Cycling Safety Must be a Priority

August 11, 2020, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

We are seeing a big push in the Region to make active transportation easier and safer. Municipal and Regional governments are adding cycling lanes and closing streets to car traffic in order to make cycling and walking safer, faster and easier. They are encouraging people who want to social distance to cycle as a form or recreation and commuting.

Temporary bike lanes have been added to Coronation Blvd in Cambridge which make it significantly easier, safer, and faster to travel from Preston to Galt by bike. I wrote a few weeks ago about a recent study that showed significant uptakes in cycling occur when people feel safe riding and have access to separated bike lanes.

In line with this we have to educate both riders and drivers on how to respect one another on the road.

For cyclists:

• Always ride in the direction of traffic flow
• Use cycling lanes when you can
• Do not ride on the sidewalk
• Yield to pedestrians and other vehicles and cycles on the road
• Obey all traffic lights and signals
• Use your hand signals when you are turning
• Don’t wear earphones that block out surrounding traffic noise
• Always wear a helmet and use required safety equipment on your bike including a flashing taillight
• Secure your bike with a lock when you leave it
• Make sure you have a good pirture of your bike in case it is stolen
• If you are injured in an accident with a car or another bicycle seek help or call 911.

If you are in an accident with another cyclist or pedestrian or a motor vehicle make sure to exchange your personal information and call for help as required. If you are injured in a bicycle accident you should call an experienced personal injury lawyer like Deutschmann Personal Injury and Disability Law for a free consultation and advice on shate benefits you may be entitled to. A cyclist who is involved in a motor vehicle accident is entitled to the same compensation that passengers injured in a car accident are eligible for. Compensation may be attained via the mandatory accident benefits claim or by filing a tort claim. Under the laws in Ontario, a cyclist can both claim the mandatory benefits and also sue the driver at fault to get compensation.

As a driver of a car or truck you should:

• Share the road
• Bikes should be given at least 1 metre of clearance when you pass them
• Remember that bikes are NOT required to ride at the edge of the road if they are travelling at the normal speed of the traffic, when turning left or getting into a left turn lane.
• Cyclists are permitted to use left turn lanes
• Don’t follow cyclists too closely
• When you are making a left turn oncoming cyclsits have the right of way
• Always do shoulder checks when turning right
• Watch for cyclists when opening car doors in on street parking
• Watch for cyclists at driveways
• Make eye contact with cyclists where possible
• Remember that bike lanes are reserved for cyclists
• Bike boxes help prevent collisions between motorists and bicycles at intersections. It is typically a painted box on the road with a white bicycle symbol inside. Bicycle lanes approaching and leaving the box may also be painted. As a driver, you must stop for a traffic signal behind the bike box. Do not stop your car in the box

You can read more about bicycle and car safety on the MTO website.

We are seeing a big push in the Region to make active transportation easier and safer. Municipal and Regional governments are adding cycling lanes and closing streets to car traffic in order to make cycling and walking safer, faster and easier. They are encouraging people who want to social distance to cycle as a form or recreation and commuting.

Temporary bike lanes have been added to Coronation Blvd in Cambridge which make it significantly easier, safer, and faster to travel from Preston to Galt by bike. I wrote a few weeks ago about a recent study that showed significant uptakes in cycling occur when people feel safe riding and have access to separated bike lanes.

In line with this we have to educate both riders and drivers on how to respect one another on the road.

For cyclists:

• Always ride in the direction of traffic flow
• Use cycling lanes when you can
• Do not ride on the sidewalk
• Yield to pedestrians and other vehicles and cycles on the road
• Obey all traffic lights and signals
• Use your hand signals when you are turning
• Don’t wear earphones that block out surrounding traffic noise
• Always wear a helmet and use required safety equipment on your bike including a flashing taillight
• Secure your bike with a lock when you leave it
• Make sure you have a good pirture of your bike in case it is stolen
• If you are injured in an accident with a car or another bicycle seek help or call 911.

If you are injured in a bicycle accident you should call an experienced personal injury lawyer like Deutschmann Personal Injury and Disability Law for a free consultation and advice on shate benefits you may be entitled to.

As a driver of a car or truck you should:

• Share the road
• Bikes should be given at least 1 metre of clearance when you pass them
• Remember that bikes are NOT required to ride at the edge of the road if they are travelling at the normal speed of the traffic, when turning left or getting into a left turn lane.
• Cyclists are permitted to use left turn lanes
• Don’t follow cyclists too closely
• When you are making a left turn oncoming cyclsits have the right of way
• Always do shoulder checks when turning right
• Watch for cyclists when opening car doors in on street parking
• Watch for cyclists at driveways
• Make eye contact with cyclists where possible
• Remember that bike lanes are reserved for cyclists
• Bike boxes help prevent collisions between motorists and bicycles at intersections. It is typically a painted box on the road with a white bicycle symbol inside. Bicycle lanes approaching and leaving the box may also be painted. As a driver, you must stop for a traffic signal behind the bike box. Do not stop your car in the box

You can read more about bicycle and car safety on the MTO website.

About Deutschmann de Koning Law

Deutschmann de Koning Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann and Nick de Koning focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.ddinjurylaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.