How do you as a cyclist avoid getting hit by cars turning right?

 

 “I wear a bike helmet to protect my brain because I met someone who didn't and had an accident, and he's not all there anymore.” 

“Safety can be a cultural or even generational thing. When I was growing up, I don't remember my parents being so adamant about safety issues such as wearing a helmet while cycling as they are now with their grandkids. Attitudes have started to change, but it'll take time.”

Do you remember watching public service announcements on TV when you were a kid? I didn’t, but an acquaintance of mine reminded me of them. I’m dating myself here, but I remember the sugary cereal glee of childhood and racing to the TV to consume Saturday morning cartoons. In between Superfriends and Saturday Supercade, there were cartoons about planning before you build your treehouse and being safe around chemicals. 

These cartoons’ safety messages made an impression on the two of us. This acquaintance of mine, who’s about the same age as me, said he couldn’t remember many other campaigns about injury prevention besides a school course about riding bicycles.

I wondered what safety lessons he remembers? He told me that his family was, and continues to be, a major influence on keeping him injury free. 

“I was enrolled in an advanced driving safety course. This was due to my Mom’s discretion, mostly to make me safe. It gave me more awareness about driving. It’s probably saved my life on a number of occasions. And it’s led me to take another safety course now that I own a motorcycle.”

Then I asked what influence his friends have, or don’t, on his safety. He pondered this question, then piped up.

“Most of my friends are more safety conscious than me. I have the tendency to be kind of a daredevil sometimes. Not having a helmet when I’m riding a bike goes along with this. Wearing a helmet would be smarter. At the same time, it’s also a cultural thing. When I was in Europe, I noticed fewer people wearing bike helmets compared to here. The [European] drivers have been taught how to drive around vehicles. It’s definitely more dangerous to ride a bike in North America.”

It was interesting to hear that although he knew he should be more safety conscious, he wasn’t prepared yet to wear a helmet or change some of his “daredevil” habits. 

My acquaintance’s attitudes towards injuries got me thinking about how people learn to be safe and if that translated to them acting in a way that helps them avoid needless harm. Public service announcements did influence him, but so did his family, and perhaps to a lesser degree, his friends.

How about you?  How did you learn about safety?  

 

 

 

I like to get around quickly. I don’t own a car, so I pretty much have three options for finding my way around Vancouver: biking, taking public transit, or walking. I’d walk more if (A) I wasn’t always running late, (B) I didn’t sweat from my walk/sprint (and therefore look like a swamp rat when I show up wherever I’m heading), or (C) was more patient. I love city transit, but added to the fact that I’m a weirdo magnet and somehow always manage to sit next to the person with a death cough or someone who smells like Fire Ball or some other beverage that can double as a cleaner (or both!), (A) and (C) apply to this mode of transportation as well… leaving me with my trusty street bike to get around. 

I’m a law abiding cyclist for the most part. I ride in the assigned bike lanes, signal where I’m going, and generally make sure cars and people see where I am. But I do remember times when I’d take advantage of a situation, drift into a crosswalk and ride against a don’t-walk sign just to get to where I wanted to more quickly. 

I’ve stopped doing this, not only because it’s dangerous for my own being, but because it’s dangerous to others as well. A while back, I rode against the don’t-walk sign that crosses Richards Street on Robson Street downtown. I was fine, but a pedestrian saw me cross and thought she was OK to cross as well. As soon as she stepped on the road, a bus cruising down Robson started to turn right onto Richards, causing the pedestrian to stop dumbfounded and the bus driver to come screeching to a halt a half a meter from her trembling legs. From that day on, I stopped cheating as a bike rider and now follow the rules of the road.

The other day I saw something much more scary on the new Burrard Bridge Lane Relocation Trail. I was waiting with my bike to cross at the crosswalk over Cornwall Avenue leading to the Burrard Street Bridge on the North Side. A fellow cyclist beside me decided to cross against a don’t-walk sign and rode his bike to the other side. As soon as he made the dangerous crossing, a pedestrian on the other side saw him and thought he’d follow the cyclist’s lead and stepped onto the road.

