With the days getting shorter, B!KE: the Peterborough Community Bike Shop wants to help keep cyclists safe with two “B!KE Bright” outreach events in October.
Staff and volunteers of the local biking organization will by offering free bicycle lights and tips about how to be more visible on the road while riding at the two events, which take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18th at the Peterborough Public Library and on Tuesday, October 25th on the Rotary Trail near the London Street foot bridge.
“Cycling commuters and recreational bike riders can face additional hazards in the fall as daylight hours get shorter,” says Tahirih Rowshan-Lips, B!KE’s community education coordinator, in a media release. “One of the most important ways to stay safe is to make sure you can be seen by drivers.”
Cyclists in Ontario are legally required to have front and rear lights on from a half hour before sunset to a half hour after sunrise. Rowshan-Lips recommends cyclists have a working set of lights at all times.
“It’s easy to get caught out on your bike past dark, especially in the fall and winter,” she said. “It’s in every rider’s best interest to have the equipment on hand to stay safe.”
In addition to giving away lights and offering other ideas for staying visible, the “B!KE Bright” events will include basic bike maintenance checks, help with route planning, and information about cycling programs and resources in the city.
The bike light giveaways are sponsored by the Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee as part of the volunteer committee’s education efforts around safe cycling in the city.
