Cycling advocates call for road safety after rash of crashes

Four accidents involving cyclists on Windsor's streets Monday should send a clear message the city needs to get serious about improving infrastructure, say bike safety advocates.

• Three people with bikes involved in morning crashes

There are plenty of small improvements that can be made to roadways, including new signs that make clear the rules of the road, according to officials from Bike Windsor Essex.

The group's executive director, Lori Newton, worries that four accidents in one day could create a panic among cyclists who might want to stop riding their bikes. 

"It — to be really serious — brings to mind the lack of infrastructure and lack of connectivity between our neighbourhoods in Windsor," Newton told CBC Windsor Morning host Tony Doucette.

Clear markings for cyclists

Bike Windsor Essex recognizes that not all cyclists know the rules of the road, particularly when officials see so many people riding against traffic or on sidewalks. 

Newton would like the city to create markings on bike lanes, using arrows to indicate the direction for cyclists to be riding. 

"It is a lingering myth that you should ride facing traffic," she said. "It's a terrible thing to do and it's very, very unsafe."

She also suggests erecting signs that clearly indicate to drivers that a cyclist can take over an entire lane of traffic, if there is no space to ride. Using signs like these on Dougall Avenue, where bicycle lanes are narrow or don't exist, would be particularly helpful, said Newton. 

Bike Windsor Essex has also been asking for bicycle boxes painted at intersections. The boxes designate clearly where cyclists and motorists should be, while stopped. 

Making these types of small adjustments would improve safety and encourage cycling, explained Newton. She said the recent success of Open Streets indicates there is a huge demand for cycling. 

"Where do those bicycles go after Open Streets?" Newton said. "Clearly there is a latent demand for cycling. We have a large population of interested, but nervous cyclists who are afraid to ride on our roads."