CBC Radio Noon Crosstalk this coming Monday September 28 will deal with the issue of motorists and cyclists "getting along" together on our roads.If you have an opinion you'd like to share please call in for a live discussion between 12:30 and 1:30pm on Monday ... 722-7111 or 1-800-563-8255.
I have owned a motorcycle and now bicycle lots. I had no idea there was even an issue. Is there tension because bicyclists don't wear leathers? Maybe some of the new faster tri bikes are giving the hogs a run for their money.
ReplyDeleteThe question seems reasonable until you look at the underlying problems. Maybe the real question is "will motorists allow bicycles to co-exist with them?"
ReplyDeleteI have to admit: people riding a bicycle on Kenmount Road WITH traffic -- as if they can keep up -- annoys me to no end.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the problem here? Is life so busy that we can not look out for others? Maybe people with big trucks should get up against people with small cars. I cycle and drive a motor vehicle in this city. I have never had a problem because I have at least some common sense...common courtesy people!!
ReplyDeleteI ride a lot and do my best to not interfere with traffic. Seems like the only times I have conflict with motor vehicles is when the driver is looking for conflict. I know of 2 situations in this City when a driver has deliberately chased and/or stuck cyclists. Obviously, drivers have the "tonnage rule" in their favour, so they that advantage of that situation to beat up on cyclists.
ReplyDeleteI would not ride a bike in this city. You will be the victim of an accident. It's dangerous enough driving a car.
ReplyDeleteI caught a piece of the end of the show and someone from the west coast phoned in and mentioned the local Trans Canada Highway rumble strips. It appears there is still misunderstanding of this issue. US and Canadian guidelines recommend at least 1.5m (or 5ft) clear shoulder after strips are installed for cyclist's safety. The caller said "1m" which is incorrect. In most cases they left only about 150mm (6 inches). Also, the literature is very clear that rumble strips need a wide stable shoulder to work. The US FHWA states: (5C) "Rumble strips installed at the outside edge of a shoulder with no useable recovery area beyond the shoulder are of questionable value."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/techadvs/t504035.htm
What impresses me is how well I do get along with motorists in this city. I cycled 5500 km last year and just about 3000 km this year on the city streets mostly; after all that travelling I can think of only 3 incidents worth recollecting. That's still too many of course, but things have definitely improved for bicyclists around here over the past 15 years. You still have to be extremely vigilant on your bike, but that's never going to change no matter what's done. Yes, the two can and do co-exist!
ReplyDeleteWhy isn't there a bike lane on the city streets here in St. John's like there are in other cities. I know both Moncton and Ottawa have them.
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