Driving in many of our towns and cities has been transformed in recent years due to greater use of bicycles and the increase in the number of specialist cycle lanes. This situation has been made even more complicated by a sharp increase in the number of E-scooters and electric bikes, which often move much quicker than standard bicycles.

All this means that drivers need to be especially alert when driving close to cyclists and E-scooter users. Here are some practical tips on how to stay safe and alert:

·         Ensure all windows and mirrors are clean and mist free. Cyclists can often appear from different angles to other road users, so good all round vision is essential.

·         Give cyclists the space to ride safe when overtaking them. This should be 1 metre in speed zones up to 50 km/h and 1.5 metres in zones over 50km/h. Remember cyclists can be thrown off course by sudden gusts of wind, or when having to avoid uneven road surfaces.

·         Allow cyclists extra room in rain and icy conditions, as surfaces will be wet and slippery.

·         Cyclists may often need to move further into the road to avoid drains, potholes or debris on the road, so give them as much room as possible.

·         At night, dip your headlights for cyclists as you would for any other road user.

·         Never assume you know what a cyclist will do on the road. Some can be very unpredictable. This means it is better to hold back and keep your distance when overtaking and only doing so when you are confident it is safe.  

·         When making a left turn, especially across a cycle lane, carefully check your mirrors and manually check any blind spots before turning. Remember, especially with E-bikes and scooters, they may be travelling faster than you think, so be cautious.

·         If you are turning left after sitting in a traffic queue, check mirrors even more carefully as cyclists will often be moving faster than cars.  

·         When turning left always indicate clearly and early.

·         On right turns, wait behind a cyclist as if it is any vehicle, rather than squeezing alongside.

·         Give way to cyclists at roundabouts as you would with other vehicles.

·         When you or your passengers are exiting a parked vehicle, check mirrors and look behind before opening doors. Remember, that in certain parking spaces especially in Dublin, the cycle lane may be on the left hand side of the vehicle and the main carriage way on the right.

·         When opening a car door on the driver’s side of the car when parked on a road, the safest method is to use the “Dutch reach” technique. This is simply using the left, rather than the right hand on the door handle. This makes it easier and more instinctive to see behind.

Remember that the line-up of Mazda and Kia vehicles supplied by Stuarts Garages includes some of the most advanced safety features designed to make driving in environments with lots of bicycles and E-scooters safer. 

For example: Kia Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist will warn a driver if there is a vehicle or cyclist in their blind spot when making a manoeuvre. This can be especially useful on busy urban roads when turning left, as a cyclist or E-scooter may be approaching at speed on the passenger side of the car.

 The latest Mazda models feature i-Activsense safety technologies that directly improve pedestrian and cyclist’s safety, through use of collision avoidance systems, blind spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition, which helps to maintain proper speed.