Share the roads so everyone enjoys a safe summer.
Our roads are very busy in the summertime with tourists visiting our valley. There are campers and motor homes heading up and down the Island.
Families are heading to the beach and the park, and there is a greater mix of traffic than at other times of year.
So — it is time for us all to be especially considerate of other road users. Put safety first!
Allowing a little more time to get through town, or to your Island destination, will reduce your stress and frustration, and the likelihood of risky behaviour.
Many of us are sometimes drivers, sometimes pedestrians and sometimes cyclists so we should be able to understand the challenges that face all road users.
When we are inconsiderate, in whatever way we travel, we cause frustration in the other road users which can so easily lead to dangerous actions and potential accidents.
As cyclists we are responsible to follow the rules of the road as a vehicle, and the provincial laws regarding helmet use.
When we ignore stop signs and traffic lights, weave in and out of traffic, ride across pedestrian crosswalks, fail to use hand signals or check our mirror, we do a great deal of damage to the credibility of cyclists and the relationship between cyclists and motorists.
If, as a driver or cyclist, you are not sure about the rights and responsibilities of cyclists on our roads, please do check out the following publication on the web. www.bikesense.bc.ca/manual.htm.
Be safe!
Margaret Harris is with the Comox Valley Cycle Coalition. she has written this month’s Shifting Gears column on behalf of the CVCC.
