Cayman’s cyclists have welcomed a pledge by the National Road Safety Committee to improve safety following a recent spate of collisions between cyclists and motorists.
While cyclists have long advocated for better driving conditions on Cayman’s roads, the death of Per Undheim, a keen triathlete who was knocked off his bike and killed on an early morning ride on Easter Monday, focused the spotlight on the need for road users to share the road safely.
In the five weeks since Undheim was killed there have been several serious accidents when cyclists have been struck by vehicles, including one which has left a cyclist in critical condition in hospital.
Pledge to improve road safety
Following a meeting earlier this month between the National Road Safety Committee and Cayman Cycling, the NRSC last week said it was committed to improving road conditions for all users and would be implementing many of organisation’s suggestions.
This includes adding cyclist-detection signs on roads warning drivers to look out for cyclists in the area, updating the Road Code with an emphasis on shared road usage, and launching a regular ‘family micro-mobility day’ where sections of roads would be closed to traffic for use by cyclists and pedestrians.
The Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure promised to lead the drafting of updates to the Road Code as well as working with Cayman Cycling on educational campaigns in schools and public spaces. The ministry will also be drafting a report comparing sentencing for road deaths in the Cayman Islands with other nations, and support police traffic enforcement including public-safety campaigns.
Shared responsibility for road users
“We are not simply reacting to the tragedy that brought this issue to light,” said Eric Bush, ministry chief officer. “We are committing to building a safer, more inclusive transportation culture, one where cyclists are respected as equal users of our roads. These measures are just the beginning. Every road user, regardless of their mode of travel, has a right to safety and consideration. We all share the road, and with that comes shared responsibility.”
Marion Pandohie, transportation planner at the NRA, told the Compass that in addition to the initiatives listed by the road safety committee, there were plans for the roads to be swept more frequently to clear dangerous debris, and that more cycle lanes were planned for West Bay Road. But, she pointed out, “just because there isn’t a cycle lane on the road itself doesn’t mean that cyclists are not allowed to use that road at all. Cycle lanes are there to help the cyclists, but all road users are allowed to use all roads at any time.”
She added that, like motorists, cyclists had to obey the laws of the road and could be penalised in the same way as drivers for breaking those rules.
Wake-up call
Daniel Cummings, president of Cayman Cycling, told Compass TV that it was great to work with the National Road Safety Committee to bring greater awareness of cycle safety.
“A lot of this has come off the back of the tragic death of Per,” he said, “but … it’s really sparked this conversation and brought people into action … so it’s really been a wake-up call that these things happen on a daily basis but can sometimes get overlooked. It’s been great to bring this into the spotlight and drive initiatives which are going to keep everyone on the road safe.”
Cummings especially welcomed the creation of a dedicated email for police to receive footage of dangerous driving as well as regularly closing a road so that people can cycle safely in a traffic-free environment.
In spite of the challenges on Cayman’s roads, Cummings said he was optimistic about the future of cycling on island. “We’ve been growing steadily so there’s a lot of positive buzz around not just cycling safety but cycling in general,” he said.
Wayne Kirkconnell, vice president of Cayman Cycling, said that the spotlight was currently on cycling due the recent tragedy, but cyclists faced dangerous driving from motorists on a daily basis. Just last week, he said, a motorist overtook a cyclist in West Bay while driving at 70 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone.
“The bad part about this,” said Kirkconnell, “is that the public perceives this as a cyclist not being far enough off the road, instead of looking at the driver and saying why are they doing almost three times the speed limit?”
“We do have to share the road with motorists – we are motorists ourselves, we all have cars, we all have insurance – but we do choose to ride now and then, and we would like to get home alive.”
KiwaniBike ride ahead
Cayman’s next big cycling event is the annual KiwaniBike ride on 8 June. Now in its 43rd year, the 22 kilometre bike ride from the Blow Holes in East End to Spotts Dock, Savannah, is expected to attract more than 100 riders of all abilities. Organiser Paul Persaud said that the event usually raises several thousand dollars which go towards youth projects supported by the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman.
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I have to wonder if the people who killed or seriously injured cyclists are genuinely remorseful for what they did to a fellow human being? Someone with families and friends who cared about them.
Or are they instead blaming the cyclists for being on the roads in the first place? If so, shame on them.
I hate to add to the burden of the cyclists as they are the the ones being subjected to the erratic and poor auto drivers. Pease consider the following as a way to ward off those drivers – require all bikes electric and non-electric, electric scooters and the like to have forever on lights on the front as well as flashing white lights on the rear. maybe these irresponsible drivers will notice those lights and shy away as it may be a larger vehicle… just a thought to help protect the cyclists.