With so many new bicycle commuters and with NextBike making it even easier to switch from using a car to a bike, the Bicycling Advocacy Group have published some essential tips for staying safe on the road.

Make eye contact with drivers, especially those coming out of junctions, where the majority of serious accidents seem to happen for all road users. With drivers in a rush, ensuring you have been seen, by making eye contact, is key and that goes for both riders and car drivers.

Don’t ride in the gutter. You are much less visible to other drivers and at greater risk from cars exiting from side streets or drivers trying to squeeze past when there just isn’t enough space. That’s the number one way of novice riders being put off on day one.

Watch for signs that someone will open a car door, movement inside parked cars, faces in side mirrors or someone who has just pulled over. Be particularly careful of cars with tinted windows.

Although the highway code puts the responsibility for not dooring cyclists onto car drivers, cyclists are also told to avoid car doors, so take a bit more space away from car doors.

Check behind you frequently and especially just before side roads. It helps spot drivers attempting to overtake and beat you to the turn or a car parking space.

Head movement also makes traffic more alert to your presence.

Never undertake or pull up beside large vehicles at traffic lights and junctions.

If you can’t see the driver in their mirrors or cab they certainly can’t see you.

No matter how experienced you are, read the highway code and the pedal powered regulations.

With Malta’s short distances and overcrowded roads, it’s a great way to beat traffic, reduce pollution and congestion too.

The Bicycling Advocacy Group is an active member of the Malta Road Safety Council.