Bicycle User Group
The University has a student and staff Bicycle Users Group, if you would like to join please contact travelinfo@northampton.ac.uk.
The group works together to help to promote cycling, including general cycling news and events, looks to make improvements and to apply for funding where possible.
Cycling Safely
New to cycling? Make sure your bike fits you properly, that you can control it comfortably and it is roadworthy. Get your bike assessed by a local bike shop if you are unsure how to do a full check.
Don’t ride bicycles on the campus or town pavements, unless they are clearly signed as a joint foot and cycleway.
Tips to help you stay safe when cycling
- Be Safe Be Seen. When cycling in the dark, lights and reflectors are a legal requirement, these include: two lights on your bike, a red one on the back and a white one on the front and six reflectors, a red one on the back and a white one on the front and four on your pedals (reflectors should come with bikes as standard).
- Additional reflectors are useful for extra visibility, fit them to your wheel spokes for cycling in the dark.
- Dress to be seen so wear reflective and/or high viz clothing.
- Get geared up. If you’re cycling during the colder, wetter months, wear gloves and water proofs to make your ride more comfortable.
- Ride about one metre out into the road, not in the gutter. This avoids drains and grit, makes you more visible and prevents cars passing where there is not enough room.
- Signal in plenty of time and avoid hesitant or sudden manoeuvres.
- Always obey traffic regulations they are there to keep yourself and other road users safe. Please see the cycling section in the Highway Code for more information.
- Make eye contact with other road users to make sure you’ve been seen.
- Stay behind large vehicles. Never ride up the inside of any moving large vehicle as you cannot be seen.
- Don’t be floored by doors. Leave plenty of room when passing parked vehicles.
- Use your bell to warn pedestrians in good time of your approach.
- Give way to pedestrians on a shared cycling and walking path. Remember that pedestrians will not always hear you approaching.
- Be prepared. Carry a puncture repair kit and tools with you.
- Plan safe cycle routes. Planning quieter routs can help you reduce your risk of having an accident. Use a route planner such as Cycle Streets.
Cycle training
Training can improve your confidence when cycling on the roads and can help you to position yourself correctly on the road and around other vehicles. Even if you’ve cycled for a long time, a one off lesson can help you improve your skills.
See the Northamptonshire County Council website for information on cycle training sessions.
Keeping your bike safe
The university has over 750 cycle spaces across all its sites, including some secure racking. Bicycles should be securely locked to cycle parking to prevent theft. To ensure the highest level of safety, it is recommended that two locks are used, a D Lock on the rear and a cable lock on the front.
To prevent theft further, follow these simple steps:
- Buy a decent lock (or two) – There are many different types of lock available including D Locks, chain locks and cables. Find out which type is most suitable for you by visiting the Why Cycle website. You could use a mixture of a D Lock to lock the back wheel to the frame and connect a cable lock to secure the front wheel. Make sure your using a lock which is hard to break. Use locks of gold ‘sold secure’ standard, they will have a sticker on the lock showing this. Take a look at the Cycling Weekly website for some recommendations.
- Choose where you park carefully – Lock your bike where there are a high amount of pedestrians walking by and in areas which are well-lit and covered by CCTV.
- Get your bike security marked and registered – Register your bicycle model, make and frame number at Immobilise or www.bikeregister.com. If your bike is stolen, report the theft to police and state your bicycle registration number. This will help the police identify your stolen bike. We also hold regular Bike Register events with the UON Campus Police team.
- Know your frame number – Usually this is on the bottom of the frame. Nearly 75% of people reporting bicycle thefts to the police do not know their frame number which makes finding a stolen bike harder.
- Get bicycle theft insurance – Check whether your home insurance covers bicycle theft and if it covers theft outside of the home too. If your bicycle is particularly valuable you may need to insure it separately.
- Take any items that can be removed easily with you – These include lights, pump, panniers and saddle.
Don’t ride bicycles on the campus pavements or footpaths, unless they are clearly signed as a joint foot or cycleway.