Today in Toronto another cyclist was killed by an automobile, something that is unfortunately not uncommon, as illustrated by this map of bicycle fatalities in the GTA (click on each mark for more info):

Each death further discourages people from riding in the city, as it creates the perception that it is not safe on Toronto's roads. I was an avid cyclist in this city for decades, and only stopped due to health reasons. I obtained my driver's license only three years ago, and since then have spent quite a bit of time thinking about how cars and bikes share the road.

When I was a cyclist I was aggressively anti-automobile. I generally regarded cars as mortal enemies who sought to snuff me out and splatter my brain on the road. Now that I'm a driver, I'm a little less anti-automobile, but not by much. I still regard bicycles as having more rights to the road than I do, and when driving I try to do my best to help out cyclists.

Unfortunately the majority of drivers don't entirely understand either what it's like to be a cyclist or why bicycles are really the only solution to city congestion and air pollution. Instead of seeing bikes as a nuisance or delay, drivers should see bikes as allies and counter measures to their own pollution. So it is with that in mind that I offer a few tips to drivers who recognize the responsibility to share the road with cyclists:

1. Create Space

Not all driver's are considerate, so help out cyclists by helping to create more space for them on the road. If it's rush hour and you're sharing the lane, move over as far to the left as possible, even pushing the traffic in the left lane further left, so as to give lots of room to cyclists. When stopping at a light, also move as far to the left as possible to give room for bikes to bunch up.

2. Communicate and Signal

Bicycle riders cannot read your mind, and yet at times they can and will move faster than you, potentially passing on either side. So if you're going to turn, change lanes, or stop to park, indicate your intention early, and watch to see that the cyclist sees you signal. Unlike a car, a bike can and will try to squeeze by, so let them know well ahead of time not to do that.

3. Watch Out

Treat cyclists like you would a massive truck, i.e. always keep them in mind, pay attention to where they are, and check your blind spots often, especially when turning or parking. If you are parked and want to enter or exit the vehicle, always check to see if a bicycle is coming, you can kill someone by opening your door without looking.

4. Help Don't Hate

Bicycles are powered by humans who would rather not stop unnecessarily, and given that they're risking their lives just being on the road, why should you care if they take it upon themselves to ignore traffic laws? If traffic is moving slowly you should expect and even welcome bicycles lane-splitting and running stop signs and red lights. As long as they are not interrupting the flow of traffic they should be exempt. So don't deliberately try to block or stop them. On the other hand if you see an accident or a cyclist get hurt, stop and help them out. Their life is on the line. They're doing a lot to help clean the air and save the planet, more than you are at that moment in your car, so be compassionate and get out and help!

Everyone thinks its all fun and games until someone gets hurt, and here in Toronto, people die, and that's no joke. Just about all of these deaths are not because the cyclist was being reckless, but a result of the driver being stupid or ignorant about how to share the road with bikes.

The driver of the SUV that killed the cyclist today will be charged with homicide. If anything this should warn you that killing someone on the road is easy, and thus it helps to be proactive and work with the bikes rather than against them. Otherwise you can and will go to jail.

There will come a time when the law and all of society more actively reflect the reality that bikes have more right to the road than cars do. Until that time people will continue to die, an unnecessary tragedy that we could all prevent by just giving bikes a bit more respect.