Montréal, September 6, 2019 - As the new school year gets underway, Vélo Québec welcomes schoolchildren who are getting on their bikes to get to school, and urges all cyclists to be patient and courteous, to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
As we all know, back-to-school rhymes with congestion and friction on the road network, but also on the cycling network. With increasing numbers of cyclists using cycle paths that are struggling to keep up with demand, we're sometimes forced to ride a little more slowly than we'd like. «Be careful when overtaking or passing a young cyclist. New young cyclists are added to the cycling network every year, and it's up to seasoned cyclists to take care of them.»
So, this fall, on the trails and roads of our neighborhoods, let's remember :
- Let's be visible: let's equip our bikes with lights as soon as it gets dark.
- Let's be predictable: gesture code, bells, voice... any way we can to communicate our intentions!
- Let's look out for the safety of others by keeping our distance from the most vulnerable: pedestrians, people with reduced mobility, learner cyclists.
- Let's adapt our speed to the situation, and only overtake when time permits.
- Respect the instructions of crossing guards at intersections and stop near school buses whose intermittent lights are activated - it's mandatory!
At Vélo Québec, we're working hard to get the younger generation back in the saddle, notably with our elementary school education program. Cycliste averti. But we need everyone's help to ensure that our young apprentices enjoy riding in their neighbourhood!
