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By highwater (registered) | Posted October 23, 2008 at 10:01:39
I'll state my bias upfront: I'm a militant pedestrian. I'm also a cyclist and a motorist, but I will always lean in favour of pedestrians. They are the most vulnerable part of the equation, afterall.
In the past I mostly used my bike for recreation and doing errands around my neighbourhood, but recently I've been venturing across the McKittrick Bridge and cycling downtown alot more. Yesterday I was cycling along York. A young woman was cycling next to me on the sidewalk. When the Bikepath to Nowhere ended, cars who I normally find will yield at least half a lane if not a full lane, suddenly began passing me within inches. I have no doubt that they felt entitled to do this because they believed I did not belong there. I also have no doubt that the presence of a cyclist on the sidewalk re-affirmed this mistaken belief. By disobeying the law, she was putting me in danger along with the pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Needless to say, while I waited patiently at a red light, she stopped briefly and then preceded right through. I was a little ticked to see the woman who had just put my life in danger whizzing blythly ahead, but relieved that she would no longer be next to me encouraging drivers to intimidate me onto the sidewalk.
Oh, and anyone who thinks it's just a minority of cyclists who disobey the law should spend some time around the university. Hang out on King in Westdale for a bit. At least 50% of the cyclists are on the sidewalk. Next, stroll down Sterling. No one, and I mean NO ONE under the age of 40 stops at the stop signs. They don't even slow down, even when there are several cars at the intersection.
It needs to be stated that when cyclists disobey the law they put their fellow cyclists, as well as themselves and pedestrians in danger. I will probably always be a militant pedestrian first and foremost, but I am finding that the more I develop a 'cyclist' mindset, the angrier I am at my fellow cyclists who break the law.
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