Helmet Safety:
It is absolutely crucial to wear a helmet. A serious head injury may cause loss of cognitive or mental capacity.
When putting on a helmet, level it over your forehead and adjust the chin strap to fit snugly and comfortably. It should protect the forehead without slipping.
Helmets should comply with CSA safety standards. The following standards are acceptable: CPSC, ASTM, ANSI, Snell, BS and the AS although some regulations may be out of date.
Road Sense:
Cyclists share the road with motorists, knowledge of traffic rules and regulations is essential to personal safety and well being.
• Be sure to obey traffic signs and lights
• Use hand signals to communicate your intentions to motorists
• Scan the road behind you, learn to look back over your shoulder without losing balance
• Make eye contact with motorists
• Look out for road hazards
• Wear bright reflective clothing
• Use lights at night
Theft Prevention Tips
Store your bicycle in a secure location and use a locking device to attach it to a secure and fixed object. Also consider removing a tire or seat to discourage would-be thieves.
You have two options in Operation Bike Guard.
Option #1 - Bicycle Identification Form
1. Record all information on your bicycle including the make, model and serial number. Using the linked bicycle information form Bike Guard form add all information about your bicycle. This will assist to identify your bicycle should it ever be lost / stolen and recovered by police. Typically the serial number of your bicycle is on the frame under the shaft that houses the pedals.
2. Take a digital photo of your bicycle and attach it into the information form.
3. Save this document to your computer and print a hardcopy as backup.
4. Attach the bicycle receipt to your hardcopy backup.
5. STORE THE BIKE GUARD INFORMATION FORM IN A SAFE PLACE WITHIN YOUR RESIDENCE.
6. If your bicycle is stolen, please visit the police station nearest you to file a stolen/lost bicycle report.
7. Bring your Bike Guard information form including the receipt and photo to the police station. This will enable police staff to identify your bike if or when it is found or recovered. This form can be brought to any police station regardless of jurisdiction. The lost/stolen bicycle report must be filled out in person and an investigating officer will provide you with more details at that time.
Option #2 - Hardcopy Bicycle Identification Envelope
1. Attend a Community Policing Centre near you to pick up your Operation Bike Guard information envelope. Click here
for a list of our Community Policing Centres
2. Policing Centre volunteers will assist you in, recording all information on your bicycle make, model and serial number. They will also photograph** your bicycle and place the photo in a Bike Guard envelope. The Hamilton Police also have an engraver available at the Community Policing Centres that you can borrow to engrave a unique identifying mark on the frame of your bike in the event that you bicycle does not have a serial number. You should also store your bicycle receipt within the envelope.
**this option is available at the Concession, Landsdale and Ottawa St. N. Community Policing Centres ONLY**
3. STORE THE BIKE GUARD INFORMATION ENVELOPE IN A SAFE PLACE WITHIN YOUR RESIDENCE
4. If your bicycle is stolen, please visit the police station nearest you to file a stolen/lost bicycle report.
5. Bring the Bike Guard information envelope, including the receipt and photo, to the police station. This will enable police staff to identify your bike if or when it is found or recovered. This form can be brought to any police station regardless of jurisdiction. The report must be filled out in person and an investigating officer will provide you with more details at that time.