Raise the Hammer

I'm beginning to believe that cycle lanes are good for the majority of cyclists, but more dangerous for some who ride quicker/more aggressively.

This is actually my favorite part of the increasing infrastructure. The "normalization" of cycling.

The things that make fast aggressive cycling comfortable, are the same things that make fast aggressive driving comfortable. If you're brave you take a lane and as fast as you can pedal you are free to go. The corollary being that stopping is more unappealing hence the rider also takes more risks when they should be stopping.

The things making it less possible for cyclists to fly as fast as they want all the time, are the things that slow cars down too, and draw other people out to make trips by bike.

The same things that make motorists more aware of cyclists and improve safety, will also work to make antisocial riders stick out more when they do dumb stuff such as blow intersections and create conflict for others. The taming of aggressive riders, combined with the increase of new riders, is exactly the desired outcome!

I rode for many years in the pioneering days that predated bike lanes, and I ride fast in mixed traffic, and I somewhat enjoy it. I also ride in heavier cycling traffic in Netherlands and downtown Toronto. The latter is much more pleasant, yes it means riding with a flow of other people rather than wild and free, but the lowered stress, increased attentiveness from cars, and generally more pleasant street, far outweigh anything that is lost.

So while Hamilton "debugs" its implementation of this new technology called a separated bike lane :) when approaching a high risk intersection like Cannon + Anything, glance over your shoulder, stop pedaling for a second and coast while take a quick scan of what's around you. I promise it will work quite well in lieu of a whistle or train horn :)

I didn't make it as far as Tim Hortons this morning without a pickup truck turning across my path, but this one too, was no big deal. It's wrong and annoying, but at this point in the evolution of cycling in Ontario, sometimes we have to brake for turning cars to literally save ourselves.

I hope this person recovers quickly, that's a bad day if there ever was one.

Comment edited by mikeonthemountain on 2014-12-07 13:29:06