bikebus FAQ
- What do I need?
- How do I join?
- What if I haven’t ridden much/lately/in traffic?
- How fast do I have to be able to ride?
- What if there is no bike bus for the route/time I need?
- What if it rains?
- What if I get a puncture?
- Is it safe?
What do I need?
⊗bike in working order (take it to the bike shop for a check up if it hasn’t been ridden lately)
⊗helmet and lights
⊗you’ll probably need a lock to secure your bike at your destination
⊗Bicycle NSW membership is highly recommended (benefits include insurance, discounts and Australian Cyclist magazine).
How do I join?
Call, text or email the bike bus driver first, to confirm it is running as advertised and to check it is suitable for your requirements. Be waiting at the bike bus stop by the advertised time and ready to “jump on”, or as per instructions from your driver.
What if I haven’t ridden much/lately/in traffic?
Some bike buses are suitable for inexperienced riders. Check the details of the bike bus routes for whether it is regarded as suitable for inexperienced riders, and check with the bike bus driver. You may benefit from joining local BUG rides on weekends first, or your bike bus driver may have advice.
How fast do I have to be able to ride?
Bike Buses vary from social bike buses riding at “chatting” speed with a slow average speed of 15kph, to intermediate and express busses running at average speeds of about 20 and 25kph respectively.
What if there is no bike bus for the route/time I need?
⊗Find a buddy to ride with you at first (ask at work or your local bike group)
⊗Get together with a friend or colleague to start your own informal bike bus
What if it rains?
Many bike buses do not operate when it is raining – check with the bike bus driver.
What if I get a puncture?
Bike buses vary – some expect you to carry pump, tube/repair kit and to be able to fix it yourself, and some will allocate someone to stay back with you to help you. Check with the bike bus driver. Note some bike bus routes follow the rail line so you can resort to the
train if required.
Is it safe?
Nothing in life is guaranteed and the state of the roads and behaviour of other road users is beyond our control. But whilst you're responsible for your own safety, one of the best things about the bike bus is safety in numbers. The more people who ride the bus, the higher the visibility the bus has, and with some thought given to route choice, riding carefully and responsibly, and the knowledge of more experienced riders, we think a bus can make riding to work pretty safe. New riders remark that they feel much safer than they expected and all the bike buses have great records for safety. That being said, Bicycle NSW membership includes insurance and comes highly recommended, just in case something doesn't work out the way we all planned (some bike buses make this compulsory).
