Step 5: Hand signals and road rules for beginners

Part of: Learn to cycle in 5 steps · Step 5

This is the last step of “Learn to cycle in 5 steps”, and it is the step that takes you from the practice ground onto real streets. The goal is not speed. It is to be predictable, visible and calm, so everyone around you knows what you will do next.

Traffic in Bangladesh: what to expect

• Traffic in Bangladesh drives on the left.
• The Road Transport Act 2018, which came into force on 1 November 2019, sets the legal framework for road use, and rules are enforced unevenly, so do not assume other road users will follow them.
• Streets are shared by buses, trucks, cars, motorbikes, CNGs (auto-rickshaws), rickshaws, vans and pedestrians. WHO estimates, as reported in the Bangladeshi press, show that around half of road deaths are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

This is why defensive riding matters: ride as if nobody has seen you, and leave yourself space and time.

The basic signals

• Turning left: stretch your left arm straight out to the left.
• Turning right: stretch your right arm straight out to the right.
• Slowing or stopping: signals vary between countries. A common one is holding your left arm out and down, palm facing back. Whichever you use, signal early and clearly, and always check behind you first.
• Warning of a hazard: point down towards the pothole, drain cover or obstruction on the road. In a group, call out “hole” or “gravel” as well.

Look behind (as practised in Step 4), signal, look again, then move. Cancel the signal once you have started the turn, so both hands are on the handlebar.

Core road rules for riders

1. Ride on the left, in the same direction as traffic. Never ride against traffic.
2. Obey traffic lights, signs and a police officer’s signals.
3. Ride in a straight, predictable line. Do not weave in and out of parked vehicles.
4. Keep well away from the sides of buses and trucks. Their drivers cannot always see you, and their rear wheels can swing in when they turn.
5. Do not ride on a crowded footpath. If you must use a footpath, get off and walk.
6. Do not use earphones or a phone while riding.
7. Use a bell. A friendly ring warns pedestrians without startling them.
8. Use a white front light and a red rear light at dusk and night, and add reflectors.
9. Never hold on to a moving vehicle.

Junctions and roundabouts

• Slow down before the junction. Look, signal and watch for vehicles turning across your path.
• Make eye contact with drivers if you can. Do not assume they have seen you.
• Never stop suddenly. Cycling UK’s group guidance says not to stop unexpectedly on the road, especially near junctions.
• At busy junctions, it is safe and sensible to get off and walk across as a pedestrian.

Choose your route wisely

Cycling UK advises new riders not simply to follow the same roads they would drive. Quieter streets and lanes make riding more relaxing, and let you build confidence at your own pace. Before you ride a route, try it as a short test ride at a calm time.

Congratulations

If you have followed all five steps, you can ride a bicycle safely and confidently. From here, you can ride to school or the market, join a group ride, or take things further into racing or work. Our other articles will help you with bicycle care, riding in a group and more.