As the pedestrian started to step into traffic, I yelled, “Watch”! I guess I could have yelled something like “Stop!” or “Careful!”, but that’s all that came to mind at the time. Luckily, the pedestrian heard me

 

and stepped back onto the sidewalk and not into traffic where a nice new Volkswagon Turbo (even with its splendid German-precision breaks) wouldn’t have been able to avoid the man. To say it wouldn’t have been pretty is an understatement.

 

That situation concerned me so much I decide to call up the City to see if they could put up a sign or some words on the street that read “Look” so that pedestrians would look out for traffic and follow the walk/don’t-walk signals. I spoke to a nice woman at City Hall via their cycling hotline number. She seemed to take my concern seriously and said their engineer would look into it. And you know, I believe her. Whether my concern falls on deaf ears is yet to be seen. But I’d like to know if YOU follow all the rules while biking? Or do you cheat the rules of the road to get to where you're heading more quickly?

Another bike helmet related accident that could have been avoided. My last post on helmets showcased the opinions of a couple of Vancouver men towards bike helmets. One wasn’t wearing one because he felt they made him sweaty and weren’t necessary at all times. The other was converted to wearing bike helmets because they save lives and are comfortable. Today, I’d like to introduce you to a couple of women I accosted with bike helmet-related questions. The first is a nurse, so you know she’s all about prevention, right?

Susan – Nurse – No Helmet

 

Me: Nice day for a ride, huh.

Susan: Ya.

Me: Is that one of them cruiser bikes?

Susan: Um, ya.

Me: You ever cruise into a car or light standard?

Susan: Nah…Well not very often.

Me: You ever thought of crusin’ over to the bike shop and pickin’ up a helmet?

Susan: I have a helmet but only use it on special occasions.

Me: Today’s not special?

Susan: Nah.

Me: Why Nah?

Susan: “If I’m riding over the Second Narrows Bride or something, I wear a helmet. I’m not an idiot. Vancouver’s set up well for bicycle riding. It’s quite user friendly. I can get most anywhere I want to go and not have to leave a city designated bicycle route, which are generally traffic calmed areas, or I’m on the sea wall. There’s only a few blocks here or there where I have to go through major intersections, and I walk my bike through those anyway.”

Susan echoed the common belief that cars are the major reason to wear helmets. Pedestrians and stationary objects as hazards didn’t factor into her bike helmet rational.

As I walked home contemplating the many attitudes towards helmets, I encountered this safety conscious lady. She’s probably got the coolest helmet I’ve seen, even if it’s probably better suited for equestrians...

 

Anna – Professional – Helmet Wearer

 

Me: Is that a helmet for horse riding?

Anna: Why yes it is!

Me: I guess a stead is a stead, even if it’s metal not flesh.

Anna: I have a regular bike helmet but this one’s more fun.

Me: Do you always wear a bike helmet?

Anna: “If I’m riding I do. My brain allows me to think, to feel, to move--to bike in the first place. I'd like to maintain these capabilities as long as possible. Wearing a helmet is one of the ways I try to minimize risks while allowing myself to engage in the activities that I enjoy. I ride on both quieter streets and roads heavily used by other vehicles. I try to ride as safe as possible. I'm sure most people try to be safe, but accidents happen.”

What’s your excuse? Tell me why you do or don’t wear a bike helmet. I’ll make it my mission to find the facts, experts, and opinions of your fellow citizens to bolster or discredit your opinions. Just post them in the comments area below. This blogger is standing by…with a helmet on.

The City of Vancouver and the Province of B.C. has made it law to wear bike helmets when operating a bicycle on streets and paths. You wouldn’t know there’s a law if you stood on the 10th avenue bike route like I did for some 20 minutes. By my tally, roughly 40 percent of the cyclist who whizzed by my gapping maw were sans casque. So what’s the dilly-o? Despite the law, bike related accidents are on the rise. So I thought I’d go find out first-hand why people chose to wear and not wear helmets. Here’s who I met:

 

Aaron – Man of Many Talents – No Helmet

 

Me: Hey man, that’s a kick ass bike.

