Information related to cycling.
Research by Dr. Ben Beck at Australia's Monash University collected data on 60 cyclists in Melbourne who rode their bicycles with a custom device (the 'MetreBox') installed to quantify the distance that motor vehicle drivers provide when passing them. More than 18,000 vehicle passing events from 422 trips were recorded.
When the discussion turns to the use of a bicycle helmet two justifications for not wearing one are routinely brought up. The first is that mandatory helmet use discourages cycling and the second is that wearing a helmet provides a false sense of security that leads to an increase in risky behaviour.
In general, the letters to the editor section of the Victoria Times Colonist are complaints about adding cycling facilities to the city's streets. Comments about the war on cars are not uncommon. It's interesting to note that bike friendly cities may be safer for all road users, not just cyclists.
I found this Tweet from a cyclist on southern Vancouver Island yesterday: A #RCMP told me today it was too dangerous to ride a bike on the roads and I should find another hobby. In their view going to the grocery store on a #bike is a hobby. #Police and the public need to wake up #bikes are a serious mode of transport.
Here's an image of a cyclist caught on dashcam riding along Garden City Road between Westminster Highway and Granville Avenue in Richmond, B.C. He is riding the wrong way, without a helmet, failing to keep at least one hand on the handlebars and appears to be texting on a cell phone. Four separate Motor Vehicle Act violations!
This video is a news story carried on CTV Vancouver Island. It explains that helmet use has been mandatory for a long time but may cyclists don't bother wearing them. Those that don't believe that it should be a personal choice. This is balanced by those who wear one and have avoided serious injury in a crash because of it.
Not all collision litigation resulting from crashes on our highways involve motor vehicles. In this case, the collision occurred between Rosario Perilli, a jogger, and Wendy Marlow, a 10 year old youth riding a bicycle. Mr. Perilli fell to the ground in his attempt to avoid the collision and suffered injuries, including one to his shoulder that required surgery to repair.
I wanted to turn left from one angled road onto another angled road.
Two vehicles were stopped at the stop sign.
The first vehicle was turning right and as he did, I prepared to turn left...suddenly I have a cyclist turning left from the same spot as the car; the cyclist was not obvious tucked beside the car. I could have hit the cyclist.
Misbehaving and incompetent drivers get off too easy in the media. How many times have you seen news headlines like these?
Douglas Heuring was riding his bicycle eastbound on 13 street approaching Grand Boulevard East in North Vancouver, B.C. He stopped for the stop sign about 10 feet back from the marked stop line at the intersection.