There are no upcoming events right now.
Why not post one?
Recent Articles
- Justice for Indigenous Peoples is Long Overdueby Ryan McGreal, published June 30, 2021 in Commentary
(0 comments)
- Third-Party Election Advertising Ban About Silencing Workersby Chantal Mancini, published June 29, 2021 in Politics
(0 comments)
- Did Doug Ford Test the 'Great Barrington Declaration' on Ontarians?by Ryan McGreal, published June 29, 2021 in Special Report: COVID-19
(1 comment)
- An Update on Raise the Hammerby Ryan McGreal, published June 28, 2021 in Site Notes
(0 comments)
- Nestlé Selling North American Water Bottling to an Private Equity Firmby Doreen Nicoll, published February 23, 2021 in Healing Gaia
(0 comments)
- Jolley Old Sam Lawrenceby Sean Burak, published February 19, 2021 in Special Report: Cycling
(0 comments)
- Right-Wing Extremism is a Driving Force in Modern Conservatismby Ryan McGreal, published February 18, 2021 in Special Report: Extremism
(0 comments)
- Municipalities Need to Unite against Ford's Firehose of Land Use Changesby Michelle Silverton, published February 16, 2021 in Special Report
(0 comments)
- Challenging Doug Ford's Pandemic Narrativeby Ryan McGreal, published January 25, 2021 in Special Report: COVID-19
(1 comment)
- The Year 2020 Has Been a Wakeup Callby Michael Nabert, published December 31, 2020 in Special Report: COVID-19
(0 comments)
- The COVID-19 Marshmallow Experimentby Ryan McGreal, published December 22, 2020 in Special Report: COVID-19
(0 comments)
- All I Want for Christmas, 2020by Kevin Somers, published December 21, 2020 in Entertainment and Sports
(1 comment)
- Hamilton Shelters Remarkably COVID-19 Free Thanks to Innovative Testing Programby Jason Allen, published December 21, 2020 in Special Report: COVID-19
(0 comments)
- Province Rams Through Glass Factory in Stratfordby Doreen Nicoll, published December 21, 2020 in Healing Gaia
(0 comments)
- We Can Prevent Traffic Deaths if We Make Safety a Real Priorityby Ryan McGreal, published December 08, 2020 in Special Report: Walkable Streets
(5 comments)
- These Aren't 'Accidents', These Are Resultsby Tom Flood, published December 04, 2020 in Special Report: Walkable Streets
(1 comment)
- Conservation Conundrumby Paul Weinberg, published December 04, 2020 in Special Report
(0 comments)
- Defund Police Protest Threatens Fragile Ruling Classby Cameron Kroetsch, published December 03, 2020 in Special Report: Anti-Racism
(2 comments)
- Measuring the Potential of Biogas to Reduce GHG Emissionsby John Loukidelis and Thomas Cassidy, published November 23, 2020 in Special Report: Climate Change
(0 comments)
- Ontario Squanders Early Pandemic Sacrificeby Ryan McGreal, published November 18, 2020 in Special Report: COVID-19
(0 comments)
Article Archives
Blog Archives
Site Tools
Feeds
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.
Permalink | Context