Don’t Get a Bruisin’ While You’re Cruisin’ ~ Wear a Helmet!

As the weather gets warmer more bicycles are on the road. It is an excellent form of transportation, exercise and a great way to spend time with family and friends. Keeping safe while you are out riding is very important, broken bones and concussion are not fun. One of the best ways to prevent injury is to wear a helmet and learn bike safety.

Did you know that the skull can be cracked going at speeds of 7-10km/hr? This is the speed at which most children go on wheels. Six of the seven provinces and territories have created Bike Helmet Legislation to protect their residents. Depending on where you live you could be fined from up to $128.75. Although cycling injuries have been declining over the years Transportation Canada statistics estimate that there are approximately 7,500 each year.

There are many helmet choices out there. It is important to get the right fit. An excellent resource to help select how to fit a helmet and what type helmet should be used for activities is A Parent’s Guide to Helmet and Recreational Safety. Things to look for are position, pad placement, straps and overall tightness. Also, the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute posted a summary of the 2009 Consumer Reports’ review article of kids bicycle helmets.

Wearing a helmet is an easy way to stay safe while having fun. There are many community organizations available to teach bike safety. For more information check out the Canadian Cycling Association’s CAN-BIKE program which offers classes for kids and adults at all skill levels.

Safe Road Cycling

Cyclists and cars are often competing to use the same road space. Though many cities have started to build in safety features for cyclists including bicycle paths, bicycle lanes and signage, there are many things a cyclist must do to remain safe on the roadways. While it is recognized that the vehicle drivers also need to take responsibility for their behavior on the road in regards to bicyclists, a recent article from the SIRC Collection suggests the following 15 tips through which cyclists can ease the bike-car struggle.

1. Choose appropriate routes for the time of day
2. Take the space you are allowed
3. Have the right skills for the situation
4. Be very visible
5. Report serious incidents to the police even when there is an accident
6. Acknowledge when a driver does the right behavior
7. Change were you are riding if you are having habitual accidents
8. Take a cycling course if you are not an experienced commuter
9. Seek a bike buddy or start a bike bus
10. Bunches shouldn’t exceed 20 riders
11. Know and obey the road rules
12. Don’t push the rules in some situations
13. Treat everyone as if they are about to do something stupid
14. Defend bike riders sensibly
15. Join a local cycling group that works with local government to improve cycling conditions

For more details, order the full article from SIRC: Bosch, Tanya (2010). Sharing the Road. Australian Cyclist, 35 (2), p.26-28.

For cycling information in Canada check in to the resources at the Canadian Cycling Association/Association cyclist canadienne

Cycle Safe!

Amongst the many things that spring brings in Canada, cycling on the roads is one of the most popular. And with the outrageous prices of gasoline, more and more people are taking to two wheels to go to the store, to work, to their friends, and to the park. However, it’s no secret that there is significant risk to a cyclist on the roads today. No one is paying attention the way they used to and that includes both drivers and cyclists. Drivers are distracted like never before, and cyclists will always take the brunt of that collision. In the same vein, drivers aren’t mind readers, and long gone are the days when the cyclist actually uses those arm signals, once even taught in school, to advise nearby cars of their intent to turn.

A lot of cities in Canada are set up with dedicated bike lanes right in the downtown cores, as well as for commuters. Cities like Victoria, British Columbia have the dedicated and scenic “Galloping Goose Trail” that many a cycling commuter can use year round to get downtown. In Toronto, a city filled with people, cars, bikes, and pedestrians, the bikes lanes currently in place seem to be merely a suggestion.

Education, respect and cooperation are going to go along way with those who need to share the road. Groups trying to get the reminder messages out include the Ottawa-based Citizens for Safe Cycling (CfSC) group which promotes safe and efficient cycling in Ottawa by advocating:

• Acceptance of the responsible cyclist as a legitimate road-user
• Education of all cyclists to improve their riding and traffic skills and also of other road-users to help them accommodate cyclist traffic as part of their normal driving skills
• Improved engineering to facilitate cyclist traffic such as proper traffic control systems, adequate lane widths and sufficient, secure parking
• Legislation that is effective and properly enforced
• Representation of cycling issues to all levels of government

The Canadian Cycling Association, the national governing body for competitive cycling in Canada, even has a voice when it comes to the education of recreational cycling and they have developed the CAN-BIKE cycling safety program which provides a nationally standardized set of courses that can be taught through a variety of organizations who are interested in education, safety and health, for the 14 million cyclists in the country.

For more information on cycling safety tips, please contact SIRC!

Put the Pedal to the Metal!

by Emily Syer
Algonquin College Library Technician Program
SIRC Intern

The car is at the shop, the buses are on strike and you’re late for work! The solution? Cycling! Whether you cycle regularly or want to start, below are some great tips for cycling to work, road safety, and links to bike trails across Canada. Put the pedal to metal to become more environmentally friendly and fit!

There are many benefits of cycling; increases physical fitness, improves cardiovascular health, boosts your energy and saves gas money. It can also be used for spending quality time with family and friends, helps you sleep better, and increases your brain power.

Tips for biking to work:

• To prevent sweat from a backpack, use a pannier/saddle bag - they easily attach to your bike.
• Buy an extra lock for the back wheel and secure it to the frame, then lock the frame of your bike to the bike rack. 
• Bring a change of clothes or keep a week's set of clothes at work. 
• Perform a warm up and stretches before you begin cycling to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). 

Safety: 

1. Learn proper hand signals 
2. Make sure you have enough time when switching lanes. 
3. Wear a helmet, especially if you are among traffic. 
4. Be sure to have the proper reflection/light devices if you are biking at night. Use bike lanes and keep off of the sidewalk
5. Attach a bell/horn to your bike to warn other cyclists/pedestrians of your approach.

Best of lists: 

• Best places in Canada to bike 
• Bike trails in Canada, searchable by province 

Bicycling can be a nice alternative to driving, good for the environment and great for your health. So bring out the bike and take a roll with exercise.

References from the SIRC Collection: 

1. Asplund C, Ross M. Core Stability and Bicycling. Current Sports Medicine Reports (American College Of Sports Medicine). May 2010;9(3):155-160. 
2. Clarke, A. Smart Cycling. Champaign, Il: Human Kinetics; 2011. 
3. Reid-St. John S. the right fit: helmet shopping 101. Health (Time Inc. Health) May 2004;18(4):94. 
4. RIDE TO WORK, LIVE LONGER. Bicycling. October 2007;48(9):103. 
5. Safe Routes to School & Work. American Bicyclist. January 2011;:32-33.