Raise the Hammer

Here's the crux of the argument:

"I resent them more, to the extent that their capacity to cause harm through their recklessness is far greater with a larger, heavier, and more powerful vehicle."

I resent them too, but our resentment is neither here nor there, it is no more or less valid than the resentment of cyclists by the car-addicted.

But the key is the capacity to cause harm, and the difference between cycles and cars is massive.

Not only that, who is the recipient of the harm? With a bike, it is by far the rider. With a car, it is everyone else on foot or bike indiscriminantly - but only minimally the driver.

Cars are the perfect tool for cultural sociopathy, the collective (and now accepted!) lack of responsibility for the consequences of our personal actions. "It wasn't me".

As a cyclist, I do agree that in Hamilton, far too much attention is paid to the ‘rights’ of the motorist and far too little to those of the cyclist. It is almost as if the car exists as a birthright, and the bicycle as a privilege. That being said, I do feel that many cyclists take an excess of risks, for example, riding Main Street at rush hour, something I would never consider doing.

While it may be unpalatable to have to yield to the car, it is a fact that there are almost always alternatives to busy thoroughfares. Of course, that will lengthen the time for your commute, but surely safety must be one’s top priority.

I was surprised to see that cycling on Main at rush hour involves taking an "excess of risk." I have done that a number of times. It is unpleasant to ride with all the exhaust fumes and the large amount of traffic, but it is generally safe. In fact, if one takes the stories of bike fatalities, probably much safer than cycling on rural roads. it is in fact safer than a lot of biking I did in Montreal and Toronto, since the lack of curbside parking greatly reduces the chance of claiming a "door prize."

Robert Coxe Said: "For drivers, it is scariest when approaching other vehicles and cyclists at the same time."

The simplest way to ease this fear is to slow down until it is safe to pass (either the car or the cyclist), and then pass safely and widely. It is only scary if you try to negotiate the tight squeeze while trying to maintain your original speed.

Robert Coxe Said: "Yes, we need to be able to use alternate transportation methods for a lot of different reasons, but we need to use common sense as to how much and in how many areas."

Common sense is to allow and encourage alternative transportation methods as much as possible and in all areas. Alternative methods need to be not only allowed -- but promoted -- in every square inch of the city that cars are currently permitted. Placing restrictions on bike, pedestrian and transit is equivalent to demoting these from "transportation methods" to mere "hobbies".

Sandra Martin Said:

I see so many cyclists breaking the laws.

I have seen cyclists riding on the wrong sides of the streets, going through red lights and riding on sidewalks.

I saw one lady talking on a cellphone while riding her bike, paying no attention to what was going on around her.

One area that is bad for cyclists breaking the law is Kenilworth Avenue North, where there are many heavy equipment vehicles. If a cyclist gets run over by a coil carrier they won't have a chance.

I almost hit the same cyclist two days in a row at the same intersection as both times he went through a red light.

People like this are accidents waiting to happen.

Only once in the past year have I seen a cyclist use the proper arm signals. I felt like stopping and congratulating the person on using proper safety procedures on the roads. The stoplights and stop signs are there for their protection.

I see so many motorists breaking the laws.

I have seen motorists speeding on every single street in the city, rolling through stop signs, going through red lights, changing lanes without looking, opening their doors into the path of oncoming traffic, tailgating every car they drive behind and not signalling turns.

I see dozens of people daily talking on a cellphone while driving their car, paying no attention to what was going on around them.

One area that is bad for drivers breaking the law is Kenilworth Avenue North, where there are many heavy equipment vehicles. If a motorist gets hit by a coil carrier they won't have a chance.

I almost get hit on my bike every day by inattentive motorists who refuse to share the road with me.

People like this are accidents waiting to happen.

Only once in the past year have I seen a driver come to a complete stop at a stop sign. I felt like stopping and congratulating the person on using proper safety procedures on the roads. The stoplights and stop signs are there for their protection.

If we are going to make assumptions based on individual examples, we need to be fair about it. Lawbreaking drivers FAR outnumber lawbreaking cyclists, and each time a driver does something dangerous it puts others at a much greater risk than when a cyclist does.

Robert Coxe Said: "For drivers, it is scariest when approaching other vehicles and cyclists at the same time."

The simplest way to ease this fear is to slow down until it is safe to pass (either the car or the cyclist), and then pass safely and widely. It is only scary if you try to negotiate the tight squeeze while trying to maintain your original speed.

Robert Coxe Said: "Yes, we need to be able to use alternate transportation methods for a lot of different reasons, but we need to use common sense as to how much and in how many areas."

Common sense is to allow and encourage alternative transportation methods as much as possible and in all areas. Alternative methods need to be not only allowed -- but promoted -- in every square inch of the city that cars are currently permitted. Placing restrictions on bike, pedestrian and transit is equivalent to demoting these from "transportation methods" to mere "hobbies".

Sandra Martin Said:

I see so many cyclists breaking the laws.

I have seen cyclists riding on the wrong sides of the streets, going through red lights and riding on sidewalks.

I saw one lady talking on a cellphone while riding her bike, paying no attention to what was going on around her.

One area that is bad for cyclists breaking the law is Kenilworth Avenue North, where there are many heavy equipment vehicles. If a cyclist gets run over by a coil carrier they won't have a chance.

I almost hit the same cyclist two days in a row at the same intersection as both times he went through a red light.

People like this are accidents waiting to happen.

Only once in the past year have I seen a cyclist use the proper arm signals. I felt like stopping and congratulating the person on using proper safety procedures on the roads. The stoplights and stop signs are there for their protection.

I see so many motorists breaking the laws.

I have seen motorists speeding on every single street in the city, rolling through stop signs, going through red lights, changing lanes without looking, opening their doors into the path of oncoming traffic, tailgating every car they drive behind and not signalling turns.

I see dozens of people daily talking on a cellphone while driving their car, paying no attention to what was going on around them.

One area that is bad for drivers breaking the law is Kenilworth Avenue North, where there are many heavy equipment vehicles. If a motorist gets hit by a coil carrier they won't have a chance.

I almost get hit on my bike every day by inattentive motorists who refuse to share the road with me.

People like this are accidents waiting to happen.

Only once in the past year have I seen a driver come to a complete stop at a stop sign. I felt like stopping and congratulating the person on using proper safety procedures on the roads. The stoplights and stop signs are there for their protection.

If we are going to make assumptions based on individual examples, we need to be fair about it. Lawbreaking drivers FAR outnumber lawbreaking cyclists, and each time a driver does something dangerous it puts others at a much greater risk than when a cyclist does.