In BC Supreme Court case Dobre v. Langley, a cyclist
is awarded over $100,000 for a broken thumb suffered when he was hit from the rear by a driver who was not paying attention.
With more and more bikes on the streets, cyclist awareness is more important than ever – something particularly true in Vancouver’s downtown core.
The 2006 census reported that 4% of commuters cycle to work , the highest percentage in major Canadian cities. By focusing on safety, Vancouver hopes to increase the number of cyclists commuting to work.
The separated bike lanes in Vancouver’s downtown core have improved conditions for cyclists. The new Hornby bike lane had over 50,000 trips in August 2011. The Dunsmuir bike lane saw cyclist traffic increase by 20,000 trips since last year.
The bike lanes are physically separated from car lanes by planters, parking spots, and medians to help reduce car accidents involving cyclists. But they are just one way to help keep cyclists safe. Driver awareness and commitment to sharing the roads responsibly will help to prevent accidents like Mr. Dobre’s.
To learn more about how Vancouver’s separated bike lanes affect different road users, visit www.vancouver.ca/engsvcs/transport/cycling/separated/effect.htm.
More to come on cyclist awareness next post…
