Editor: I am an avid daily cyclist. Every day I ride I am thankful to the towns of Canmore and Banff for the excellent network of trails in and between our towns. They are absolutely superb.
A cyclist can manage to get around the valley without riding on the road – most of the time – where we are the smallest, least protected vehicle imaginable. Sadly there are times when one needs to navigate the downtown core.
On Saturday June 13th, I got one block from my home and was struck by a car door on Seventh Avenue. I received a concussion, a fractured pelvis, compressed disk in my spine and a broken distal radius. I am unable to work for the next four weeks. I asked the driver of the vehicle if she had checked her side and/or rear view mirrors. She had not. She was also a visitor from Edmonton, driving a rental vehicle.
Since the accident I have put some thought into how to alleviate a situation that will continue to happen, but which we can raise an awareness of in both drivers and cyclists and have the following flags to raise:
1. Bike riders should wear a helmet.
2. Drivers should check side and rear view mirrors before getting out of the vehicle.
3. The Town should be on top of the new growth in spring, which obscures signage. We have a lot of visitors looking for these signs. We also seem to have a lot of rage and impatience on the road. Maybe more people should get out of their cars (after checking their mirrors, of course).
4. Many roads in the downtown core have no lines. I know the lines are repainted once a year, but the paint does not last nearly that long.
5. A dedicated lane for bikes and signage that Canmore is a bike friendly town.
With these reminders and suggestions, I hope to save a broken bone or two, and have more people slowing down to smell some roses in their day. Best wishes for a safe summer.
Anne Noel-Martin,
Canmore
