Citizen staff
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is urging drivers to watch out for cyclists as more and more of them take to the roads with summer nearing.
In Prince George, an average 17 cyclists are injured in crashes with vehicles between June and September every year.
For B.C. as a whole, the count is 670 cyclists - or five every day during the summer - and distracted driving and failing to yield the right-of-way the most common causes.
"In B.C., nearly four out of five car crashes with cyclists happen at intersections," said Lindsay Matthews, ICBC's director responsible for road safety.
"These crashes and their devastating impact on our communities are preventable. Whether you're driving or cycling, watch for other road users and do your part to share our roads safely."
Here are some tips for drivers:
Actively watch for cyclists on the road. Make eye contact with cyclists whenever possible to let them know you have seen them.
Shoulder check for cyclists before turning right and watch for oncoming cyclists before turning left.
Before you or a passenger opens a vehicle door, shoulder check for cyclists coming from behind. Before you pull away from the curb, make sure you shoulder check for cyclists.
If you need to cross a bike lane to turn right or to pull to the side of the road, signal well in advance and yield to cyclists.
If you're entering the roadway from a laneway or parking lot, always scan for cyclists and other road users.
Tips for cyclists:
Plan your route before you go, give yourself plenty of time and choose bike lanes and paths where possible. If you're new to cycling, pick routes with less traffic. Google Maps can help you plan your cycling route and municipalities often have great maps of bike routes on their websites.
Be aware of what's going on around you at all times and scan ahead for hazards like potholes, gravel, glass and drainage grates. Watch for vehicles entering the roadway from laneways and parking lots.
When turning, shoulder check well in advance, hand signal and then, with both hands on the handle bars, shoulder check again before turning.
Ride at least one metre away from parked vehicles to avoid being hit by an opening door or a vehicle pulling into your lane from the curb. Use caution if you notice someone in the vehicle.
It's illegal to cycle on most sidewalks and in crosswalks. It puts pedestrians in danger and drivers don't expect cyclists to enter the roadway from a sidewalk.
When riding at dusk, dawn or at night, your bike must be equipped with a white headlight visible at 150 metres and a rear red light and reflector visible at 100 metres. Consider adding more lights to be even more visible.
