If you get a new bike, perhaps you will be willing to discover new trails or use it to cycle to work. Then again, if you have plans to carry your bike in your car, there are specific rules you have to follow.
If your bike is not properly fastened to the car, it can bring in a potential risk of damage and injury. You may not be able to imagine the kind of havoc it can cause if your bike is poorly restrained. There are several ways in which you can safely and lawfully carry your bike.
Things you need to about boots, back seats, and racks;
Firstly, how you transport your bike depends on the kind of bike you have and whether it will fit in the car’s back seat. If you have a spacious vehicle, transporting your bike will be a completely hassle-free process – just make sure it can’t escape from the boot if you have an accident. You need to secure your bike well when transporting it via car, whether internally or externally. This will prevent the bike from moving.
If you don’t have spacious back seats, you have to look for other safer alternatives like rear mount bike racks or roof rack bike carriers.
Roof rack bike carriers:
- When you opt for roof rack bike carriers for cars, it is vital to make sure they are specifically designed for that purpose.
- When securing a bike properly to the roof rack, ensure all connections are secure and safely fastened.
- These can loosen as you travel, so regularly check them at intervals during your journey.
- Take extra care to drive smoothly on winding roads and in windy conditions or high wind areas.
- Know your limits when approaching places with height restrictions, like under tunnels, car parks, and beneath low hanging branches and trees.
Rear mount bike racks:
- As with the above, it is vital to make sure they are specifically designed for that purpose.
- Before purchasing, check if the bicycle rack is strong enough to carry all the bicycle/s you want it to. Never have more bicycles than the maximum weight that the frame is designed to take.
- Before putting any bikes on, check the rack is securely attached to your vehicle’s tow ball.
- Spend time making sure each bike is securely attached to.
- Another thing you need to check is that the bicycle/s doesn’t block or obstruct your number plate or rear lights. If your number plate is blocked or obscured, you must use an auxiliary plate, which can be purchased from your state’s registration office and must be completely visible at night. In NSW, you can easily order an extra plate online. You attach this to the bike rack so it is viewable from behind.
- When the bike rack isn’t in use, please remove it from your vehicle so that it’s not a hazard to other vehicles or pedestrians. Moreover, it’s illegal to drive a car with a rear bike rack installed and no bike on it.
Like you take care of your car by opting for the best car insurance and taking it for servicing, using suitable equipment for transporting your bike will keep your bike and car safe. In the end, safety and security are all that matters.