That's the message from Peel Regional Police after two cyclists have been killed in Mississauga in the past four weeks.
Still, cyclists and pedestrians also must take steps to ensure their own safety.
That's part of the message from George Smith, manager of traffic safety and training for the Canada Safety Council, who says both cyclists and motorists need to do a better job of sharing the road.
"Sometimes it's the fault of the driver and sometimes it's the fault of the cyclist or pedestrian," he said. "The onus is always on the motorist to try to avoid a collision...at all costs."
Peel Cst. Wayne Patterson said while police haven't seen a spike this year in serious collisions involving cyclists, there are more riders out with the warmer weather and "unfortunate" collisions are occurring.
"You have to be more cognizant of cyclists. They're smaller in structure and most of the time, they are less visible," Patterson said. "They're mixing in among traffic and sometimes you don't see them until the last second."
Wednesday evening's fatality, which claimed the life of Yuet Lan, 51, of Mississauga, and a July 7 crash that killed Streetsville resident Tony Mota, 77, are the only two cyclist fatalities this year in Peel. Two cyclists were killed last year in Peel.
Police have yet to decide whether they'll charge the driver of the tractor trailer that struck Lan while she was with her bicycle at the corner of Hurontario St. and Matheson Blvd.
The driver of the disposal truck that hit Mota has been charged.
lrosella@mississauga.net
