Bikers

In BC last year there were 1400 bicycle accident related injuries, many of them severe including deaths, paralysis and other BAD INJURIES. In BC Bicyclists are allowed to share the road with motorists excluding Some highways and divided Roads. I don't think theres anything wrong with people wanting to commute around town and to work on bikes, it is even good for the environment taking thousands of tonnes of carbon pollution out of the air, if people are getting out of cars and onto bikes. However, Roads for about 110 years in North America have been designed for, Cars and Trucks for the most part. Lately There has been a push to go greener and fight climate change and this has resulted in more bikers than ever before sharing the roads. There has been some small integration of bike lanes in some areas but these are seldom and represent a very small percentage of our roads. The problem I see with Bikes being allowed to share our roads is,

Number one, The Huge weight and speed differetial between bikes and cars, Your average car in canada is going to weigh approximatley 3000 pounds, with trucks weighing in at double or triple this and commercial vehicles signifigantly more. Also the rate of speed cars travel, accelerate and deccelerate is far greater than that of bikes. The Problem is that when a 3000 pound car travelling at say 60 km/h hits a person on a bike whose weight is say 200 pounds travelling at 10km/h, or worse a 6000 pound truck travelling at 100km/h which is completly plausible on our roads, the force the car has is so much more then the bike that the person really doesn't have a chance if they do indeed collide. Simply Weight will always win, injuries sustained to bicyclists on the Roads place more stress on our health care system and could be far more avoidable.

Number Two, Bikers do not have the same rules as drivers in cars, yet they use the same infastucture, they do not require insurance or licenses, and are subject to different laws whilst on the road, causing lawsuit and claim problems.

Number Three, Modern cars are equipped with a net of technologically advandced saftey systems, including multiple airbags, seatbelts, steel structures surrounding you, firewalls, crumple zones, whiplash protection, some cars will even avoid accidents automatically, Biciclists have nothing but a helmet, and hard pavement to hit.

There is no perfect solution and i think more and more bikers will be hit by cars and be seriously injured, I think there has to be a far more signifigant degree of separation between cars and bikes to prevent collisions. Bicycles and cars should be able to share our roads but need to be kept seperate from each other at least to some degree, i think its a problem that will become progressivly worse and needs to be adressed.

Or More things like this will happen,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBOoWocZjHY


These are ICBCs current suggestions to bikers for greater saftey

TIPS FOR CYCLISTS

No. 1 - Brighten up: Bicycles can be hard for other road users to spot in the mix of busy traffic so cyclists need to be as visible as possible. Bright, reflective clothing is the best option for the rider, while the bicycle itself needs to have lights. If you ride at night, your bicycle must be equipped with a white headlight visible at 150 metres, and have a rear red light and a red rear reflector. Even if you are doing all of these things, never assume you have been seen by another vehicle.

No. 2 - Don’t rush: Remember to stop and look in all directions before cycling out of an intersection, driveway or lane. The majority of all children’s cycling crashes are caused by the child riding out onto a roadway without looking. Cyclists need to ensure they follow the rules of the road. Just like any other vehicle, you need to obey stop signs and other traffic control devices and enforcement.

No. 3 - Start at the top: While we’re talking rules, remember to always wear an approved bicycle helmet that meets safety standards - it’s the law in BC and you could be fined for not wearing one. Bike helmets alone could prevent up to 85 percent of serious injuries, which account for 80 percent of all bicycle-related deaths. Look for a helmet that is approved by a recognized body such as Snell. More important than who made the helmet is how it fits. It should be snug, but not uncomfortable, and should not be able to roll off of your head when the chin strap is secured.

No. 4 - Get well positioned: Position yourself so other road users can easily see you - don’t weave in and out of traffic. Importantly, ensure you always avoid riding in blind spots of other road users. Cyclists should ride on the right side of the road and in single file.

No. 5 - Be defensive: While it is fine to ride in an assertive manner, cyclists need to think and look well ahead - remember, a conflict between a bicycle and a motor vehicle usually results in injury to the cyclist. Pay particular attention for vehicles turning at intersections, and slow down and take it easy on the curves.

TIPS FOR OTHER ROAD USERS

No. 1 - Keep your eyes peeled: As a road user, it is important that you always actively look for cyclists in traffic - especially in the spring and summer months when there are more of them on the road. Wherever possible, make eye contact with the cyclist to let them know you have seen him - a cyclist often relies on eye contact as a means of communication as they try to anticipate your next move. Make sure you understand all of the hand signals that cyclists use. Shoulder checking is also important, especially when making right-hand turns at intersections and before you open your door to get out of your vehicle.

No. 2 - Put things in perspective: It is often difficult to judge the correct distance between your spot on the road and a bicycle as it is approaching, particularly when turning left. Be extra cautious for cyclists, especially when turning at intersections. Before you pass another vehicle, make sure you check for oncoming cyclists and bicycles ahead of the vehicle you are passing.

No. 3 - Don’t get close: Drivers need to pay attention and yield to people on bikes and, importantly, need to keep at least three seconds of following distance. Bicycle movements can be unpredictable so an increased distance will give you more time to safely react. A significant number of crashes involving cyclists result from side-sweeping, so make sure there is enough space if you want to pass a cyclist.

No. 4 - Keep out: Bicycle lanes are reserved for cyclists - do not drive, stop or park in a bicycle lane. Sometimes you will need to cross a bicycle lane to turn right, or to pull to the side of the road. When you need to do so, take extra care - be sure to signal well ahead and remember to always yield to cyclists.

No. 5 - Be considerate: Like pedestrians, cyclists are vulnerable road users and don’t have the protection drivers have - both in terms of the shell of their vehicle and their seatbelt. Don’t honk your horn at a cyclist unless you need to give them a warning. A loud honk could startle them or even cause them to fall.