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Bicycle inspection checklist

A safety and condition check for pool, hire and fleet bicycles. Record the check, then each bike by fleet number: scan its tag, its type and stand, then the M check of tyres, wheels, hubs, brakes, cables, gears, steering, frame, saddle, pedals, chain and suspension, plus lights and reflectors, each with what is wrong. Mark each bike safe, safe with a minor fault or out of use, tag it out, add photos, and the form counts bikes out of use. Set repair actions and sign. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.

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What is the M check on a bike?

The M check is Cycling UK's quick way to check a bike is safe to ride before every trip: start at the rear tyre and follow the shape of the letter M, taking in the saddle and the brakes. It covers tyres free from glass, thorns and nails and inflated, wheels spinning freely and straight, no loose spokes, tight axle nuts or quick releases with no play in the hubs, brakes fitted securely and working, a frame free from rust damage and cracks, free steering, a secure saddle and the right reflectors.

Last updated 17 October 2026. Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 17 October 2026 against Cycling UK: bike maintenance before you set off, including the M check (PDF), the Highway Code: rules for cyclists (59 to 82) and regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (maintenance).

Try the bicycle inspection form live

Answer a few questions and watch it adapt. Your answers are not saved, and any photos you add are deleted within the hour.

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See a filled-in example

Open the completed example to see fictional readings, notes, photos and calculations. Choose Blank form to try entering your own answers.

Want to see one filled in? See a completed bicycle inspection report (PDF), made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit.

Walk Cam route · four guided clips

Record the bicycle inspection on video

Give each bike its own record: fleet number, wheels and tyres, brakes, and the frame, lights and reflectors.

Record the fleet number, location, date and who checked. Film the bike in a stand. The four AI-generated clips illustrate one route, not a real bike.

POINT 01

Bike and fleet number

Show the whole bike in its stand with its fleet number or frame mark in view.

A pool bike is shown in a cycle stand with an asset tag on the frame.

POINT 02

Wheels and tyres

Film both tyres for cuts, wear and pressure, and the spokes and wheel fixings.

The front tyre shows a worn tread and a small cut.

POINT 03

Brakes and cables

Show brake levers, cables and pads. Squeeze tests and adjustments are done by hand, not shown as proof on video.

Brake pads and the cable are visible at the rear wheel.

POINT 04

Frame, lights and reflectors

Film the frame for cracks or rust, and the lights and reflectors the bike must carry.

Front light and pedal reflectors are fitted; light rust shows on the chain.

See the footage in a report

A fictional six-page example with the four points, twelve stills from the clips, observations, follow-up actions and the limits of a visual record.

View the visual evidence (PDF) ↗ · Download the full sample report

Visual evidence page from the bicycle inspection visual route sample report, with footage stills and observations

Video records visible condition. It does not prove brakes work, bearings are sound or a bike is safe to ride; check by hand and use a qualified mechanic for repairs. Example footage was generated in Google Flow and the observations are scripted; no real site is shown. Walk Cam works inside any form in the app. How Walk Cam works · All visual inspections

Every question in the bicycle inspection template

A bicycle inspection for pool, hire and fleet bikes: each bike by fleet number with the M check of tyres, wheels, brakes, gears, steering and frame, lights and reflectors, defects with photos, and bikes taken out of use. 3 sections and 59 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.

Make it your own: every question is editable

This is a starting point, not a fixed form. Once it is in your SiteSurvey account you can reword any question, add or remove questions, sections and answer options, and add your own logo, so it fits the way your team works and the jobs you do.

Details you only enter once

Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.

Project: the project name
Client: the project's customer
Site: the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
Site address: the site address, from the space or the project

Check

ProjectShort answer
Fills in from the project name
ClientShort answer
Fills in from the project's customer
Site*Short answer
Fills in from the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
Site addressShort answer
Fills in from the site address, from the space or the project
Inspection date*Date
TimeTime
Checked by*Short answer
CheckChoose one
- Pre-use check
- Scheduled fleet inspection
- After a fault report or incident
GuidanceCycling UK's M check is a quick way to check any bike is safe to ride: start at the rear tyre and follow the shape of the letter M, taking in the saddle and the brakes. If unsure about a repair, ask a qualified mechanic at a bike shop.
GuidanceThe Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 cover any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work. Regulation 5 requires employers to make sure work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

