Raise the Hammer
The Star makes a call for calm on our roads in today's editorial:
After ex-Attorney General Michael Bryant's formal charge of criminal negligence causing death in an altercation with a cyclist, today's editorial examines the various probable causes and consequences for our repeated clashes on the road:
The incident serves as a tragic reminder that we all have to share the road: motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
That means we have to be respectful of each other. But, given the enormous power imbalance between someone in a multi-tonne vehicle and someone on a bicycle in the same lane, motorists have a responsibility to be extra careful to watch out for cyclists.
This is not to say that cyclists (and pedestrians) have no obligation to follow the rules of the road; they do. But it is an acknowledgement that the consequences are far more deadly for cyclists than motorists when the two collide.
Unfortunately, at the very time when we are encouraging cycling as a healthy, environmentally friendly choice and, accordingly, seeing more cyclists on the road, we are seeing a growing animosity between them and motorists.
We should all... strive to find the courtesy, patience and respect for life that is needed to share the road without tragedy.
We've examined the plight of cyclists and pedestrians a lot on this site. A side column in today's paper notes three other serious accidents this week. One thing is for certain: it's dangerous out there and we all need to remember to be safe.
By jason (registered) | Posted September 02, 2009 at 16:00:40
like I've always said, if the same number of people killed in "accidents" were killed by guns each year, it would be mass hysteria. Instead, we all just continue to speed along yelling at each other with no regard for the real possibility that we could take another human life at any moment.
By UrbanRenaissance (registered) | Posted September 03, 2009 at 12:55:41
I don't normally find myself agreeing with many of the Nation Post's Editorials but this one by John Moore is bang on.
By jason (registered) | Posted September 03, 2009 at 13:51:52
WOW. That was published in the Post?? Great stuff.
By UrbanRenaissance (registered) | Posted September 03, 2009 at 13:59:15
"[...] John Moore is the host of the drive home show on NewsTalk 1010 CFRB and a proud member of the Toronto Cyclists Union."
I wonder if reading drive home traffic reports every day is what encouraged him to ride a bike? lol
By grassroots are the way forward (registered) | Posted September 05, 2009 at 08:45:20
I saw a video clip to what looks like the beginning of the episode?
I seen the bike drive by the car of the driver's side and progressed ahead of the car, then I seen the car being driven forward toward the bike aggressively, intentionally.
I have to ask myself, what right did the driver have to intimidate the cyclist in that way? What kind of personality is the person, the driver, really? Classic case of bullying.
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