THE fire brigades of the hills’ ridgetop are urging cyclists to find alternative routes to ride during the height of summer.

Olinda, Kalorama-Mt Dandenong and Sassafras-Ferny Creek CFAs have developed a wallet-sized information card that explains the fire danger ratings and tips for safe cycling during the bushfire season.

>>> Do cyclists need to be more vigilant on high bushfire-risk days? Email freepress@leadernewspapers.com.au

Kalorama-Mt Dandenong Rural Fire Brigade Community Safety Officer Virginia McCallum said that in January the brigades spent a weekend surveying cyclists in the hills about their knowledge of bushfire safety – and the responses alarmed members.

Ms McCallum said that cyclists were particularly vulnerable on high bushfire-risk days during summer.

“Most cyclists in the Dandenong Ranges are from out of the area,” Ms McCallum said.

“The risks are serious because during a bushfire it goes dark and cyclists will have nowhere to shelter and would be overcome by smoke.”

Ms McCallum said there were around 200 cyclists in Sassafras on Black Saturday.

The card will be available in cafes in the hills.

For details, visit the Sassafras- Ferny Creek CFA website.