On average, 130 people are injured in Manitoba, yearly, when their bike is involved in a motor-vehicle related collision, with several dozen taking place in the Westman region. Manitoba Public Insurance says close to half of the injuries in the province occur from June to August.
With the warmer weather comes an increase in bikes on the streets, and MPI is reminding motorists and cyclists to use caution, and share the road.
The insurer says there is a need to be extra careful in urban locations as that is where the majority of collisions take place. Based on a 10-year average, from 2009 to 2018, two cyclists are killed and 129 are injured per year in urban locations, compared to one killed and three injured per year in rural locations.
Satvir Jatana, Vice President, Employee and Community Engagement, Manitoba Public Insurance says every road user, whether walking, cycling or driving, has a right to expect they will arrive at their destination safely, “If we are to succeed in reducing fatalities and injuries on our roadways, everyone needs to take personal responsibility for how they drive, and in the case of cyclists, how they ride.”
Room to breathe
For motorists, this means giving cyclists “room to breathe.” Motorists are encouraged to give cyclists at least one metre of space when driving alongside or overtaking cyclists.
“Leaving one metre of space when passing a person on a bike is one simple way that drivers can do their part to help keep cyclists safe and give them the space they need to safely navigate around road hazards,” said Jatana.
A few important safety tips for both motorists and cyclists;
For drivers:
– Take extra caution at intersections and watch for cyclists when making right or left turns.
– After parking your vehicle, look for cyclists before opening your door. Opening a car door into the path of a cyclist can lead to serious injuries.
For cyclists:
– Always follow the rules of the road, including stopping at traffic lights and stop signs.
– Never pass stopped vehicles in the same lane or when stopped at an intersection as the driver may not see you and turn into your path.
– Always ride on the roadway, unless your bicycle is small enough to legally ride on the sidewalk. Many cycling collisions occur when bicycles are coming off sidewalks at intersections or when crossing driveways.
– Ride defensively, consider wearing reflective clothing, and use hand signals to alert motorists to your intentions.
