Stay in Your Own Lane - Cyclists and Pedestrians Are Having Accidents

May 23, 2022, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Following a recent report of the collision between a pedestrian and a cyclist in London, this is a good time to review cycling and walking safety.

Separate traffic lanes exist to keep users safe. As cities invest in improving roads, sidewalks, and in building separated bike lanes it is important to remember to use the correct lane for your purpose.

By separating cyclists from pedestrians and cars we can keep everyone safer than if we all share the same lane. A man in London found this out the hard way when a group of pedestrians in the cycling lane didn’t yield to him and he fell ending up with a broken arm.

If you are in an area that has separate bike lanes and side walks please be sure to use the correct one for your mode of travel. If you are a cyclist or a pedestrian involved in an accident and are seriously injured you should contact one of our experienced personal injury lawyers at Deutschmann Personal Injury and Disability Law today.

Here is the report from London.

See that bike lane? Pedestrians, it's not for you

Robert Dore of London is in a cast after colliding with a pedestrian in a bike lane Rebecca Zandbergen · CBC News · Posted: May 21, 2022 5:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 21

A London cyclist who collided with a pedestrian is asking those on foot to stay out of dedicated bike lanes for their own safety — and the safety of those on bikes.

Robert Dore, 51, of London, was out on his bike for a 40 km ride when he collided with a pedestrian standing in a bike lane on Dundas St. The collision caused Dore to fall and break his wrist.

Dore, who has now been outfitted with a cast, is warning cyclists to be cautious — even in dedicated bike lanes — and reminding pedestrians to stay on the sidewalk.

"There were a fair amount of students just hanging out in the bike lane and most of them moved," said Dore.

Most of them, but not all.

"I was trying to get around one of them as I was going, and he looked me right in the eye and stood his ground and didn't move," he said. Dore ended up striking the pedestrian, going over his handlebars and breaking his wrist when he landed.

Dore is scheduled to get surgery for the broken bone. The pedestrian didn't appear to be injured, said Dore.

It's not the first time Dore has dodged pedestrians in bike lanes. "I would say anybody who cycles around the city has run into some issues, for sure," he said.

Pedestrians walk in Dundas bike lane

When CBC News visited the site of Dore's collision, numerous students were walking down a stretch of the bike lane, next to the sidewalk. Both Catholic Central High School and H.B. Beal Secondary School are right on Dundas, where the city has installed new separated bike lanes.

"I hate to say it, it seems typical London," said Dore, who thinks bylaw officers should encourage pedestrians to keep off the city's bike lanes.

"From an overall safety perspective, we are outside every day monitoring both the safety of students and the community members on both Dundas Street and King Street to ensure that there is respect for cyclists," said Beal principal, Todd Woollings. "Some of our students themselves use these bike lanes."

CCH sends multiple messages throughout the year to parents, makes regular announcements students, and encourages staff to try to scan the bike lanes when they are outside, a spokesperson for the Catholic school board said.

Bike lanes are designed to give cyclists a safe place to ride, away from traffic and pedestrians, said London's active transportation program manager Daniel Hall.

"This works as intended most of the time, but inevitably there are situations where people walking use the bike lane or people cycling are on the sidewalk," said Hall.

"In these situations we need to be aware of others, show compassion and yield to each other."

Hall urged pedestrians to stay on the sidewalks and asked cyclists to ring their bells or call out if someone is in their way in a bike lane.

"Much of the cycling infrastructure is new to Londoners and there will continue to be a learning curve for how we all navigate it safely and appropriately," said Hall.

Reed echoed that sentiment.

"Just be aware that you still have to be cautious," said Reed. "And I would say to pedestrians and others, a bike lane is for cyclists. Be respectful. There is plenty of sidewalk there."

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.