More education needed as tensions between road users rise

CTV Vancouver: Tension between cyclist and driver ICBC says nearly 80 per cent of car crashes involving cyclists happens at intersections.

A proposal to require cyclists to be licensed failed at Vancouver’s City Council meeting this week, but councillors agreed to have city staff look into “best practices” for educating cyclists and drivers about staying safe on the roads.

When CTV News set up cameras at intersections around this city this week, it quickly became clear that such education is needed.

Cameras caught drivers and cyclists alike failing to come to a complete stop at stop signs, and cyclists riding without helmets and -- in some cases -- with no hands.

Nearly four-in-five crashes involving cyclists in British Columbia occur at intersections, according to ICBC.

Vancouver Police Sgt. Randy Fincham told CTV News that the vast majority of collisions -- of all types -- are avoidable, and the best way to avoid them is to drive, walk, or bike responsibly.

"Cyclists here ride throughout the year,” he said. “It's a matter of educating the public and having them know what the rules of the road are."

Cycling advocates say enforcement of existing laws -- rather than a new licensing system for cyclists -- is also key to improving safety.

"I think it's important to have enforcement of dangerous road behaviours,” said Erin O’Melinn, executive director of the cycling advocacy group HUB. “People who are biking are already under the jurisdiction of the Motor Vehicle Act, and that is enforced by police departments, and that should continue and should be focused on those dangerous behaviours.”

For all the problems CTV News cameras caught this week, O’Melinn said Vancouver roads have actually been getting safer because of existing education efforts and increasing numbers of bikes on the roads.

“The City of Vancouver did a cycling safety study, which shows that cycling collisions are decreasing per capita,” O’Melinn said. “So as cycling grows, overall we’re getting safer.”

Additional education can only help with that process, she said.

“HUB cycling is ready at any point to talk about how to implement more cycling education,” she said. “The city is already supporting eight elementary schools to receive cycling education. That’s a good start, and we can do much better.”

With files from CTV Vancouver’s Julie Nolin