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Rules of the Road

RSA handbook · 292 pages · 271 embedded images

Rules for cyclists, e-scooter users and L1e-A e-moped riders

Page 204

Bicycle/e-bike checklist

Handlebars should be square with the frame and level with the saddle.

Movement should be neither too stiff nor too loose.

When on the saddle, both feet should just touch the ground.

Your wheels should be straight and in line. Replace wheels if they are buckled or out of alignment.

Tighten loose spokes and replace any that are damaged.

Make sure your tyres are properly inflated, with a good tread.

Make sure mudguards are secure and well clear of the wheels.

Check your gears and get them adjusted when necessary.

Check your brake cables and adjust them when necessary. Replace them

when frayed.

Make sure the closed ends of brake shoes face the front.

Make sure brake blocks are close to the rim of the wheel. Replace worn blocks.

Check pedals and replace them when worn or broken.

Make sure your lamps are white or yellow to the front, and red at the back.

Use a red reflector. Replace batteries when necessary and clean lenses.

Make sure your bell is within easy reach of your thumb.

Oil all moving parts.

Wear a cycle helmet at all times.

A bicycle should have the following braking system:

  • If it has one fixed wheel or is designed for a child under 7 years of age, it

must have at least one brake.

If it is designed for an older child or an adult, or if neither wheel is fixed, it must have two brakes – one brake acting on the front wheel and another for the back wheel.

Extracted from the RSA Rules of the Road, Revision 9, May 2026. Source PDF · reuse permission unconfirmed.