May 10/11 10:24 am - CAA Manitoba Launches Road Side Assistance & Awareness
Programs
Posted by *Editoress* on *05/10/11*
CAA Manitoba is being proactive with bicycles; launching two new programs:
*Bike Assist*
CAA Manitoba members can now call for road side assistance 24 hours a day,
seven days a week when their bike chain breaks or a tire tube pops.
Available beginning today, Bike Assist is an innovative new benefit that
allows CAA members to use any of their four annually allotted service calls
to receive road side assistance if their bike breaks down. Members can use
the service to be transported home or to the bike repair shop of their
choice.
Mike Mager, President and CEO of CAA Manitoba, says with more than 198,000
members, it is important to recognize the changing transportation needs of
all members - no matter how they chose to go.
"For the first time in Manitoba, our always reliable roadside assistance is
now available for bikes, too," Mager said. "Whether you're an avid cyclist
who commutes to work to save money on gas, or a casual biker that runs into
trouble on the trail, CAA now has all of your wheels covered."
Jean-Francios Ravenelle, Owner and operator of Gord's Ski and Bike, says his
customers are excited about the Bike Assist service.
"It's a fact. Commuters are increasingly looking at alternative options for
getting to work," said Ravenelle. "Our Donald location is especially busy
most mornings in the summer when bikers and cyclists pop in for a quick tune
up on their way into Downtown."
A Fact Sheet on Bike Assist can be read
Here<http://www.canadiancyclist.com/races11/Bike_Assist_CAA_Manitoba.pdf>
.
*Watch for Bikes*
In an effort to increase awareness about how easy it is for cyclists and
motorists to have accidents, CAA Manitoba is launching an awareness campaign
that provides motorists with small plastic decals that say "Watch for Bikes"
- specifically designed to be placed on their driver's side rear-view
mirror.
According to police-reported data, in 2009 there were 239 bicyclists
involved in collisions with a motor vehicle in Manitoba. (Source: 2009
Traffic Collisions Statistics, published by MPI, Table 7-3, page 124). It's
a statistic President and CEO of CAA Manitoba Mike Mager says could be lower
if cyclists and motorists knew how to safely share the road.
"A cyclist can be virtually invisible from inside a car," said Mager. "When
motorists place this sticker on their mirror, it provides a constant
reminder to check for cyclists and other traffic."
Cam Lundgren, an avid cyclist who enjoys commuting to work, has had several
close calls with cars.
"When a driver opens their door without checking, it's what cyclists call
the 'door prize'," said Lundgren. "Last summer I came within inches of
getting this 'gift'. I'm an experienced cyclist - so I know it can happen to
anyone!"
Dan Vandal, City Councilor responsible for Infrastructure Renewal and Public
Works, says the city is working hard to continually develop and improve the
alternative infrastructure networks. He says education about how to safely
share the road will always be important.
"No matter how many kilometres of bike lanes and trails are built in
Winnipeg, cars and bikes still need to respect each other and safely share
the road," Vandal said. "With more bikes on the road during the summer - and
even more on the road once school is out at the end of June, Watch for Bikes
is a simple way to remind motorists to look twice before they change lanes
or open their car door."
--
*Shoni Litinsky* | Active and Safe Routes to School
Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>
3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773
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[image: Old Ladies]
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