As warmer weather arrives, more children will be out riding their bikes, creating a need for both cyclists and motorists to stay alert and prioritize safety.
“Make sure that the kids are aware and ride on the shoulders of the road. If they’re actually riding on the road, they should be using hand signals to let other motorists know their intentions,” said Constable Craig Bird.
“For smaller kids, we recommend they ride on the sidewalk just because they’re not paying as much attention. Smaller kids on smaller bicycles or tricycles are obviously harder to see, so it’s safer for them to stay off the road.”
Bird reminded adults and older youth that they are required to ride on the road, staying toward the shoulder, and obeying traffic laws.
“That means stopping at red lights, stopping at stop signs. If you are riding on the road, you are required to do that, and you can also get a ticket for failing to do so.”
Children often remain in residential areas with their bikes, meaning motorists should take extra precautions while driving.
“You need to keep your speed down. If you have to stop suddenly—because kids, frankly, don’t pay as much attention to their surroundings as we would—you need to be prepared,” Bird said.
He added that kids may suddenly dart out from between parked cars or swerve around obstacles without checking for traffic, which can force drivers to react quickly.
“All those quick reaction things—drivers need to be extra cautious, need to be aware of the road conditions, and drive appropriately,” he said. “There’s no need to be going 50 km/h in a residential zone. Just because the speed limit says you can doesn’t mean it’s safe or appropriate.”
Bird also encouraged drivers to stay extra alert for motorcycles as the warmer weather brings more of them onto the road. He noted that motorcycles, like bicycles, are smaller and harder to see, especially in blind spots.
“Generally, when motorcycles get into accidents, it’s because other motorists aren’t aware of their location and end up running into them,” he said. “So it’s important for everyone on the road to pay attention and drive with caution.”