junctionist
Senior Member
I would have simply explained said something like "it's a matter of safety", which I don't think is self-righteous. But typically the first time you encounter something like that it's not pretty.
Isn't it dangerous to bike with one hand raised and the other placed upon a bible?
lol...I find it ironic that you mention winter as a barrier for cycling... right after mentioning Montreal of all cities as an example. Just goes to show we can't use winter as an excuse for making the city more bicycle friendly.I've read here that Montreal has some kind of barrier between the car lane & bike lanes which prevent that. Another cycling barrier is our winter. I'm pretty dedicated but once the first snow fall begins that's when I clean and wrap my bike up for the season. It's seriously unsafe when roads get icy.
lol...I find it ironic that you mention winter as a barrier for cycling... right after mentioning Montreal of all cities as an example. Just goes to show we can't use winter as an excuse for making the city more bicycle friendly.
Is Toronto bike friendly?
I guess I misunderstood the thread title... because I have yet to meet a "friendly" cyclist. ;-)
Not on the sidewalk (thought I had the right of way here), not when I am signaling a right turn, very close to the curb... and just miss killing the 2 fingers raised, 10 speed-freak, screaming maniac who blind-sided me.
I'll help build 100 kilometres of new bike lanes in the city, if cyclists agree to police the many, many "assholes" on 2 wheels. It's true. There's just as many on 2 wheels.
So put away the bible until basic courtesy and etiquette is exhibited by the oh so politically-correct, non-polluting, but life-threating 2 wheelers who inhabit the city.
OK, I just admitted I have a car. 330i. Love it. But.... only drive it twice week, usually for golf and wine in Niagara with mommy. So don't demonize me or I'll drive every day.
Your points are valid but the percentage of law abiding, road-riding cyclists is high. I'm on the roads & in the lanes every day; I observe those cycling around me and most are good. It's perhaps in the 20% range who think it's ok to ride on sidewalks, who don't obey the rules of the road and cycle aggressively which makes the majority of cyclists look bad from a driver's point of view. There's plenty of "friendly cyclists" out there who ride safely. Like me!
But there is a big difference in the potential damage an aggressive driver can cause, versus the potential damage an aggressive cyclist can cause. For the most part, the most damage a collision with a bicycle will do to a pedestrian is a few bruises, maybe a broken bone if the pedestrian is elderly. An automobile, on the other hand, can easily kill that pedestrian.