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Bike Safety

Apr 23, 2015 | 8:20 AM

“But dad if I have to wear a bike helmet how come you don’t?”

Have you ever been asked by your child these words? Lots of families take to the streets to cycle but not everyone will be wearing a helmet. We need to create a culture where everyone gets the message and wears the gear. Parents need to be role models not only for their children but other members of the community. If we set the tone, we can create a culture of safety in our community.

In 2009, 37% of Canadians always wore a bicycle helmet when cycling. Four provinces in Canada have bicycle helmet legislation for all ages and helmet use rates in these provinces are above the national average. Saskatchewan has no bicycle helmet legislation and helmet use rates are well-below the national average with only 22% of people always wearing a helmet when they cycle. (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009)

Almost half (44%) of all cycling-related deaths were to children under 20 years of age in Saskatchewan between 1995 and 2004. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)

A bike is a vehicle. As a cyclist, you are expected to follow the rules of the road. Some rules and safe practices to remember when on a bicycle are listed below.

  • Obey ALL traffic lights and signs.
  • Use the correct hand signals for turning left, right and for stopping.
  • Ride on the right side of the road.
  • Allow only one person on a bike. Do not ride double or carry large packages on your bike.
  • Be visible. Wear bright clothing. Cyclists must be seen by motorists to ensure their safety.
  • Be predictable – other traffic must know how you intend to act. Signal turns and stops. Cyclists need to know what the traffic around them will do next as well. In this way the road can be shared by cyclists and motorists safely.
  • Pedestrians have the right of way over all vehicles, including bicycles. Let pedestrians cross before you move through an intersection or a crosswalk.
  • Ride single file when with a group of cyclists. Call out stops and turns to the cyclists behind you. Do not blindly follow another cyclist through an intersection; each rider must decide when it is safe to go.
  • Cyclists should ride one metre from the curb. This allows a cyclist to be clearly visible to motorists and to avoid holes, debris, grates and other hazardous objects. Cyclists may move away from the curb when necessary to avoid hazards, turn left and pass slower vehicles or cyclists.
  • Cyclists should ride one metre away from parked cars. This helps avoid car doors that are being opened or cars that suddenly pull-out of parking spots. Cyclists should ride in a straight line from parked car to parked car and not swerve in closer to the curb between parked cars. This will ensure a cyclist stays visible to other traffic and makes predictable movements.
  • When changing lanes, plan the move ahead of time. Before moving, look over the shoulder on the side you will move to and check for traffic. Make a hand signal to tell traffic what you are going to do. Shoulder check again and wait until the path you intend to take is clear. Quickly move to the new lane of travel.
  • When turning right, signal the move while approaching the intersection or after stopping at the corner. Stop if the traffic lights or a stop sign indicates you are to stop. Cyclists must stop and wait for any pedestrians in the crosswalk or intersection to clear before making their turn.
  • When turning left, use the procedure for changing lanes to get to the left turn lane beside the centre line. Signal for the lane change and again for the left turn. After completing a left turn a cyclist must return to the curb position as soon as it is safe to do so. Make a left turn only when the intersection is clear and when signs or lights allow you to do so. Remember that you are crossing in front of oncoming traffic and vehicles travelling from the other direction have the right of way.

Cycling-related incidents were the leading cause of summer sport and recreation-related injuries in Canada, accounting for 43% of major trauma admissions in 2004-2005. (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2007)

When we understand the rules of the road and follow them we all have a safe cycling season. Wear the gear – get a helmet!