Community Action

CAA's Watch for Bikes Campaign Tips for Cyclists

CAA is promoting safety between vehicles and bicycles. When you make good decisions while you are driving or cycling, you will keep yourself and everyone else around you safe. Follow the tips below to help make the roads safer for everyone:

• Ride in a straight line on the right hand side of the road in the same direction as traffic - usually one half to one metre from the curb or from parked cars.
• Stop at the edge of the road, strop at red lights and stop signs. Look to see if the road is clear. Look all ways.
• Always look over your shoulder behind you before you turn or move out on the road.
• Signal - let drivers know what you are going to do next.
• Look ahead down the road to see if there might be danger ahead.

(Source: MTO)

• Get educated. Take a CAN-BIKE [link to toronto.ca/cycling/canbike] or driver's education course and upgrade your skills
• Stay awake, aware and alert when you drive or cycle.
• Slow down - drive or cycle in a way that gives you and others time to react.
• Keep a “space cushion” around you so you don't get squeezed into obstacles.
• Obey the laws - be predictable and efficient.
• Think about the environment - walk or cycle for short trips.

(Source City of Toronto)

Make Your Bike Legal

Equipment required by law:

• Helmet - cyclists under 18 must wear a helmet. Helmets are strongly recommended for cyclists over 18.
• Lights and reflectors: a white light mounted on front of your bike, a red reflector on the back at night.
• Bell or horn.
• Reflective tape: white reflective tape on the front forks, red reflective tap on the rearstays.

Recommended equipment:

• Rack or basket keeps your hands free for steering.
• Water bottle and cage
• Wear shoes that cover your toes.

(Source MTO)

Why wear a bike helmet?

Wearing a bike helmet reduces the risk of injury and death. Cycling is a reasonably safe activity that millions of us enjoy, but each year in Ontario a few cyclists die after a crash or a collision. Most die because of head injuries. Many more cyclists suffer permanent brain injury, often radically changing their personality and their capacity to operate in the world as before.
Wearing a bike helmet increases your chances of surviving a fall or a crash or a collision. We all like better odds, so wear a bike helmet every time.
According to figures from Statistics Canada, of the 14,135 people killed in road accidents in Canada between 2000 and 2004, 263 were cyclists.

How to encourage wearing a bike helmet

A majority of cyclists wear helmets, but many don't. Here are some simple ways for you to encourage others to wear a bike helmet.

• Start with yourself. Be a good role model. Wear your helmet every time. Make sure it is properly adjusted.
• Talk to your family. If you are a parent, make wearing a helmet just a part of what you do. Start your children young so they get the helmet habit early. If you are a child, let your parents know how important wearing a helmet is.
• Encourage your friends. A bike helmet is a great present idea for the cyclist who has nearly everything.

(Source: The City of Toronto)

Wear your helmet right

The edge of the helmet should be two fingers above the eyebrows to protect the forehead, straps should meet in a V shape just below the ears and one finger should fit between the chin and the chinstrap.

(Source MTO)

The Helmet Law in Ontario

Cyclists under 18 are required by law to wear an approved bicycle helmet when riding a bike on a roadway or sidewalk. The law was passed on October 1, 1995. Some communities in Ontario have passed by-laws requiring cyclists under 18 to wear helmets wherever they ride.

An approved bicycle helmet is one that has been tested for use by cyclists by one of the following testing agencies:

• Canadian Standards Association (CSA),
• Snell Memorial Foundation,
• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM),
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI),
• British Standards Institute (BSI),
• Standards Association of Australia (SAA).

Other kinds of protective helmets, such as hockey helmets, are not acceptable.
Parents can be charged if they knowingly allow their children to ride without a bicycle helmet.
All cyclists should wear a bike helmet when they ride. It reduces the risk of brain and head injury in the event of a crash or collision.

(Source MTO)

Bike related injuries and risk factors

About 50% of bike crashes are falls (cyclist alone)
About 25% of bike crashes involve a motor vehicle
About 25% of bike crashes are caused in other ways

(Source: The City of Toronto)

According to Statistics Canada, around 7,500 cyclists suffer serious injuries every year.
It's estimated that as many as 70,000 others are treated in hospital emergency rooms for cycling-related injuries. In Canada, 56 per cent of cyclist fatalities and 85 per cent of serious cycling injuries occur in cities.Other risk factors include:

• Time of day: 17 per cent of deaths and 23 per cent of injuries occur in accidents during the afternoon rush hour.
• Time of day: 30 per cent of cyclist fatalities occur at night or in artificial light situations.
• Location: You're more likely to be killed or injured at an intersection or at road locations with traffic signals or other traffic control signs.
• Rural areas: 44 per cent of cyclist fatalities that occurred in rural areas were on roads with posted speed limits of 80 km/h or higher.
• Age: Cyclists under the age of 24 have substantially higher death and injury rates than the rest of the population.

Tips to avoid collisions

• Maintain your bicycle in good working order.
• Be as visible as possible to others.
• Learn the skills needed to control your bike.
• Cycle in traffic safely and predictably.
• Know and obey the rules of the road.
• The rules of the road include properly signalling a turn or a lane change, stopping at all red lights and stop signs. If there are parked cars in the lane, make sure you're a car door's width from those parked cars, so you avoid being struck by an opening door.
• Mirrors on your helmet or handlebars can help you see what's coming but - like in a car - there can be blind spots. You should look behind you before you change lanes, pass someone or make a turn.

CAN-BIKE

CAN-BIKE is a cycling education program prepares cyclists of all abilities for safe, legal and confident riding, no matter what your experience level. Cycling courses are offered for both adults and young cyclists. There is a variety of courses available for different skill levels, ranging from 'adult learn to ride' for those who can not ride a bike at all, to CAN-BIKE 2, for commuter cyclists who want to boost their safety and efficiency on major urban roads. Join the two-wheeled revolution - take a CAN-BIKE course! You can help set the pace for Toronto's 900,000 cyclists!

Highway Traffic Act- Rules of the Road

The rules of the road are written down in a law called the Highway Traffic Act (HTA).
Here are some of the important rules cyclists should know:

• A bicycle is a vehicle and as a cyclist, you have the same rights and responsibilities as other road users (HTA 1).*
• You must stop at red lights (HTA 124) and stop signs (HTA 136), and travel in the designated direction on one-way streets (HTA 153).
• A bicycle is a slow vehicle and must travel as far to the right as practicable (HTA 147), except when preparing for a left turn or passing. Ride out from the curb far enough to maintain a straight-line path.
• You may use any part of a lane if your safety requires it. Never compromise your safety for the convenience of a motorist behind you.
• Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks (HTA 120), and walk your bike across crosswalks (HTA 144(29)).
• Stop for school buses when the upper red lights are flashing and the stop arm is out [HTA 175(12)].
• Stop two metres behind streetcar doors and wait until the passengers have boarded or reached the curb (HTA 166).
• You cannot attach yourself to a vehicle to hitch a ride (HTA 178).
• You cannot cycle on expressways or freeways, or on roads where “No Bicycle” signs are posted (HTA 185).
• Cyclists must identify themselves when stopped by the police for breaking traffic laws. You must give the officer your correct name and address (HTA 218).

* The numbers after HTA relate to the section of the Highway Traffic Act that deals with that rule.

(Source MTO)