Comment 41778

By mikeonthemountain (registered) | Posted June 09, 2010 at 15:10:14

I think media can be a powerful force for good, using its power to reach large numbers of people. Instead of shock journalism they could be promoting something more constructive:

First stop dawdling on a continuous network of bike lanes. Get it painted/built both for public safety and for motor traffic flow. The busier the artery the more it is needed. Why is RTH almost the only media around here pointing at studies showing solutions that work. Of course most cyclists do not want to hold up a vehicle and cause difficulty and contention in traffic. A cyclist in a bike lane is out of the way of drivers helping them too.

Motorists need to be educated that on city streets cyclists (and potentially any number of other slow moving vehicles such as horses, tractors, bobcats, etc) have a right under the law to be on city streets (properly and lawfully of course). More education that city streets are for local transport and access of its citizens first and foremost; get a little respect back into the equation. Our city is privileged to have almost all roads twin lane at least. There is simply no reason to be an ass, the left lane is always there. I bet everyone is very courteous around police officers on bikes.

Cyclists need to be educated of the correct way to ride and share the road. Similar attitude to railway safety. Big machines, big danger, don't tempt fate. Be predictable and lawful, and know that consequences can be tragic if you are not.

Finally after a period of buildup of public education have police start enforcing no cycling on sidewalks, even if it is just with warnings to start. It was done with mobile devices while driving, and pedestrian safety. If the cycling network is in place, using enforcement as needed to change habits becomes more palatable and plausible.

In my opinion it is an education issue across the board that hopefully can somehow carve out a new social norm. Right now you're damned if you do, damned if you don't.

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