We want you to enjoy riding the Starling Bank Bike hire scheme. There are some essential things you can do to make sure your ride is safe and smooth.

In the UK, cyclists don’t need to wear a helmet, but many wear one for added protection.

If you choose to wear a helmet, it should be snug fitting and secured tightly to your head.

Starling Bank Bikes doesn't provide helmets to riders, but you can find a good quality helmet in any one of the city’s bike shops or online.

When cycling on the road, it's important to let other road users know where you're going and your intentions to change lanes, turn off, or slow down.

Learn the correct hand signals for each of these manoeuvres, and make sure you signal in advance to give other road users a chance to react.

If you haven’t jumped on a bike in some time, there are courses available to help you gain confidence. Find out more here.

Take care when cycling past parked cars in case someone opens a door into your path. Cycle at least one door's width out from the line of parked cars so you won't need to swerve to dodge a door.

You should also take care not to cycle too close to the gutter. There may be broken glass, rubbish or wet leaves accumulated there which can damage the bike or cause you to slip.

When cycling on the road, you should follow the rules of the road, including respecting traffic lights, giving pedestrians priority at zebra crossings with Belisha beacons, and respecting priority at roundabouts.