Thursday was the first SkillShare, run jointly by the AU’s Cycling Club and the police, and I had a great time and learned a lot! Even the members of the cycling club found out something new from the Fife policewoman’s talk, and so the main points seem like an excellent thing to share with you all:

• Cycling 2-abreast is ok unless it is a particularly narrow or busy road, but not 3
• By law you need to have lights on your bike after dusk, and your chances of being stopped and warned/fined by the police is high around St Andrews
• High-visibility clothing and reflective strips are a very good idea, but make sure not to cover them up with a rucksack
• Always obey the rules of the road as followed by cars – red lights apply to cyclists too!
• Riding on the pavement is illegal – but better than being run over if the road is very dangerous
• Most cycle locks are not particularly secure, you should expect to spend £35-50 on a decent one if you want it to be safe overnight
• If you can avoid chaining bikes to lampposts and fences please do, and be sure to secure them out of the way of pedestrians – including drunk students staggering home
• The council collect abandoned bikes, which are stored for a few months then passed on to be fixed up to be sold or scrapped. Make sure your bike is stored properly over the summer or it may not be here when you return!
• Helmets are not legally required, but are highly advised
• Many cyclists mention verbal abuse from motorists. This abuse can be reported to the police, along with their car registration number, but make sure you don’t respond in a similarly abusive manner or it won’t do anything for your case!
• UV pens can be used to mark bikes and other items in case they are stolen. The police will be marking items at the Union, Halls of Residence and the Sports Centre over the year, or you can buy a pen from the police station
• Bike lights are also on sale at the police station, at £7 for a set
• Generally, accidents involving bikes appear to be decreasing, although near-misses appear to be increasing – so be careful!

After the talk the Cycling Club showed us how to fix gears, brakes, punctures, take bikes apart, and generally maintain our bikes so they last longer and better. I can’t even begin to sum these things up into words, but maybe we can have another bike maintenance session next semester if people are keen – let me know if so!

Check out the SkillShares planned for the rest of the semester and come and get involved, and let me know what skills you have that you’d be willing to share at rebecca.petford@st-andrews.ac.uk – I’d love to hear from you!