Protective clothing and equipment
As a cyclist, you are a vulnerable road user and your bicycle/e-bike will not protect you if there is a crash. The law does not require you to wear a helmet. However, in the interest of road safety, and in your personal interest, you should wear a helmet when cycling.
When buying a helmet:
Look for a mark to show that it has been made to a recognised national standard.
Check that it does not restrict your field of vision or your hearing.
When you own a helmet you should:
Replace it when it is damaged or dropped.
Adjust the straps on your helmet to fit you correctly. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions.
Bicycle trailers
Carrying children on bicycles/e-bikes exposes them to the dangers of the road.
Bicycle trailers are generally low to the ground. Due to their low profile, HGV and car drivers may not be aware of them immediately behind the bike. To help counteract this, a flag pole should be attached to the rear of the trailer with the flag being approximately level in height with the rider’s helmet. For overall safety, the trailer should display two red lights (one each side of the trailer), especially when travelling in poor lighting conditions. Towing a trailer will have an adverse effect on the handling of a bicycle. The way you corner may have to be adapted, and stopping times may increase as a result of the increased weight of the trailer. In busy urban areas you will have to take account of the extra width, especially in cycle tracks where you might take up the full width of the lane.