Cycling Proficiency Lessons Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Rider competence and control — Begin off-road with start/stop, balance, signalling and shoulder checks, progress to quiet roads only when standards are met, and pause or step back any rider who cannot maintain a straight line while looking behind or signaling safely.
• Heavy vehicles and buses — Avoid close interaction by planning around bus corridors, require extra clearance and never filter up the nearside, instruct riders to fall in behind long vehicles at stops, and hold groups back if a pass or pull-out would be marginal.
• Route planning and site assessment — Recce the area to choose low-complexity roads, map start/finish and bailout points, note shelters and first-aid access, avoid schools-out pinch points, share printed maps, and brief staff on the exact loop, stop sites and an abort plan before riders mount.
• Traffic volume and speed — Schedule sessions off-peak, prefer 20/30 mph zones, avoid multi-lane or high-speed corridors, position instructors to see ahead, pause groups when density builds, and relocate to the pre-planned quiet loop if speeds or flows exceed training thresholds.
• Weather, heat and wind — Check forecasts, shorten routes in heat or gusts, add hydration stops, avoid exposed ridges in high wind, postpone during lightning or heavy ice, and require layers and gloves so handling, braking and attention remain reliable throughout.