Dear Automobilists: Cyclists are People Too
We need to talk. As an avid cyclist in this city, I cannot help but note a high degree of misunderstanding (and occasional animosity) between drivers and cyclists. In the spirit of mutual understanding, perhaps we can briefly note the following traffic laws pertaining to this matter:
Motorists, when you encounter a cyclist on the street, it is your legal responsibility to grant the cyclist sufficiently safe space when passing [Highway Traffic Act 148(4)]. Although we may look other-worldly in our spandex and helmets, we cyclists are actually mere mortals and much more fragile in the case of a collision than your automobile. An accident means a scratch on your car and potentially fatal brain damage for us.
Drivers, please understand this: Cyclists are not on the street simply to annoy drivers and slow down traffic. We are on the street because it is the law [London Street Bylaw 2.12]. Riding a bicycle on the sidewalk in London is a $110 to $135 fine. Roads do not belong to motor vehicles only: cyclists are paying the very same municipal taxes to maintain and use these streets too.
(Cyclists, we must get off the sidewalks! More accidents involving both automobiles and pedestrians happen when cyclists invade sidewalk space. It is dangerous for everybody. Our sidewalks would be a lot safer and peaceful if this was actually enforced in our city. When I am not a cyclist, I am a pedestrian, and as a pedestrian I would urge our law enforcement officials to penalize cyclists who ride on sidewalks.)
As far as the Highway Traffic Act is concerned, bicycles are considered vehicles, and as such they are bound by the same rules and regulations as motor vehicles. This means we cyclists must yield to faster vehicles by moving as far to the right of the roadway as safely possible [Highway Traffic Act 148(6)]. As a rule of thumb, the Ministry of Transportation suggests that cyclists stay within one metre of the curb or roadside. However, drivers must remember that bicycles are legally allowed to ride on any part of the street, and thus may take a whole lane if they feel the roadway is too narrow be passed safely. Many sections of London’s roadways include potholes that require ample space to navigate; cyclists have full rights to all parts of the roadway to avoid these hazards.
Cycling etiquette: those of on bicycles need to be respectful of the flow of traffic. Our presence on the road often requires drivers to merge into other lanes and — like any other slow moving vehicle — we can be a hindrance to the overall speed of traffic. Roadfaring cyclists should respect this traffic flow: passing on the right and forcing vehicles stopped at a red light to pass us again is not indicative of earning the respect of motorists. Keep your place in the queue at intersections. Wait your turn. Respect your right as a cyclist to use the road by abiding by the same rules that bind the motorists.
As drivers and cyclists, it is imperative that we respect both one another and the rules governing our roadways. If we do, it will be safer city for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers alike.
© Fowler Media
I couldn’t agree more. Cyclists need to get off the sidewalks and start making the roads safer for everyone by obeying traffic laws – both respecting and earning the respect of others on the road. I would LOVE to see a severe crack-down on cyclists that bike on the sidewalk as well as drivers that don’t yield to the right-of-way of bikes.
One thing that does need to be addressed though is those awful bike-sidewalks that London has. In my experience, these are the single most dangerous place to be as a cyclist. You contend with the obstacles of a sidewalk (I didn’t even realize they were for bikes when I first moved here because they aren’t well marked) but you’re out of the flow of traffic – which means you’re less visible.
IMO these create a false sense of security of having a ‘lane’ but it requires cyclists to either stop and cross at every intersection like a pedestrian or risk getting taken out by an oblivious driver turning (with their light) without looking to see if there is someone there.
These need to be ripped out and replaced with real bike-lanes that will make cyclists a more visible presence on the road. Only by being seen can we be safer.
“I would LOVE to see a severe crack-down on cyclists…”
Just as I would love to see a severe crackdown on pedestrians who behave illegally. Because in both cases, they bring disrepute on those of us who are trying to behave legally and responsibly.
“…those awful bike-sidewalks…”
I love the fact that we have a pathway system for pedestrians/bikes through the parks and along the river and wish that it would be significantly expanded. But you’re right about the bike pathways that are joined to the sidewalks. Half the time they’re ignored, a quarter of the time pedestrians use them as an extension of the sidewalk, and the rest of the time the way that bicyclists make the transition across intersections and driveways it amazes me that there aren’t many more critical incidents.
James.
Thank you for addressing both sides of the issue, the faults of both motorists and cyclists.
