There were 420 collisions involving cyclists in Manitoba last year.
Three of those resulted in fatalities and 236 injuries. Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) says fault is often shared between drivers and cyclists.
"The bottom line is, all of these incidents are preventable," said Tara Seel with MPI. "So when we see 420 collisions and three Manitobans dead because they were riding their bike, that's something to be concerned about. That's why we are really highlighting cycling safety."
Common safety tips for cyclists include wearing a helmet and obeying traffic control signals and signs. Cyclists should always ride in a straight line and never weave between vehicles.
"If you're going to share the road while on a bike, you need to follow the rules of the road," continued Seel. "You want to use hand signals to let vehicles know what you're doing. At the same time, we highly recommend you make eye contact with the driver. If you do that, you see each other. That will assure you're both giving each other the proper amount of space."
For drivers, reduce your speed and leave a safe following distance. You should also change lanes, if possible, to give cyclists plenty of room.
"I can appreciate that there is frustration in that," ended Seel. "At the same time, are those three seconds that it will save you as a motorist worth someone's life? That's what we have seen, Manitobans losing their life while riding a bike in our province. Avoid using your horn, which can startle a cyclist. Watch for hand signals indicating they're going to turn or stop."
One wrong move can cost a life. Road safety isn’t optional — it’s everyone’s responsibility.
