By Curtis Galbraith

Grande Prairie Enforcement Services is watching for safe motorcycle and bicycle travel

May 16, 2018 | 5:30 AM

Those who drive four-wheeled vehicles are being reminded to watch for those who ride two-wheeled ones.

Grande Prairie Enforcement Services Sargent Kelly Kokesch says they are keeping an extra eye on motorcycle and bicycle safety.

“The most common error that drivers make in casualty collisions with motorcycles is turning left across the path of the motorcycle, just because they’re smaller and they move fast. We’re just asking everybody to look out for them a bit more. We’re also asking our new motorcycle owners and drivers to ensure they have the proper class of license and follow the right rules of the road.”

He says turning left in front of a motorbike is not the only mistake drivers can make.

“(Drivers should) look twice at intersections or when changing lanes, you can miss them, and they can hide in your blind spot. Make sure there’s extra space between the vehicle and the motorcycles. Sometimes, a lot of motorcycles are new drivers, so just given them a bit of extra room to maneuver.”

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Kokesch says people on bicycles should ride on the right side and follow the rules of the road.

“You’ve got to stop at stop signs, red lights, and such. You can’t just zip over to the crosswalk and pretend to be a pedestrian. We also don’t mind you driving bicycles on the sidewalks, as long as it doesn’t interfere with pedestrian traffic, that’s no problem at all.

In order not to confuse drivers, Enforcement Services asks those that are on bikes to get off their bicycle when crossing a crosswalk, so it’s clear they are a pedestrian.

Sgt. Kokesch also reminds parents that it is mandatory for anyone under 18 to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.