Redcliff RCMP urge better bicycle safety after second fatality
In the aftermath of a second local cyclist fatality in less than three months, the Redcliff RCMP is reminding cyclists to take every safety precaution when travelling on any road.
A 56-year-old female cyclist died on Township Road 120 after being hit by an SUV Wednesday afternoon.
On Jan. 20, a male cyclist was killed after being struck by a vehicle on South Boundary Road.
Redcliff RCMP corporal Shane Ryan says wearing a helmet should be everyone’s first step before getting onto a bike.
“Whether you’re on roller blades, a skateboard or a bike — you should always be completely aware of what is around you,” he said. “Just like drivers do shoulder checks and mirror checks, cyclists need to be constantly checking with their surroundings.”
“With Wednesday’s accident we now know that the victim was not wearing a helmet, and I just really want to stress how important wearing one is,” he said. “I’ve seen cases of people simply tipping off of their bikes, falling and hitting their head and dying, so putting a helmet on really is that important.”
In Alberta’s Vehicle Equipment Regulation section under the Traffic Safety Act, in section 111, sub-section 1, no person under the age of 18 is allowed to cycle without a helmet. Ryan says no matter how busy the road, cyclists should always be as safe as possible.
“I think hand signals are often forgotten but they are very important, just like a car’s turn signal,” he said. “Any bike on the road has all of the same responsibilities as someone driving a car. There are no special privileges for being a cyclist.”
Ryan says a cyclist becomes a pedestrian the moment they are off their bike and pushing it.
After the RCMP’s preliminary report on Wednesday’s accident, no charges have been laid, says Ryan. The RCMP is waiting on a report from a collision analyst before releasing any more details on the incident.