May is Bike Safety Awareness Month
Spring, the season of blooming flowers, chirping birds and cyclists eager to enjoy the sun and the open road. In honour of Bike Safety Awareness Month, let’s foster mutual awareness on the road to improve safety for everyone.
According to Transport Canada, there were 293.3 injured cyclists per 100,000 licensed drivers and 44 cyclist fatalities in 2021. This is a friendly reminder that cyclists have the same rights to use the road as other vehicles. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when you encounter a cyclist on the road:
- Stay aware of other road users and the cyclist, as the cyclist doesn’t have a turn signal (they may indicate their intent to turn with their arms);
- When turning left, drivers must stop and wait for oncoming cyclists to pass before completing your turn;
- Try not to honk at cyclists, it may frighten them and cause them to lose control. Horns are louder than you think!
- Be patient with cyclists, they are expected to be travelling at a slower speed than the rest of the traffic.
- Do not follow too closely as they do not have brake lights to indicate their changes in speed.
- When passing, make sure the passing lane is clear before attempting to pass and for best practice, keep a space of at least one metre between your side mirror and the cyclist.
Cyclists should also stay vigilant of any hazards on the road and any potentially dangerous situations, mistakes made on a bike have more dire consequences than in a car. Along with vigilance, cyclists should wear properly fitting helmets. Helmets can prevent life-altering head injuries that can occur from simple falls to collisions.
Adults aren’t the only ones that are ready to hit the road. For many children, bicycling is a means to get to school and a way to enjoy the beautiful weather. However, safety considerations also extend to young riders, and they are typically more unpredictable. Remember, pay extra care to children, who do not have the same awareness as adults and are likely not familiar with the “rules of the road”.
With that in mind, bike rodeos held by local schools and police stations are valuable opportunities for young riders to learn essential safety skills, complementing initiatives like the Helmets on Kids program, which has been advocating helmet usage since 2002. In collaboration with the OTLA, the Helmets on Kids program has distributed over 40,000 helmets to children in need. The program has expanded its reach throughout Ontario through local OTLA members, who have generously donated their time and resources to spread awareness about the critical risks of head injuries and the importance of helmet usage.
By having more safety conscious habits and the proper gear, we can make the roads safer for everyone.