Here are my simple rules about bike etiquette, partly during Covid-19, but generally applicable all the time.

  • Ride appropriate to the conditions. The bike speed limits in Calgary are 20kph almost everywhere. It doesn’t take much to exceed that speed limit. If you’re riding at 6am on an empty piece of pathway without a soul in sight and want to exceed that, whatever, cool, I would to. But if you’re riding through a busy pedestrian thoroughfare at lunch hour with kids and dogs and pedestrians, then take it super easy and be a good ambassador for everyone on two wheels.
  • When you pass someone, use your bell, maybe say “passing on your left”, and bonus points for when you say thanks when you pass.
  • Ride predictably and use hand signals to indicate your intention to turn or stop.
  • When a cyclist gives you a wave or a nod, wave back, its awkward for them if you don’t.
  • Don’t ride on the sidewalk. Sidewalks are for pedestrians, not for bikes.
  • Don’t lose it at drivers if they catch you by surprise. I could rant about this forever but throwing your water bottle at a car that buzzed you will only make that driver hate cyclists more.

Now, for road cyclists, there is a special set of rules that must be followed. The rules of the Velominati and you can find them here.