This year’s Bike to Work Week started out with heavy rain, but Powell River residents who signed up to participate haven’t let the soggy weather deter them. According to the organization’s website, 52 cyclists and 25 teams in Powell River are participating in the event, with 10 first-time cyclists. As of Tuesday morning, they had cycled 504 kilometres and saved 117 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions.
Bike to Work’s mandate is to encourage and promote the use of the bicycle as transportation to work. A fatal accident involving a cyclist on the Lions Gate Bridge on the weekend highlights the need for safe infrastructure in all cities, including Powell River, as well as increased education on how to share cycle routes.
Cycling advocates hope the message that comes from the accident is that people need to be more cautious when on their bikes, not that they shouldn’t get on their bikes.
According to ICBC (Insurance Corporation of BC), an average of 150 cyclists are injured every month between May and October. Cycling advocates, in particular Powell River Cycling Association, have been calling for the City of Powell River to upgrade and expand its cycling infrastructure. To enable more people to ride their bikes on a regular basis, routes, paths and lanes where riders feel comfortable and safe need to be established. There are many studies that show improving cycling infrastructure improves people’s health and fitness and the local economy, while reducing personal and municipal transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
One of the parts of the city’s official community plan (OCP) is a draft cycling network plan. This proposal needs input from residents to ensure it is the best plan for our community. Cycling advocates are providing useful and informed feedback about the network and hopefully their suggestions and recommendations will be incorporated into the final OCP.
Meanwhile, all of us need to pay more attention to safety on our roads, starting with leaving plenty of room between cars and bikes. Drivers need to actively keep an eye out for cyclists and try to make eye contact. They should look before they open a driver’s side door, particularly on Marine Avenue, and check their blind spot, especially when turning right. Drivers should also learn what hand signals used by cyclists mean and should never drive, stop or park in a bike lane.
Cyclists need to stay visible and use reflective tape and lights at dusk or dark. They should stick to bike lanes or quiet streets and never ride on a sidewalk.
Paying attention to safety and improving our infrastructure will ensure tragic accidents like the one on the Lions Gate Bridge never happen in Powell River.
