Bicycle Safety and Education
As the weather warms, we see more and more people, young and old, hitting the roads and trails on their bicycles. Biking is an activity that many of us take for granted; as pre-schoolers we learn the ropes of riding a bike… The training wheels come off a year or two later and we’re off!
But do we pay enough attention to our safety or to the safety of our children while cycling?
Bicycles are the smallest vehicle on the road and cyclists take on much risk with each and every ride. With over 25,000 people visiting Emergency Departments for treatment of injuries sustained while cycling each year in Ontario, one can only imagine the total number of injuries sustained yearly.
A review completed by the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario found that 129 Ontario cyclists suffered fatal injuries in the 2006 – 2010 period and that the vast majority occurred during clear weather, on dry roads, and with good visibility. Of those killed, only 27% were wearing helmets. Sadly, and despite mandatory legislation for helmet use, the study also found that only 6.25% of those under the age of 18 were wearing helmets. The study confirmed that every death was preventable.
Clearly there are risks involved with cycling, but there are also wonderful benefits! After all, it’s an excellent form of physical activity, a good source of fun, and a great mode of transportation. So how can the risks be reduced and the injuries prevented?
There are obvious steps that cyclists themselves can take to improve personal safety on the road. Cyclists should make every effort to be as visible as possible to other road users at all times. Certainly wearing a properly fitted helmet, wearing bright clothing, and having the required front and rear lights on your bike is an important first step. The addition of reflective materials to your wrists, ankles, heels, clothing, and helmet can also be helpful as can having a horn or bell. Cyclists must be particularly attentive to traffic when riding at dawn and dusk and when proceeding through intersections. Cyclists should also be aware of road surfaces, signs and traffic signals, and changing weather conditions.
Cyclists may choose to pro-actively improve their riding skills and abilities. The CAN-BIKE courses offered through Cycling Canada target a variety of ages and experience levels. Full course information can be found at http://canbikecanada.ca
Examples of available courses include:
– Kids Learn to Ride: for children who cannot ride a bike. Training addresses balance, start, stop, and turn.
– Kids CAN-BIKE Course: for young cyclists aged 9 to 14. Training addresses riding safely on residential streets.
– Adult Learn to Ride 1: for adults who cannot ride a bike. Training addresses balance, start, stop, and turn.
– Adult Learn to Ride 2: for adults who are too unsteady to ride on streets. Training further develops balance, start, turn, and also addresses using gears with confidence.
– CAN-BIKE 1: for cyclists aged 14 and up. Focus is on learning skills and building confidence to ride safely on residential streets.
– CAN-BIKE 2: this is an advanced course in defensive cycling for commuters and recreational cyclists aged 14 and up with experience riding in traffic. The course addresses how traffic works, good decision making, lane positioning, proper cycling equipment, group riding, effective and efficient cycling in heavy traffic, basic maintenance, collision avoidance techniques.
“Cycling Skills, Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling” can also be referenced at http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/pdfs/cycling-skills.pdf
Safe cycling everyone!