Aaron: Thanks, dude.

Me: You know what would look great with it?

Aaron: I don’t know.

Me: A helmet!

Aaron: “Ya, I’m riding hard with no helmet. Usually, I’m a strict helmet wearer,. but today I’m not wearing one because of the humidity in the air. I’m doing business work, I’m trying to network, and don’t want to be sweaty doing it. So when I’m riding extreme, the helmet is on. You caught me by chance today not wearing it. This is my neighbourhood, so I’m pretty comfortable not wearing one. But when I get into traffic, that’s when I think of putting it on.”

A few people I spoke with who didn’t want to be quoted or interviewed told me similar stories to Aaron’s. They didn’t see the need to wear helmets in low-traffic areas or off the road. Helmets being uncomfortable and hot seemed to be a common theme, but one refuted by my next victim.

 

 Eric – Bike Fanatic and Mechanic – Helmet Wearer

 

Me: My! That’s a mighty nice helmet you got there. Why are you wearing it?

Eric: You asked me to.

Me: I meant, why do you wear it when I don’t ask you to?

Eric: “Well, I used to not wear a helmet but have done so now for about 15 years. I found them to be uncomfortable. But modern helmets can actually make your head feel cooler than if you didn’t wear one at all because of how they’re designed. I got in a few accidents before and even hit my head, which didn’t feel too good. Beyond it being the law, it’s a good habit to get in. It can save you a trip to the hospital and death…those are pretty significant repercussions.“

Those were sage words and ones I’d expect from someone with knowledge of the repercussions of not wearing a head dome…like a nurse perhaps. To be continued… Now it’s your turn. If you have an excuse or won't stand for them, then give yourself a voice by leaving a comment. I’ll read them and find an expert to refute or support your claim, or both!

 

 

 

 

Yes, it's that time again - school will be back in session on Tuesday.

You know what that means... Tuesday morning will not only be a nightmare in your homes, but also on our streets!

• more drivers, more vehicles
• more parents, more teachers
• more children walking, cycling, scooting in groups
• crossing guards near school zones

The RCMP and Police provide some tips and reminders for safety:   RCMP school tips for kids and Police Issue Back to School Reminder to Drivers

What will you do on Tuesday morning to ensure that you and no one else around you gets injured?

 

It's so sad when you hear a story like the one about the 12 year old boy in Parksville who was hit by a car while riding his bike, but unfortunately it happens all the time. We have to remember that we're the ones driving a big tank down the road and if we hit someone on a bike, there will be serious damage caused. So let's all keep an eye out for each other's safety when hitting the streets and give cyclists a wide berth.

Stay safe out there!

Parksville boy hit by car dies
By Staff Reporter, The Province
August 25, 2009

A boy hit by a car while riding his bike in Parksville last week has died from his injuries.

The 12-year-old crossed in front of a vehicle heading south on Despard Avenue across Craig Street and was hit at about 1 p.m. Aug. 17.

Click the link for the full article...

 

One of the biggest preventable injury issues we face is not wearing bike helmets. We've talked about it on this site since we launched back in June and we'll continue to address it until bike helmet use reaches 100%. It's an uphill battle, but so was seatbelt use back in the day, and hey, who doesn't use a seat belt when they get in their car these days. Nobody, cause it's stupid not to.

Check out this article on bike helmets that talks about the RCMP's lack of enforcement of the bike helmet law. To be fair, the police did start cracking down on bike helmets this summer, at least in Vancouver, though I think the point is still fair: generally cops don't do a thorough job of enforcing bike helmets.

What do you think about this issue? Should cops enforce this law? Will police enforcement help increase bike helmet usage?

RCMP have duty to make riders wear their helmets
The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I am constantly amazed at the number of people in Nanaimo who operate their bicycles without wearing a helmet.

