Story Written for the Uniter, Regarding Cycling Safety in Winnipeg.

Tales from the Cycling Crypt When Looking Both Ways before Crossing the Street Isnt Enough

Mothers everywhere have timelessly lectured their children to strap on a helmet, cycle single-file and wear a neon wardrobe while riding their bike. Like many of Moms rants, these seemingly paranoid tangents come in handy. Protective gear is always a wise way to spend money, however no money can protect cyclists from all elements while on the road. I question 6 cyclists who have fallen victim to a motorist. These are their stories. When asked to describe her accident, Sarah Pogson said I shoulder-checked for oncoming traffic and judged that nothing was oncoming. I held my arm out to signal, then woke up in H.S.Cs adult emergency. Unfortunately, the nature of Pogsons accident is common among cyclists; the cyclist obeys the rules of the road yet ends up suffering from those who dont. Cayleigh Christie, a seasoned Winnipeg cyclist, was hit by a turning taxi despite her front and back bike lights. Christie recalls my bike took the majority of the impact and went flying. I rolled up on the hood and when he came to a stop, I rolled back off the car. Another experienced cyclist, Greg Weigeldt, was side-swiped by a truck pulling a long, flatbed trailer. The driver ploughed on without stopping. Motorists can have a negative impact on cyclists even if minimal or no contact occurs. One cyclist I questioned was biking on a Sunday morning and noticed a car approaching rapidly behind him. Upon looking back to make sure he wasnt going to get hit, his front tire sunk into a pothole, hurdling his body over the handlebars. One Saturday night on Portage Avenue, Dunja Kovacevic found herself as prey to a presumably drunk carload of teenagers. Kovacevic says the group of kids swerved into me, hit me, and continued alongside me in an attempt to trap me between their car and a parked car. Like the other cyclists I interviewed, Kovacevic notes I was doing everything required of me. I was sober, alert, cautious. All cyclists noted heightened awareness and most felt symptoms of paranoia while cycling postaccident. With that said, all but one cyclist continues to use biking as their main mode of transportation. What can be done to prevent future motorist/cyclist accidents from occurring? Peace among men was one response, however until then, Winnipeg could benefit from mirroring bike systems in other cities. A Winnipegger who spent time living and cycling the streets of Montreal suggests bike lanes. Real ones. Rachel Street in Montreal is a prime example. They dont just paint bikes on the ground...they put concrete dividers between the road and the bike lane. To say all fingers are to be pointed at motorists would be naive, however Winnipeg needs to be proactive with creating a safer environment for cyclists; be it in the form of education, road dividers or

entirely separate bike lanes. The bottom line, As Cayleigh Christie states is that cyclists and drivers need to learn to ride together.