Comment 77177

By kevlahan (registered) | Posted May 22, 2012 at 14:36:28

I agree with your wish that both cyclists and motorists obey the rules and move about safely.

However, I cannot agree with your implication that cyclists are somehow less law abiding or, more importantly, more dangerous to themselves and others than motorists.

Every time the subject of improved conditions for cycling comes up, some motorists come back with this argument: cyclists don't 'deserve' safe and convenient facilities because they don't obey the rules.

As I and others have pointed out repeatedly, motorists frequently flout the laws, often with deadly effect (2000 dead and 200 000 injured in Canada each year), and yet no one suggests we close the roads to motorists until they learn to drive safely and obey the highway traffic act!

To take one obvious example, how many motorists obey the 100km/h speed limit on the 400 series freeways? Almost none, when traffic conditions permit. As far as behaving responsibly, a cursory internet search comes up with hundreds of sites offering tips for motorists on how to avoid "speed traps", red light cameras and fight speeding tickets...motorists even flash their lights to warn others about radar!

Countries with high rates of cycling such as Denmark and the Netherlands do not target cyclists for enforcement, they target the road users that pose the greatest risk: motorists. It is also important to note that increasing rates of cycling lead to decreases in accident rates for both cyclists and motorists.

It is time for motorists to stop using their annoyance with cyclists as an argument against the sorts of road improvements that would help everyone!

Comment edited by kevlahan on 2012-05-22 14:38:06

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