Redcliff RCMP reminding people of safety on the road, being aware of surroundings

By Mo Cranker on April 6, 2017.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker

Redcliff RCMP is reminding cyclists to take every safety precaution when traveling on any road of any kind on a bicycle.

Redcliff RCMP Cpl.  Shane Ryan says staying safe while on the roads is imperative for any driver of any kind.

“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 news Wednesday evening that a 56-year-old cyclist was hit by an SUV on a rural road and later died, Ryan says wearing a helmet should be everyone’s first step before getting onto a bike.

“With Wednesday’s incident 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 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 of their bike and pushing it.

After the RCMP’s preliminary report, no charges have been laid says Ryan, and the RCMP is now waiting on a report from a collision analyst before releasing any more details on the incident.

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