by Janet Lees
Cycling has a long history in Southern Georgian Bay. Back in the early days of the Collingwood Shipyards, bicycles were the major form of transport for workers heading to and from the yard, and floods of bikes would take to the streets when the whistle blew at the end of the day.
Today, bicycles are back on the streets of our region, whether for transportation, recreation or competition. Any given weekend from May to October sees scores of cyclists on our roads. Sadly, bike lanes and paved shoulders are few and far between, so cyclists are forced to share the road with motorized vehicles.
Cyclists are a source of inconvenience for some drivers, who resent having to wait to pass a cyclist or group of cyclists on the road. In some cases, drivers lose patience and “thread the needle” – squeezing between cyclists and oncoming vehicles in a dangerous move that threatens lives. In other cases, drivers who have the full roadway at their disposal without oncoming traffic still pass far too closely to a cyclist. It’s happened to me, and it’s downright terrifying.
So why can’t we all just get along? Cyclists are also drivers, they own homes here, they pay taxes, they have families and friends. They bring economic benefits to our region, and many local businesses are reaping the rewards of catering to the growing cycling community.
Are you really in such a hurry that you can’t slow down and wait until you can pass safely, giving the cyclist at least one metre of space as the law requires? Are cyclists such a nuisance that you want to put their lives at risk? Because let’s face it, in a standoff between a two-tonne vehicle and a cyclist with nothing to protect them but a flimsy helmet, the cyclist loses. Every time.
There are a few things that need to change in order to make our roads safer for all who use them. First, our various levels of government need to include paved shoulders and bike lanes in ALL of their upcoming road improvements. Will it cost a bit more? Yes. Will it save lives? Absolutely.
Second, we need better education and connection between law enforcement, cyclists and drivers. The Collingwood Cycling Club is taking the lead in this regard, working closely with the local OPP to ensure that everyone follows the rules of the road. But we need more outreach to bring drivers and cyclists together, to help them understand each other and to humanize instead of villainize the “other.”
We’re living in a time of confrontation, impatience and hair-trigger tempers, but the road is not the place to take out your frustrations. Next time you see a cyclist ahead, slow down, take a breath, remind yourself that there’s a fragile human being on that bike, and act as if the road is for everyone to share. Because it is. ❧
