How to Share the Road with Cyclists

Summer is the best time of year for many Albertans who enjoy being in the outdoors. This is especially the case for cyclists who reclaim their cycling ways after a long, cool winter. This is the best time of year to freshen up on your bike safety driving skills. You may have already noticed a lot more cyclists on the road, making your early morning commute that much more interesting. It is important to always be mindful of cyclists as you have a metal cage to protect you, and they only have the helmet on their heads. Here is a list of road safety tips that could help you avoid any mishaps this summer.

Road Safety Tips:

Lookout for cyclists: Always look for cyclists on your right side. Yield to cyclists in order to let them out of your way, especially if you are pulling away from a curb into a right turn.

Signal: Remember to signal your turns a head of time to give cyclists ample notice to adjust accordingly.

Passing: Never pass a cyclist unless it is completely safe to do so. According to the Highway Traffic Act, all vehicles must give a cyclist at least one meter of space when passing.

Blind spot: Many cyclists are not aware of a vehicle's blind spot, if you suspect a cyclist may be near your vehicle, assume they are in your blind spot, especially when making a right turn.

Stoplight: Never pass a cyclist at a stoplight especially when making a right turn.

Bike lane: Never drive in, or infringe upon a bike lane.

Space: Do not follow a cyclist too closely.

Watch: Cyclists can be unpredictable; always be aware of where they are and provide cyclists with lots of space to maneuver. 

Following these safety tips is good practice and may help to prevent future accidents. All tips were provided by www.staysafestayback.ca