Bikes

Bikes
Repeat for each bike. Each one asks:
- Fleet number*Short answer
- Scan the bike tagScan a label: asset number, frame number
  Optional. Scan the label or tag to capture its numbers.
- TypeChoose one
  - Pedal bike
  - Electric bike (EAPC)
  - Cargo bike
  - Folding bike
  - Adapted bike
- Location or standShort answer
- Tyres inflated, free from cuts, glass, thorns and nailsChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Tyres inflated, free from cuts, glass, thorns and nails” is “Defect”
- Wheels spin freely and straight, spokes not looseChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Wheels spin freely and straight, spokes not loose” is “Defect”
- Axle nuts or quick releases tight, no side-to-side play in the hubsChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Axle nuts or quick releases tight, no side-to-side play in the hubs” is “Defect”
- Brakes fitted securely and working (right lever front, left lever rear)Choose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Brakes fitted securely and working (right lever front, left lever rear)” is “Defect”
- Brake and gear cables sound and not obstructing the steeringChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Brake and gear cables sound and not obstructing the steering” is “Defect”
- Gears fitted correctly and shifting smoothlyChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Gears fitted correctly and shifting smoothly” is “Defect”
- Steering moves freely with no excessive playChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Steering moves freely with no excessive play” is “Defect”
- Frame free from rust damage and cracksChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Frame free from rust damage and cracks” is “Defect”
- Saddle secure and at the right angle, seat post clamp tightChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Saddle secure and at the right angle, seat post clamp tight” is “Defect”
- Pedals fitted correctlyChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Pedals fitted correctly” is “Defect”
- Chain clean and lubricatedChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Chain clean and lubricated” is “Defect”
- Suspension moves freelyChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Suspension moves freely” is “Defect”
- Lights: white front and red rearChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Lights: white front and red rear” is “Defect”
- Reflectors: red rear and amber pedal reflectorsChoose one
  - OK
  - Defect
  - Not applicable
- What is wrong?Short answer
  Shown when “Reflectors: red rear and amber pedal reflectors” is “Defect”
- CheckHighway Code rule 60: at night a cycle must have white front and red rear lights lit, and a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if made after 1 October 1985).
  Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Result*Choose one
  - Safe to use
  - Safe to use: minor fault noted
  - Out of use until repaired
- Tagged out of use and removed from the stand?Yes or No
  Shown when “Result” is “Out of use until repaired”
- PhotosPhotos
Bikes checkedWorked out by the form
Safe to useWorked out by the form
Bikes out of useWorked out by the form
Bikes with a minor faultWorked out by the form
GuidanceSqueeze the brake levers and check the adjustments by hand. The video shows the condition of the bike; it is not proof that the brakes work.
Walk Cam: bicycle inspectionWalk Cam video with voice-to-text
Optional. Film the four guided points on the SiteSurvey app; each clip keeps its spoken note.

Actions and sign-off

Are further actions needed?Yes or No
Further actions
Repeat for each action. Each one asks:
Shown when “Are further actions needed?” is Yes
- What needs doing?*Notes
- PriorityChoose one
  - Urgent
  - High
  - Medium
  - Low
- Who will do it?Short answer
- Due dateDate
- StatusChoose one
  - Open
  - In progress
  - Completed
Inspector name*Short answer
Position or companyShort answer
Inspector signatureSignature
Next inspection dueDate
Set by the fleet maintenance schedule or the manufacturer. PUWER 1998 regulation 6 leaves the interval to the employer, based on use and risk.
Days to next inspectionWorked out by the form
Shown when “Inspection date” is answered and “Next inspection due” is answered
CheckThe next due date is before the date of this record. Check the date entered.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
CheckSigning records what was found on the day. It does not make unsafe equipment safe or replace a thorough examination, design check or service by a competent person.

Scope and responsibility

This is a pre-use and fleet condition check, not a mechanic's service, a manufacturer's e-bike inspection or a test of a bike to a British Standard.

What a useful entry looks like

Result for each bike and what is wrong

Check each bike by its fleet number and say exactly what is wrong. Take a failed bike out of use and tag it until it is repaired and rechecked.

PB-04: front tyre worn with a cut in the sidewall and rear brake pads worn. Tagged out of use; new tyre and pads booked.

Fictional example of record wording. Use the actual evidence and approved arrangements for your job; this is not a completed report or an instruction to carry out the work.

See it filled in

A completed bicycle inspection report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.

See completed form (PDF) ↗

Bicycle inspection FAQs

Do work bikes have to be maintained?

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 cover any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work, and regulation 5 requires employers to make sure work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. A dated check for each bike shows what was found and fixed.

What lights and reflectors must a bike have?

Highway Code rule 60: at night a cycle must have white front and red rear lights lit, and must be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if made after 1 October 1985). The form checks both and shows the rule when either is a defect.

How often should fleet bikes be checked?

Cycling UK says to check a bike before every trip. Set a scheduled fleet inspection interval in your own risk assessment, and check again after a fault report or incident. The form records which kind of check it was.

What if a bike fails?

Mark it out of use until repaired, tag it and take it off the stand. The form counts bikes out of use and those with a minor fault, and repair actions get an owner and a due date. If unsure about a repair, Cycling UK advises asking a qualified mechanic.

Can I scan each bike?

Yes. Tag each bike with its fleet number and scan it on the SiteSurvey app, and add an optional Walk Cam route: the bike and fleet number, wheels and tyres, brakes and cables, and frame, lights and reflectors.

Does it cover electric bikes?

Yes. Choose electric bike (EAPC) as the type. The checks are the same M check; follow the manufacturer's instructions for the motor and battery.

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