Winnipeg cyclists are calling for improvements to bike lanes after one of their own was killed Sunday night after colliding with a city bus.
Robert MacKenzie rides his bike to keep fit but prefers to walk during the lunch rush. He said he feels unsafe riding on the street during busy times.
“One move we’re basically dead,” he said. “Everyone else, they have someone protecting them.”
Driver awareness is vital for cyclist safety, according to Bike Winnipeg.
“It’s about sharing the roads,” said Bike Winnipeg spokesperson, Mark Cohoe. “We want to make sure people know what to expect from cyclists, where to position themselves.”
A new section on passing cyclists will be printed in the next edition of Manitoba Public Insurance’s driver’s handbook, a result of lobbying this past spring.
Quebec law states that drivers must leave a metre between their car and cyclists.
“Sometimes if they can’t leave a metre, what they need to do is also change lanes,” said MPI representative Maria Minenna.
Bike Winnipeg said cycling infrastructure is important too. They want more dedicated bike lanes that are safely connected and for every household to be within 400 metres of a bikeway.
“We’re a long way behind many other cities,” said Cohoe.