After having a verbal argument with a motorist this morning its is evident that everyone, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians all need more education about the system/laws. This isn’t to say that there aren’t other faults in the city (poor enforcement from the Police which you alluded to) but I think what it comes down to most of all is a matter of respect.
Where is that education going to come from, when the city advisory committee charged with the responsibility for pedestrian safety and the cop who is in charge of traffic both refuse to address it?
As a frequent driver, but occasional pedestrian and former cyclist, I couldn’t agree more. Bikes belong on the road, cars need to move over and pass and keep their attitude to themselves, pedestrians need to keep the dangerous jaywalking to a minimum.
I agree entirely with James’ article and the comments above.
However, when I’m out on the bike with my two year old on the back seat, I’m going to stay on the pavement (sorry, “sidewalk”).
I admit I’ve been spoiled, living in Holland for four years where it’s commonplace to see Dad with a baby in a seat at the front and a toddler on a seat on the back – and mum with bigger child riding pillion on totally secure bike lanes separated from the road by a raised kerb.
London driving is the worst I’ve seen whereever I’ve lived, and I’m keeping as far away from the cars as I can.
Jesse, it’s interesting you say that. After this post, I actually took the time too look up a couple of studies on the matter. It appears that while overall the number of accidents are less on the sidewalks – the risk of an accident is SIGNIFICANTLY higher than anywhere else (including on the road). This is because people don’t travel as far or as frequently on sidewalks overall, but when they do, the risk of an accident (per km of road travel) skyrockets. I’m putting together a post on the issue and will link back with the studies, but I think the sidewalks provide a false sense of security rather than real safety.
Those studies should be viewed with a great deal of skepticism. Collisions on sidewalks are much less likely to be reported than those that occur on the roads. In the first place, there’s a culture that makes people think that they aren’t serious enough to merit a complaint, and that anybody who files a complaint is a chronic whiner. That attitude is reinforced by the fact that there’s no “pedestrian’s handbook” or “Sidewalk Traffic Act.” And even if a complaint is made, are they investigated and collated? Here in London I suspect that the answer is “no.”
On a somewhat of a related note:
I can’t understand why any parent would put their child(ren) in one of those “bike trailers”. They have got to be one of the least safe things I have ever seen. Regardless of if you make your kids wear helmets while in it I still think they they are accidents waiting to happen.
I don’t like those bike trailers either. I’ve got a bike seat – from Holland
My daughter pokes and prods me so I’m always aware she’s still there.
Look forward to seeing your post Karolijn.
I figured when you were speaking you were talking about the bike seats. when I was a kid I ride around in one of those myself.
So what you’re saying is that you suspect that sidewalks are even *more* dangerous than what i’m saying? The study I’m specifically referring to was part of a random survey and they asked them if they’d been in a collision – these weren’t from police reports. But I’m having a hard time trying to translate the numbers to % because I’m just not coming up with the same numbers they quote in their overall summary.
First off, so that there’s no misunderstanding, I didn’t mean to criticize you. I’m simply expressing a distrust about the numbers that you’re looking at that were obtained from someplace else.
My suspicion is that sidewalks are more dangerous than what’s generally reported, yes. But I’m referring specifically to police reporting.
Also, I feel that I should admit to knowing very little about the reliability of random surveys. I’m just guessing that it depends a lot upon who’s conducting the survey.
[...] by certain instinctual self-preservation tendencies). My previous treatment of the issue is posted here. While my post focused more on the legal side of the issue, Karolijn did a superb job of [...]
Since Karolijn’s post on her blog last week, our family has made much more of an effort to go out altogether on our bikes on the road. We cycle single file with our 7 year old between us and the baby on the back of my bike and it’s worked really well, we’ve even managed some left hand turns off Bradley. It’s rather amusing to see the frowns we’ve been receiving from (adult) cyclists passing us on the sidewalk….
Jesse: I turned your reference to Carolyn’s post into a hyperlink.
All I have to say is why don’t users of the Thames path have the right of way crossing the road at BlackFriar’s Bridge? It’s frustrating and dangerous all-around that cyclists, rollerbladers and walkers have to wait to dash across at a break in traffic.
They could put a crosswalk or stop sign there, but the bridge is already narrow and puts drivers on edge, plus there’s a sharp turn right there. It’s not like it’s a busy road, so I’ve never had to wait long to cross.