(Photo credit: Simon Law/Creative Commons)
As the weather gets nicer outside, more and more people may consider biking as a way to get to and fro. More Canadians have adopted cycling as a mode of transportation, but is it safe enough to be riding near highways is a question cyclists ask themselves.
Last spring, the province announced $25 million in funding over three years which will go towards developing Ontario’s cycling infrastructure. Ten million dollars will go to municipalities to help them improve their bicycle infrastructure, while the leftover $15 million will go towards building bike areas, such as paved road shoulders, on provincial highways and bridges.
This funding also means that anytime there are changes to provincial roads or bridges, the possibility of cycling infrastructure will be considered, bike advocates told the Toronto Star. Since 2010, the province has added 112 kilometres of paved shoulders along provincial highways. This money is a part of the province’s 20-year #CycleON plan that aims to promote more sustainable transportation methods, along with healthier and more active living.
Ontario cyclists have the second lowest injury rate across Canada, but there’s still work to be done to ensure safe road sharing.
The Ontario government revived a bill which, if passed, would require drivers to maintain a one metre distance from passing cyclists, along with other cycle safety infrastructure changes.
But one group of cyclists is looking to take the province’s move a step further. The Vaughan Bicycle User Group proposed cyclist- and pedestrian-friendly options for the proposed 400-series highway that’s expected to connect Vaughan to the northern Halton Region, according to the Star.
One of their suggestions is to build a cycling lane that runs parallel to the highway, which should be at least three metres wide. The province told the Star they have no plan of implementing this suggestion on the proposed highway and any other 400-series highways since there are safety concerns.
As many cyclists will tell you, they’ve likely run into one or two dangerous situations, whether it’s a dooring incident or someone not checking their blind spot before switching lanes. It’s important to know what to do if you’re involved in a bicycle accident.
Toronto’s newly hired Manager of Cycling Infrastructure and Programs hopes to improve cycling safety in the city and she plans to measure the office’s success with the number of female cyclists out on the roads, she told Metro News Toronto. She’s basing her measurement of success on a recent study by Ohio University which found that women are “more sensitive to being close to bicycle trails and paths.”
A 2009 Toronto Cycling Survey found that 43 per cent of female cyclists rode their bikes as a mode of transportation, while 57 per cent of male cyclists rode their bikes for this purpose. This is an improvement from 2006, which saw a 35 per cent and 65 per cent split for females and males, respectively.
The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been handling personal injury claims including bicycle accidents for clients throughout Ontario for more than 45 years, including bicycle accidents. We know how to get you the compensation you need. Call us at 416-920-4242 to set up a free consultation. Come chat with us!
Greg Neinstein
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