ASK someone who plays golf what they mean by ‘etiquette’ and they will tell you (probably at great length) about the unwritten but widely accepted rules of the game that enable people who have never met to play together without offending anyone’s sensibilities or getting on each other’s nerves.

Professional cyclists have something similar, an accepted code of behaviour that allows them to fight tooth and claw for victory having spent most of the day helping each other save effort and stay safe.

I was moved to muse on such matters one morning while fixing a puncture in the drizzle on the Northern Bypass cycle path. As I fiddled with tyre levers and pump, half a dozen people rode past without a second glance, never mind the offer of a helping hand. Lucky for me that I was suitably equipped with tools and skills; lucky for them that they didn’t care whether I was or not.

For most of us who ride our bikes for transport or fun, most of the rules we have to follow are clearly written down in the Highway Code (and handily summarised in the Cyclox rights and responsibilities document).

As with all the rules of the road, they are there to keep road users safe and traffic moving. As with all rules of any kind, they are observed by the vast majority, ignored by an irritating and dangerous minority, and moaned about by everybody.

A widely accepted etiquette for everyday cycling has yet to evolve but, given the number of people who use bikes around our city, it might be time to start the process. Here are a few suggestions.

Try to look after each other wherever possible. It can be a dangerous business riding a bike on our busy roads so let’s offer support and encouragement where we can.

Try not to pass another bike rider on their left. Having someone whip down your inside can be unnerving and alarming.

If someone ahead of you is riding away from the kerb it is probably because they want that space for their own safety while they manage the risk from motor vehicles on their outside. Help them feel safe by passing where you’ll be expected: on the right.

Be prepared. You can’t carry a full workshop with you but a pump and a spare inner tube will mean you’ll be able to get yourself back on the road in the event of a puncture and you won’t feel like a lemon having to impose on someone’s time and generosity.

Be generous with your time and your skills. If you see someone stranded at the side of the road, ask whether they need any help.

Even if they don’t, they will appreciate the gesture and will be encouraged to do the same for someone else.

If they do happen to need some help, you will have saved the day and made a friend into the bargain.