Bike safety tips
Thinking of delivering orders on a bike? Here are a few suggestions from safety experts and Delivery People that you might want to read before you ride.
The right gear is important
Check out these tips from the Ministry of Health on helmets, bicycle safety gear, and choosing the right bicycle.
- Always wear a helmet as it is required by law.
- Make sure your helmet meets the Cycle Helmet Safety Standard.
- Cycling at night and in low-light conditions calls for lights, reflectors and bright clothing.
- Regardless of whether you cycle regularly or haven’t ridden for a while, it makes good sense to have your bike checked annually for safety and road-readiness.
Tips
Here are a few other useful tips.
Prioritise road safety
Before you start riding, check your brakes, tyres and equipment, and familiarise yourself with local road laws.
Ride on roads and in bike lanes
Ride where designated by local law for your safety and the safety of pedestrians around you.
Use bike-friendly navigation
Choose to use a bike-friendly navigation app.
Watch out for hazards
Be aware of potholes and car doors opening.
Trams and train tracks
Make sure that you’re careful around train or tram tracks, especially during wet weather. If you need to ride across tram tracks, keep your wheels at right angles to the track so that they don’t get stuck in the track.
Know before you go
Plan and familiarise yourself with your route before you ride, and do not ride on roads where there is a no-bicycles sign. Generally, these signs are found on tollways, motorways, bridges and tunnels.
Mount your phone
Having your phone in a phone mount as you deliver keeps your hands free so you can hold your bike’s handlebars and focus on the road.
Secure your delivery bag
Checking that your straps are in good condition and that your delivery bag is secured on your bike helps minimise it moving around while you ride.
Be ready for the conditions
If it’s looking like wet weather, make sure you’re prepared with the right wet weather equipment, such as a rain jacket, pants and non-slip footwear.
Stay safe when it’s wet
It’s important to take care when delivering in the rain because the roads can become more slippery. For more information, see the NZ Transport Agency (guidelines applicable for all New Zealand) Cyclist’s Code: The official New Zealand Cyclists Code:
- Use your front and rear lights and wear a reflective vest to make yourself visible to other traffic when riding in dark, wet and slippery conditions
- Try to stay upright and steer with your arms rather than leaning into corners with your hips
- Take corners slower - wet riding surfaces reduce traction between the tyres and the surface
- Apply the back brake smoothly and prepare yourself well in advance before entering a corner. Using the front brake only in a sudden stop has the potential to send you over the handle bars
- Wear bright waterproof clothing.
Riding while tired or fatigued
Riding for extended periods of time without a break increases the risk of incidents related to fatigue. Research has shown that fatigue can have a similar effect on your riding performance as being intoxicated, and that fatigue is one of the biggest killers on Australian roads.
Check out tips on the common signs of fatigue and how to manage fatigue here.
Video library
Help keep yourself – and others around you – safe when you ride. Are you familiar with bike road rules in your city? Interested in tips to ride safely and maintain your bike? We’ve pulled together a collection of informative videos and tips for each state. You can access these videos using the video library below.
Deliver your way in the app
Deliver your way in the app
¹Learn more here.
The material provided on this web page is intended for informational purposes only and may not be applicable in your country, region or city. It is subject to change and may be updated without notice.