Post date: Sep 14, 2011 1:18:24 AM

Cyclists to blame for 71% of collisions in 2010.

We need a cycling safety blitz

The streets of Waterloo Region need to become safer places for people riding bicycles. But if the accident statistics from last year offer us any guidance, the onus will largely rest on the shoulders of the cyclists themselves to make this happen.

You can talk about painting more lines on the roads to create more bicycle lanes. You can talk about building segregated pathways for the exclusive use of cyclists.

But the numbers from the local municipal governments indicate that the single most meaningful way to reduce the number of accidents, injuries and, yes, even deaths, would be teaching cyclists how to ride more safely. That’s because in the vast majority of collisions last year, the cyclists were at fault.

There were nearly 200 collisions between bicycles and vehicles in this community in 2010. One cyclist died. Another 118 riders were hurt and of these, eight suffered major injuries.

These are disturbing figures that give only an inkling of the human suffering that must have been experienced. They must also represent a serious obstacle to the worthy goal of getting more people riding bicycles for recreation and transit, for the benefit of their own health and that of the environment, which would be spared at least some pollution from cars and trucks.

But there is one more disconcerting statistic to keep in mind. It was the cyclists who were to blame in a full 71 per cent of the local collisions last year.

No fewer than 58 incidents happened when cyclists rode in a crosswalk against a red light — after they were supposed to have been stopped. Incredibly, seven cyclists were hit while riding on a roadway against the flow of traffic. No one wants to see a cyclist hurt. But shouldn’t these people have known better?

Over time, local municipalities should develop a better network of pathways that are especially for bicycles. But such infrastructure is expensive and has to compete with roads and public transit for scarce municipal dollars. Meanwhile, the politicians awarding those dollars realize that, according to a 2006 study, relatively few people use a bicycle to get to and from work or to run errands at the busiest times of day.

For every cyclist, there were four students on school buses, six passengers on Grand River Transit, 10 pedestrians and 124 people in cars. Unless the politicians ignore the demonstrated needs of the vast majority of the population they will not immediately inject massive amounts of funding into building segregated bicycle pathways. Instead they will develop a network for bicycles over decades.

That doesn’t mean ignoring bicycle safety today. Local school boards could follow the fine example of Kitchener’s Sheppard Public School, where teacher Phil Martin has pioneered a bicycle safety program for students from Grade 3 to Grade 6. The regional government and police could launch a safety campaign aimed at cyclists, but also drivers who need to be more aware and accommodating of their two-wheeled neighbours.

Cyclists could heed the wise advice of the Canada Safety Council. They should wear helmets, obey the rules of the road and come to complete stops at stop signs and red lights. At night, they should also be equipped with proper lights and wear bright clothing.

To be sure, bicycles have as much right as cars to be on our roads. But it’s time for more cyclists to show they can do this the right and safe way.

from: http://www.therecord.com/opinion/editorial/article/593210--we-need-a-cycling-safety-blitz