Steinbach RCMP teamed up with the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce and the Steinbach Canadian Tire to help educate and promote bicycle safety.

RCMP have been out patrolling for children wearing helmets, riding safe and using the proper hand signals. Canadian Tire jumped on board the initiative and provided gift certificates that were handed out to the children, rewarding them for safe bicycling practices.

Police say that tor the most part, most kids were wearing helmets, watching for vehicles and dismounting their bicycles at intersections, though there are still children and adults riding without helmets. Members also witnessed kids riding bikes while on their cell phones or with their ear-buds in their ears listening to music. These are not safe practices as they are not aware of their surroundings or able to hear vehicles.

Steinbach RCMP are reminding cyclists that wearing a helmet can save lives by protecting the brain. Bicycle injuries can range from minor bike crashes with scrapes and bruises to more serious injuries involving broken bones and head injuries. Every year in Manitoba approximately 158 cyclists are hospitalized for cycling related injuries, with several resulting in serious injury or death. Approximately 1/3 of these injuries occur to cyclists under the age of 18. Head injuries are the most common cause of bicycle related deaths. Wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle has proven to reduce the risk of serious head and brain injury.

Police are encouraging cyclists to stay safe and remember to:

  • Adjust your bicycle to fit
  • Check your equipment
  • See and be seen
  • Control your bicycle
  • Watch for and avoid road hazards

Cyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists. When riding, always:

  • Go with the flow of traffic
  • Obey all traffic laws
  • Yield to traffic when appropriate
  • Be predictable
  • Stay alert at all times
  • Look before turning. When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left or right turning traffic.
  • Watch for parked cars

Many bicycle-related crashes resulting in injury or death are associated with the bicyclist’s behaviour, including such things as not wearing a bicycle helmet, riding into a street without stopping, turning left or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind, running a stop sign and riding the wrong way in traffic. To maximize your safety, always wear a helmet and follow the rules of the road.