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Cyclist Safety

For certain cyclists, riding a bicycle is a leisure activity; for others, it is their primary means of transportation.  It is important for all riders to use their bicycle in a considerate way and follow the rules of the road. In Montréal, the assessment of incidents between road vehicles and cyclists reveals that there are nearly 650 collisions annually.

It is important to note that helmets are becoming far more popular, reducing the risks of head trauma among cyclists.

 The videos are in french

100% vigilant : Comme cycliste, je partage la route et respecte le Code

100% vigilant : Comme piéton ou cycliste, je garde mes distances des véhicules lourds

Safe cycling

  • Try to establish visual contact with approaching motorists, especially when they are turning or leaving driveways.
  • Signal your intentions to the other road users, especially to motorists.
  • Remain alert at all times.
  • Watch for vehicle doors being opened.
  • Maintain a straight line when you ride, and avoid riding between stationary vehicles.
  • Wear reflective clothing and equip your bicycle with reflectors as well as the obligatory lights for evening and night riding. Reflectors are not enough to insure good visibility. You also need to use active lights: a white light in the front and a red light in the back. 
  • Wear a bicycle helmet and make sure it fits properly.
  • Pay particular attention to the maintenance of your bicycle, especially the brakes.


For greater safety, equip your bicycle with the following accessories:

  • A small bell. It can prove very useful to warn others of your presence
  • A rear-view mirror. It allows you to see the vehicles behind you without having to turn your headA bag rack. You can ride without holding anything in your hands and free of a heavy backpack, which could cause you to lose your balance.

Rules to follow

Did you know that you can get demerit points without having a driver's licence?

When riding a bicycle, you must respect the road signs and traffic lights.

Otherwise, you are committing an offence in respect to the Highway Safety Code, which could result in a fine and registration of demerit points in your SAAQ file.

And this is even if you do not have a driver's licence.

Find out more

Vélo Québec

Find out more: 
Sharing the road safely – Rules everyone should follow (PDF)