentworth said.
Even if you haven't used it in a while, both Robillard and Wentworth agree bikes should be taken for a tune-up.
"The maintenance of the bike, the chain and the tires, all of that is very important," Robillard said. "If you're going to be riding and taking your life into your hands on the streets every morning, I would certainly think that it's worth the investment to get your bike properly maintained, to understand what's important to check before heading off."
As a good rule of thumb, Wentworth recommends the ABC quick check before every ride: Air, Brakes, and Crank (which includes inspecting gears).
Make sure the tires are fully inflated, and to test air pressure, ensure your thumb doesn't sink into the tire when you press it, she said.
Robillard said another reason a daily tire pressure check is so critical is that riders may not be aware they have a slow leak, which could occur after riding over glass, for example.
When it comes to add-ons, Wentworth recommends a fender for the bike, so if conditions are wet or it's raining, you won't get a stripe up the back from spray from the road.
Use paniers that sit on a rack on the back of your bike or wear a backpack - something that keeps any materials you may be carrying away from the wheels, she added.
You're just about ready to roll out, and in addition to your helmet, you're wearing bright clothing to ensure you're visible to motorists. But just how comfortable are you navigating the road on your two-wheeler?
It may sound simple, but the best bet for riding is to do so in a straight line, which makes you visible, predictable and manoeuvrable Wentworth said.
When it comes to riding in traffic, a child is only ready when they are able to do a shoulder check, Robillard said. A good test is to ride behind them and hold up fingers to see if they can spot them.
Riding out of driveways is also a common place for collisions for those around the age of 10 and under, she said.
"It takes time to learn how to control that you're not doing a huge U-ey out into the traffic," Robillard said. "You really have to keep it tight and snug and walk when there's a lot of traffic beside your bike if you haven't acquired those skills yet."
Both Robillard and Wentworth say it is of paramount importance to observe the rules of the road, whether it's stopping at red lights, observing stop signs and signalling turns.
Wentworth said it's key to steer clear of large vehicles and for cyclists to not try to squeeze between a truck and curb if there isn't enough room.
If you're nervous about riding into traffic, don't leave it at that, Wentworth said. She recommends signing up for a course and starting slowly.
"You don't need to ride to work the first time off," she said.
"Try a short trek to the video store. As you slowly get into the habit, it becomes easier."
Cycling is not only an efficient way of getting around but a great way to stay healthy - which means you don't need to carve out extra time to work out, Wentworth said.
"It just becomes part of your everyday routine and you get that little exercise built in as part of your day."
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Tips for adults on bicycle riding safely with a child on board
Barb Wentworth is a bicycle safety planner for the City of Toronto and a national examiner for CAN-BIKE, a cycling education program offering courses to adults and children.
She offers some suggestions for adult cyclists who plan to hit the road with child seats mounted on their bicycles.
Make sure you're a strong rider before you take a child along. "What happens when you have a child on the bike is it raises the centre of gravity, so it changes how it feels and how it operates," Wentworth said. "You want to have really good bike skills of your own before you take the kids along but it's a great things to do, and the kids love it, and there's also bike trailers that work really well for children."
Get yourself decked out first, then your child, before heading out. "You get everything done that you need to do, and you get your child ready and the very last thing you do is you put your child in the bike seat in the bike carrier, strap them in and then you get on yourself and go," Wentworth said.
"You don't want to put your child in the carrier and then turn around to go and get something or grab your water bottle or something because the danger there is the bike will fall over."
It's the reverse on the other side, she said. The first thing that comes off the bike is the child and then you do everything else you need to do.
Choose your route carefully. "You don't necessarily want to be out on the major arterials. If you can take side routes it's quieter and easier for your child."