Can't we do it together? How Minsk residents follow the rules of riding bicycles and scooters

Several high-profile accidents involving cyclists have occurred recently in the capital. Together with inspectors of the road patrol service, we went to the streets of Minsk and saw how pedestrians comply with the rules for using personal mobility devices and bicycles, and how car drivers give way to cyclists.

We are going on a raid with a crew consisting of senior inspector of the road patrol service of the special unit for ensuring road safety of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Central Internal Affairs Directorate of the Minsk City Executive Committee, Evgeniy Sergienya, and inspector Anton Pulyanov. Today, traffic police officers will have to work in the area of ​​Pobediteley Avenue, as well as adjacent streets.

Close attention to cyclists and pedestrians on scooters is no coincidence. Recently, several serious accidents involving them have occurred in the capital. So, on September 4, on Bogdanovich Street, the driver of a Mercedes, leaving the courtyard, hit a 42-year-old cyclist who was moving along the sidewalk. The latter was injured.

And last Wednesday, a 32-year-old driver of a Renault car did not give priority to a cyclist carrying a child in a specially designed seat at an unregulated pedestrian crossing. As a result of the accident, the cyclist and the minor were injured and were sent to a health care facility.

“Today is Friday evening,” notes inspector Anton Pulyanov. “And this means that in general the situation on the roads is more tense than on other days. Considering the fairly warm weather, there are a lot of cars on the highways. There are also many pedestrians on personal mobility devices and cyclists.

While we are moving towards the first duty point, on a small section of the avenue from Stella to the football arena we observe several accidents at once. Other inspectors are already working here, but we note to ourselves: the traffic flow is really dense.

- Accidents often occur due to failure to maintain a safe distance. This was probably the cause of the accidents that we just saw - characteristic “trains” gathered together,” comments Anton Pulyanov.

But let's get back to business. Since October last year, cyclists and pedestrians using personal mobility devices have been allowed not to dismount when crossing the roadway at pedestrian crossings. Are there more accidents?

“Based on our experience, we can say that no,” Evgeniy Sergienya joins the conversation. - To be fair, cyclists even before the legalization of such a right had the opportunity not to dismount - there were a lot of bicycle crossings in the city. They often did not dismount even at ordinary crossings. In fact, the existing reality was enshrined in the traffic rules.

However, there is one caveat in the legislation. When crossing a roadway, a cyclist must do so at the speed of a walking pedestrian. And here a certain conflict arises. Often cyclists do not even think about slowing down, thereby putting their lives at risk.

The first point of the route is opposite the University of Physical Education. On the opposite side of the road from the university there is a sidewalk with a bicycle path. There is a pedestrian crossing nearby. So far, inspectors have made no complaints about cyclists.

- As for liability, according to Part 1 of Article 18.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, violation of traffic rules by a pedestrian, a person driving a bicycle, a horse-drawn vehicle, or a person participating in road traffic and not driving a vehicle - a warning or a fine of up to 1-3 basic units . We issue a warning for the first time if a person has not previously been charged under this article within a year. All data, by the way, is in a special electronic database,” says Evgeniy Sergienya.

And if a person has committed a violation in a statealcohol intoxication , the amount of punishment increases to 3-5 BV. By the way, it is not necessary to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or personal mobility device.

- There is no such requirement in the traffic rules. True, for our part, we advise you not to neglect this. Even the simplest device for a few tens of rubles can sometimes save a life. Other equipment like knee pads would also be useful,” says Evgeniy Sergienya.

Let's move a little further. There is extremely heavy traffic around the Minsk Arena on Friday evening. There are also a lot of cyclists. In a minute, a dozen cyclists and the same number of people on personal mobility devices pass us. However, pedestrians behave almost exemplary: at crossings they drive slowly, carefully looking around. It's not a matter of the presence of inspectors - their presence at public transport stops is hardly noticeable.

But the driver of the black Toyota, turning right from Pobediteley Avenue onto Narochanskaya, violated the rule - he did not give the right of way to the cyclist. For which he was stopped.

- In this case, the driver did not give the right of way to the cyclist. There were less than two lanes between the car and the pedestrian. This is clearly stated in the new edition of the rules. Previously, the wording was more vague and sounded like this: if the driver’s actions forced another road user to change direction or speed, which sometimes gave rise to heated disputes between drivers and inspectors. Now the criteria for violation are absolutely clear, which greatly facilitates communication between the parties,” comments Evgeniy Sergienya, heading towards the stopped car.

The check does not take much time. The driver agrees with the inspectors' arguments, the documents are also in order - he got away with a warning. However, if a person is caught committing a similar violation again within a year, the sanctions will be different.

- Fine from one to five basic units. The amount is not the largest, but for many drivers it is unpleasant. Therefore, you should be more careful when driving through pedestrian crossings. Especially when you make a turn. It is under such conditions that violations occur most often, the inspector added.

In the last warm days there are a lot of motorcyclists on the roads of the capital. Two-wheeler lovers are taking advantage of the last opportunity to enjoy a ride on the city streets. Traffic police officers pay no less attention to motorcyclists than to ordinary drivers or pedestrians. And in some cases even more.

And if traveling alone on a scooter is a completely legal process, then riding such a device together is a violation. Many users of personal and shared scooters forget about this. Or they deliberately commit a violation in order to save money on renting a second bike or to make an impression. Such thoughtless movement along city streets, under a combination of circumstances, can end disastrously for both the driver and the passenger.

- From our experience, teenagers most often ride scooters together. There were cases when the guys even traveled together in threes or fours. Of course, there can be no talk of any safety: the slightest wrong movement and injuries are guaranteed,” says Evgeniy Sergienya.

Apparently, the Minsk resident whom our crew stopped on the sidewalk on Independence Avenue did not think about this. In addition to himself, the city resident was transporting his daughter on a scooter. I was surprised by the stop.

- What, we can’t do it together? - asked the young man.

It is forbidden. The inspector checked the citizen against the database. He agreed with the violation, which means he got off with a warning. However, the strict reprimand from the inspector had an effect. Then dad and daughter went on foot.

- In general, recently it is worth noting the increase in the level of culture on the roads. Many cyclists still dismount, thereby showing caution and attentiveness towards other road users, although according to the rules they can ride safely. It is worth remembering that the safety of movement depends primarily on yourself. We ask car drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians using personal mobility devices to be extremely attentive and careful. Always correctly assess the road situation,” concluded Anton Pulyanov.

As noted by the head of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Minsk City Executive Committee, Sergei Babich, until September 24, the capital's State Traffic Inspectorate is carrying out a number of activities in order to take proactive measures to prevent road traffic injuries to minors, pedestrians, cyclists and people using personal mobility devices.

– In connection with the upcoming autumn period, which, due to weather conditions, has a significant impact on the accident rate and the safety of vulnerable road users, we are taking appropriate preventive measures. We pay special attention to emergency areas, unregulated pedestrian crossings, and those places that are potentially dangerous,” summarized the head of the capital’s traffic police.

Remember: if there is a bicycle path, cyclists and pedestrians using personal mobility devices are required to move on it. In case of its absence - along the sidewalk, without interfering with the movement of pedestrians.

Alexander NOVOKHROST,

photo by Vitaly PIVOVARCHIK,

BELTA.