Comment 33203

By arienc (registered) | Posted September 03, 2009 at 15:40:47

It's not clear what criteria the Spec uses on which letters to publish. I had sent them a very reasonable response to the first insane letter from a fellow Burlingtonian a couple of days ago.

If the Spec doesn't see fit to print...maybe at least a few people will get the message through RTH.

Re: Crack down on cyclists as well as drivers

In the August 29 letter to the editor, a reader lists all of the things that as a motorist, he finds annoying about cyclists. "no helmets, no signal turns, rolling through stop signs, running red lights, no licence plates, riding on the wrong side of the road, etc."

It's very tiring to see your readers continue to paint all cyclists with the same brush.

All too often, I see motorists not using seat belts, not signaling turns, rolling through stop signs, running red lights, speeding, etc. Notwithstanding the fact that is infinitely more dangerous for someone in charge of a two-ton motor vehicle to do these things than it is for someone on a twenty pound bicycle.

Using the letter writer's logic, the only traffic that 'deserves" to have a safe space on our roadways is pedestrians.

I would invite your readers, instead of continually criticizing cyclists for breaking the rules, to get out there on your bikes and show them how to cycle properly. More cyclists makes it safer for cycling. If more of us are out there setting the example, the City of Burlington might actually have a chance at alleviating the problems the letter writer cites, such as inconsiderate cyclists and overused roads.

"First they built the road, then they built the town. That's why we're still driving around and around, and all we see. Are kids in buses. Longing to be free." - Wasted Hours, The Arcade Fire

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