Winnipeg cyclists have a lot to learn when it comes to riding safely and avoiding collisions.
Can Bike instructor Dave Elmore says, as parents, we let the seat go when we are teaching our children how to ride a bike and expect they learn how to cycle properly and know the rules of the road for the rest of their life.
Elmore said cyclists need to increase their visibility. That means wearing bright colours, having lights and reflectors on the bike. It also means knowing which lanes cyclists are supposed to ride.
Thursday afternoon, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), in conjunction with Winnipeg police and the City of Winnipeg, demonstrated how cyclists can ride in traffic and navigate the blind spots of drivers.
According to MPI, three Manitobans are killed and 250 others are injured each year in bicycle collisions. It said the data show an average of 269 bicycle-motor vehicle collisions from 2007 to 2011, with the majority (98.4 per cent) occurring in urban centres.
