Education and speed the key to keeping cyclists safe according to advocacy group

As Saskatoon’s bicycle bylaw got its endorsement Monday at Saskatoon City Council, one cycling advocacy group thinks it’s going to come down to education and speed.

The Saskatoon Cycling Club offers recreational, educational and fitness rides around the city and is the city’s longest running club, established in 1971.

Vice-President of the club, Don Cook, said the bylaws are essential when it comes to bicycle transportation because the Highway Traffic Act doesn’t cover everything happening on the roads and trails.

One of the bylaws that was endorsed by Council was giving cyclists a metre of space when passing. Cook said he agrees, but it all depends on the speed you’re travelling.

“Obviously, in highway situations, passing a bicycle with a metre to spare at 110 km/h is not enough. We hope that people change lanes to do that if they can, or slow down,” he said.

“In the city, if it’s slow travelling … a metre is probably enough. I think really, it depends on the speed you’re travelling and how much space (you have), the more, the better really.”

A Monday provision to the bicycle bylaw gives pedestrians a metre of space when they’re near cyclists.
Cook said that comes down to speed as well, but they also need to take a look at how they can educate both riders and pedestrians.

“We advise our members when they’re on a multi-use trail, pedestrians always have the right of way and you give them as much space as you can,” he said.

“What we tell them is, when you’re approaching a pedestrian, ring your bell to notify that you’re there. Wait to see how they react to that, then pass usually on the left if you can.”

Cook said there are places in the city where the pathways aren’t wide enough, making the metre of space not really “practical.”

Cook said they are supportive of the bylaws, but admits that it’s “fairly challenging” to appease everyone’s interests. Policing the new bylaws, Cook said, could also be another challenge.

“If the provisions you’re putting in that bylaw aren’t practical, or things you can actually issue tickets for, they’re sort of pointless,” he said.

“Bylaw’s probably shouldn’t be ‘how-to manuals,’ they probably should be the strict rules of how to behave.”

Saskatoon City Council will hear the bicycle bylaws once more in the new year, which will include studies by administration that are ongoing following the Monday council meeting.