Entry FeedOK. Bicycle Safety 101 - WEAR A HELMET!!!
This may make me unpopular, but I am so annoyed at the news coverage about the events in Yorkville earlier this week. I've lost count of the number of times I have been sworn at, yelled at, or had my vehicle banged on by a bicycle courier driving around downtown Toronto. I am safe driver. I don't change lanes erratically. I always indicated. I check blind spots, and give all vehicles on the road - cars, vans, trucks and bikes, lots of room. However, that doesn't seem to stop most cyclists in Toronto from believing that they are somehow above the laws that govern vehicle traffic, and most don't mind weaving in and out, and using intimidation for perceived slights.
Listen, I have nothing against cyclists, and I am trying hard not to lump them all together. I have seen wonderful cyclists who wear proper gear (helmets, reflective tape), stay to the right side of the road, obey traffic laws while be better for the environment than cars. And I have witnessed many terrible drivers who break laws and are dangerous. However, I have seen too many bad cyclists with entitlement issues to ignore them as a big part of the cyclist / motorist wars in this city.
Is it dangerous being a bicycle courier? I am sure it is. How many of them wear helmets? I don't know the details, but was this individual wearing a helmet? My kids know not to get on a bike without one, but every day we see adult cyclists, weaving around cars, racing through red lights and stop signs, cutting up on to sidewalks, not wearing helmets.
I have never seen a cyclist stopped from going through a red light or a stop sign, nor for riding on the sidewalk (last summer Daughter was almost run down on the sidewalk by a speed cyclist - with no helmet; I was almost run a few weeks ago crossing at a green light by a cyclist.)
Son One has heard the story on the news, and is asking a lot of questions. I am not a Liberal Party Member, and have no strong affection toward Michael Bryant. And I wasn't there - I don't know all of the details.
However, here are some things I believe:
- Drivers need to share the road with cyclists
- Drivers need to be aware that bicycles are smaller, and be looking for them at lane changes and turns
- Cyclists need to always wear helmets
- Cyclists need to obey all road laws, like stop signs, red lights, stay off the sidewalk, indicate turns, not pass on the inside of a right turning vehicle, etc.
I've explained to my kids how careful they need to be cycling. They all love their bicycles and go for regular rides. There is this animosity in Toronto between downtown motorists and cyclists - and Toronto City Council doesn't help. I am sure both motorists and cyclists alike will be following this story.
Uh yah if only they would have worn the helmet. ridiculous law, just like the one they talked about regarding kids who want to toboggan down the hills.
if we mandated all car/van/truck drivers and passangers to wear helmets we would save a few more lives. but at what point does it just go a little over the top. perhaps your husband and son should wear helmets as they slide on the slip and slide while standing up and throwing things/balls at each other. usually you are right on top of things but i have to take a different view here. 1.5 ton car, 10 lbs bike the outcome is never going to be pretty. but on the other hand maybe forcing people to buy helmets will stimulate the economy.