While the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful, you might be tempted to dust off your bicycle and take it for a spin.
While cycling is proven to be excellent for your health, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit wants residents to stay safe this season.
“It’s something I’ve always enjoyed for recreation and transportation,” said Charles Gardner, medical officer oif health with the health unit. “I believe in it from the point of climate change, environmental protection, physical activity and healthy living. It’s something I insist on it. I would do it through the winter if it were accommodated here.”
Gardner holds cycling as a topic that is near and dear to his heart as he is a life-long cyclist.
Some suggestions he makes for improving safety for cyclists is adding barriers to separate bicycle lanes from traffic lanes, cyclists being more careful in planning and selecting their routes to avoid high-traffic areas, and being aware of the more risky locations in town to cycle.
“We have two perspectives. There’s what you can do as the individual dealing with the environment you’re in, but we’re also active in changing the environment, because the environment drives behaviour,” he said. “If you set up the environment right, you can get most people to cycle for most of their needs for most of the year, which has been done in many European countries and cities.”
“To do that, you need political commitment, and you need plans fulfilled and made.”
Gardner is hoping drivers will be accommodating and respectful of the new influx of cyclists on the road the warm weather brings.
“We have every right to be on the road under the law as much as they do,” said Gardner, adding that drivers are required by law to leave a one-metre distance between them and cyclists.
Tips from the health unit
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit offers more tips for cycling safety on its website.
- Cyclists are advised to obey all traffic laws, signs, and signals, always ride on the right in the same direction as traffic and ride in single file, except when passing
- Wear a helmet
- Be aware of the weather
- Follow the traffic rules and look in all directions before entering into a new space.
- Don’t assume traffic can see you
- Wear fluorescent and bright clothing, and reflectors
- Hand signals to communicate turns and stops to other road users is encouraged
For more safety tips from the health unit, click here.
