It's the theme of our street-sharing campaign, which we're running in a number of Quebec elementary school, but it's above all a maxim that reflects the importance of cycling.
When we ask people why they don't cycle, the safety issue comes up 9 times out of 10. What's the situation? Despite the increase in cycling over the past 25 years, the number of accidents has been falling steadily in absolute terms. Among other things, accidents (fatalities and serious injuries) have fallen by 22 % over the last 5 years.
The theme of safety is a recurring and highly emotive one. The over-mediatization of cycling accidents leads us to believe that it is more dangerous to ride a bike than to drive a car. 27 times more people die in cars than on bicycles, yet we rarely question the use of our cars.
So which factors contribute most to cyclist safety? Factor no. 1, the creation of cycling-friendly environments: bike paths and lanes, and reduced vehicle speeds. Factor no. 2, the behavior of cyclists and motorists, including compliance with the Highway Safety Code. For example, did you know that although lighting is mandatory on bicycles on the road at night, only 25 % are equipped with it? When you consider that accidents at night are over-represented, it's a good idea to get those little life-saving lights now.
Sharing the road is everyone's business, all year round. To refresh your knowledge at the start of the season, we suggest you view the capsules we've created on the partagelaroute.com website.
Sharing the road is an everyday concern.