I have done an informal count and believe that more than 50% of bicycle riders do not wear helmets. I wonder why the RCMP refuses to enforce this bylaw.

It cannot be that they do not see the offenders, as I would think it's impossible to ride around the streets of Nanaimo and never see a helmetless rider.

Do they not have a duty of care to the public to protect citizens from harming themselves?

Click here for the full article...

No Helmet:  Daniel reflects on the night he messed up his skull, and his life

Stories by Cassidy Olivier, staff reporter

Daniel McCash doesn’t remember much about that night last November when he crashed his bicycle and struck his head against a lamppost.

 

The few details he does know have been provided by friends, who were there, and watched him flip over his bike’s handlebars and fly head first into the metal pole. It was his friends who told him he was coasting down a street in east Vancouver around 4 a.m. on Nov. 15, 2008. It was his friends who saw him lose of control of his bike when, riding without his hands, he failed to round a corner, hitting a curb instead and sailing through the air. And it was his friends who’ve told him how when they came to help; he was barely conscious and had dark, thick blood pouring from his nose.

But what Daniel, who was 24 at the time, doesn’t need anybody to tell him about is the extent of the injuries he suffered that night, injuries — including a broken jaw, a broken shoulder and a lasting brain injury — that would keep him in hospital for several months. He also doesn’t need anybody to remind him that had he been sober and wearing a helmet, his injuries would have been less severe. “I really do think I could have prevented my injuries. I could have worn a helmet — I owned one, but I didn’t – and I could have been sober. If I was sober, I wouldn’t have crashed.”

Be bike smart

Obey traffic rules, traffic-control signs and hand signals. Keep to the right and ride single file.

Look all ways, then shoulder check, and turn with care.

Beware of parked cars: plan for doors to open.

Beware of road hazards: look all ways before entering traffic and cross at right angles to the tracks at railway crossings.

Watch for pedestrians —people and animals are unpredictable.

Be visible, day or night.

Avoid riding at night or  when intoxicated.

According to the Community Against Preventable Injuries, a non-profit group aimed at raising awareness surrounding preventable injuries, Daniel is just one of 400,000 British Columbians annually who require medical attention to treat injuries that are, 95 per cent of the time, predictable and preventable. Injuries such as Daniel’s claim the lives of more children than any other causes combined and are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of one and 44.

In 2007, there were more than 1,000 cycling injuries that required hospitalization. “Most of us have no idea of the magnitude of the problem caused by preventable injuries,” said Community spokesman Dr. Ian Pike. “It’s an epidemic costing British Columbians an estimated $4 billion in direct health-care costs, and immeasurable human pain and suffering. “The trouble is too many of us think that serious injuries only happen to other people, but they can and do happen to us.” It’s a lesson Daniel had to learn the hard way.

Cycling injuries

Head injury is the most common cause of death, disability and serious injury in bicyclists who crash.

Most injuries occur less than five blocks from home, in familiar surroundings.

Most injuries suffered by bicyclists are fractures, dislocations and other non-life-threatening injuries, but head injuries are typically the most dangerous. Even a “minor” head injury can have serious long-term consequences.

Now labelled by the government as disabled due to his brain injury, Daniel lives at home with his parents in New Westminster. Memory problems have kept him out of the work force and his social life isn’t the same as it was before the crash. However, at the end of the day, the lessons learned are ones Daniel now tries to pass on to other cyclists who, he says, are more often than not apathetic about wearing helmets. “People will ride their bike past me and I call them on it,” he says. “I say ‘Hey, wear your helmet.’ And they always have an excuse.”

Bicycling facts

Half of all cycling injuries and deaths happen in the summer.

The majority of bicycle injuries do not involve motor vehicles. Most are falls, collisions with stationary objects, and collisions with other bikes or pedestrians resulting from the bicyclist losing control.

Helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by 88 per cent if worn appropriately while cycling.

Those who survive unprotected bicycling brain injuries may suffer epilepsy, intellectual and memory impairment and personality changes.