Whig: June 3, 2009: Share the Road is about cyclists,
drivers co-existing
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rt-@queensu.ca
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Jun 04, 2009 07:34 PDT
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Share the Road is about cyclists, drivers co-existing
Posted By
Posted 1 day ago
The editorial "City gets serious about cycling routes" (June 2) misrepresented the intent of the Share the Road campaign. The Share the Road initiative is not the same as the city's on-road bikeway implementation plan.
The point of the Share the Road guide is to increase awareness that bicycles are legal vehicles that can be, and are, used on roads -- all roads, with or without designation as a cycling route. Motorists and cyclists alike need to be aware that safely sharing the road has more to do with following a set of standardized operating rules (traffic laws) and communication (signalling turns and lane changes, for example) than it does having designated lanes. Share the Road is sharing the road, not dividing the road.
Hal Cain President
Cycle Kingston
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It should not be a case of either one or the other. Any share-the-road campaign should be in addition to creating more on-street bike lanes and off-street multi-use pathways.
Reply | Report | Page Top Post #1 By geronimo, 1 day ago | 0 Votes | Vote:
Some how I don't believe that any cyclist who wants to share the road with a LARGE VEHICLE such as a CAR etc. REally wants to SHARE being destroyed for life when in an accident. Bikes and Automobiles DON'T MIX.
Reply | Report | Page Top Post #2 By LydiaM, 23 hours ago | -1 Votes | Vote:
It is very arrogant of cyclist to think that Accidents that will destroy them for LIFE won't happen to them.
Reply | Report | Page Top Post #3 By LydiaM, 23 hours ago | -1 Votes | Vote:
A few things we need a level roads and potholes properly patched. This would be good for both cylist and motor vehicles. Also cyclist must be ticketed if they break any laws. I see way too many cyclist that run red lights and stop signs and change lanes without looking behind them
Reply | Report | Page Top Post #4 By harhem, 23 hours ago | 0 Votes | Vote:
The law is one thing - yes, bicycles are vehicles and have every right to the roadway.
Unfortunately the education of most people on the road - both cyclists and drivers of motor vehicles - is very low when it comes to the operation of bicycles on the roadway. Teaching how bicycles are supposed to operate on roadways should be taught in schools and driver education programs.
Reply | Report | Page Top Post #5 By Promethius, 22 hours ago | 1 Votes | Vote:
I can tell you one thing if cyclists had to pay for licenses for their ""VEHICLE"" (NOT) the same way Auto drivers have to pay, I don't think that you would see many of them on the road.
Also they should be made to carry drivers licenses as well. I bet that would deter cyclists as well.
Reply | Report | Page Top Post #6 By LydiaM, 16 hours ago | 0 Votes | Vote:
Here is another smile we are trying to get along. I have addressed the moronic attitude of cyclists with a number of groups and to no avail. The arrogance of the spandex crowd of all ages is still there. Riding three abreast on hwy 2, darting out in front of cars blocking intersections, yep thats responsible. Until the various clubs in town convince their members to abide by the hwy traffic act I don't think the majority of car drivers will support them. And please don't tell me as some of this sector have that I am jealous get your act together and your heads out of the dark damp spot.
Reply | Report | Page Top Post #7 By fed_up_resident, 3 hours ago | 0 Votes | Vote:
Boy, it seems some of you people are living in another world than I am. I don't own a car, but pay all the same taxes as the rest of you. When I ride my bicycle according to the rules of he road, I find that 99% of car drivers are courteous and willing to share the road, even to wait a few extra seconds if they get behind me in a narrow spot. My experience with cycle paths is that they are second rate pavement that buckles and ripples, and there is always a chance of a dog or stroller darting in front of me. Bike lanes are also useless, as they usually end after a few kilometres, and they send a message that a bike has to be "over there on the right"...well what if I want to turn left? In reference to "fed up resident"'s comment, I do not wear spandex, as do 90% of cyclists - we are just regular people who prefer to transport ourselves on a bike, and it's not the club's responsibility to inform cyclists of the law, it just the law! (Do you go to car club meetings to learn your driving laws?). The laws need to be better taught, yes (and that's what Cycle Kingston does, in an attempt to fill the void), and there needs to be more enforcement by police and bylaw officers, for sure. Riding my bicycle is one of my favourite things! To get where I'm going, I would rather ride on the road with traffic than anywhere else. Try it, you might like it too! (check out www.cyclekingston.ca to sign up for a course...there's courses this weekend!) Happy Cycle Week 2009!
Reply | Report | Page Top Post #8 By casualcyclist, 2 hours ago | 0 Votes | Vote:
This isn't the first time we've heard this particular hogwash about how things would be different if only cyclists had to pay their fair share.
It's a blatant untruth that people rabidly against seeing cyclists on city streets like to throw out at the first opportunity, and should act as a good indication to the casual reader that the person spewing this particular screed is not entering into a rational debate.
Money spent on motorized vehicle registration goes into the provincial general revenue pool, it is NOT specifically earmarked for use on roadways and any that IS spent on roads is spent on those that are the responsibility of the the province.
Local roads on the other hand are maintained through municipal taxes. That means, essentially, property taxes. The taxes that every single resident of this city pays, property owners and renters alike, car owners and non-owners alike. We ALL pay for the maintenance of city streets.
And another thing: There's this perceived notion among certain individuals that choosing to ride a bike means one doesn't own a car. In some cases that's true, but generally a large percentage of cyclist own motorized vehicles and pay the same fees that everyone else who owns one does in order to operate them. I do.
On the other hand I choose to use my bicycle as my day-to-day vehicle reserving the car for use only when appropriate for health, environmental and a host of other reason. By choosing to cycle, I take almost no space on the road, emit no CO2, and contribute in no way to the degradation of the road surface like motorized vehicles do.
And yet, I pay exactly the same fees as those who might spend the entire day driving around.
Those who commute by car every day, use their cars for every trip no matter how short, flagrantly ignore local idling bylaws and generally act like they own the road are getting far more than their fair share for the fees they pay.
They'd be wise to make less noise lest someone get the idea of introducing graduated fees based on usage.
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Ross Trethewey
NEW: e-mail: rt8 at queensu.ca (Preferred)
Contact Numbers
(613)542-7104 (in Kingston)
(905)885-6818 (In Port Hope)
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