To Encourage Biking, Cities Lose the Helmets

[JR]

Cosmo and I appear to be the same person.

I had a guy get seriously pissed at me because I was in the left hand turn lane to make a left hand turn. This guy wasn't even turning - he was in the lane next to me. I explained to him that I was in the right place since I can't make a left hand turn from the curb. He was unconvinced and called me hurtful names. It will come as no surprise to Torontonians on the board that my commute to my office is through our Mayor's former riding.

As to riding on the sidewalks, it's illegal in most places. Besides, it gives you the illusion of safety when in reality you are less visible to cars while moving at speeds much faster than pedestrians.

As to helmets, it isn't mandatory in Toronto if you're over the age of 16 and I see a lot of people who ride without them. I am NOT among their number.

I knew you'd show up

You can hear "Hurtful Names" new single on Sirius/Xm's Spectrum

 

[YGBFKM]

Can you ride a bike with training wheels on the sidewalk, or is that illegal, too?

 

[Azrael]

I had one as a motorist yesterday that just left me shaking my head.

I was at a stoplight with two left turn lanes, and I was in the right of those lanes. A bike was in the left. We both turned at the light -- so he is in the inside lane as we get onto the new street -- and then he needs to get all the way over to the right side. So he cuts in front of me to get over. Now, if it's a car this is fine, so I figure this was a legal move on his part. But he was damn lucky that I was driving in the next lane, because not everyone is paying attention -- most people aren't -- and he could have easily wound up under the car he was cutting in front of. And at that point it isn't going to be much consolation to him that he has the right of way.

Also, this was the one busy intersection in a one-mile stretch of road. There were at least a half-dozen other places he could have gotten where he needed to go.

Did he signal his lane change?

 

[LongTimeListener]

I had one as a motorist yesterday that just left me shaking my head.

I was at a stoplight with two left turn lanes, and I was in the right of those lanes. A bike was in the left. We both turned at the light -- so he is in the inside lane as we get onto the new street -- and then he needs to get all the way over to the right side. So he cuts in front of me to get over. Now, if it's a car this is fine, so I figure this was a legal move on his part. But he was damn lucky that I was driving in the next lane, because not everyone is paying attention -- most people aren't -- and he could have easily wound up under the car he was cutting in front of. And at that point it isn't going to be much consolation to him that he has the right of way.

Also, this was the one busy intersection in a one-mile stretch of road. There were at least a half-dozen other places he could have gotten where he needed to go.

Did he signal his lane change?

Not that I saw. He might have. But that's another huge difference that cyclists often dismiss -- they aren't as visible as cars. A person with the best of intentions and driving habits still may not see them.

 

[Cosmo]

He should have been in the right-hand turn lane unless he planned on turning left quickly once getting onto the next road.

 

[Versatile]

Not that I saw. He might have. But that's another huge difference that cyclists often dismiss -- they aren't as visible as cars. A person with the best of intentions and driving habits still may not see them.

And a biker using hand signals doesn't keep them up until the turn or lane change is complete, because you generally need both hands to execute the turn.

I wish we taught children the proper biking rules to ingrain it in their heads and to avoid having kids riding like idiots.

 

[JR]

Can you ride a bike with training wheels on the sidewalk, or is that illegal, too?

From the City of Toronto's website:

A City bylaw allows cyclists with a tire size of 61cm or 24 inches or less to ride on the sidewalk. The intent of this bylaw is to allow young children to cycle on the sidewalk while they learn to ride

Happy?

 

[YGBFKM]

I live in America!

Anyway, it sounds like I can stop worrying about the logistics of teaching my son to ride a bike amid city traffic.

 

[Azrael]

I had one as a motorist yesterday that just left me shaking my head.

I was at a stoplight with two left turn lanes, and I was in the right of those lanes. A bike was in the left. We both turned at the light -- so he is in the inside lane as we get onto the new street -- and then he needs to get all the way over to the right side. So he cuts in front of me to get over. Now, if it's a car this is fine, so I figure this was a legal move on his part. But he was damn lucky that I was driving in the next lane, because not everyone is paying attention -- most people aren't -- and he could have easily wound up under the car he was cutting in front of. And at that point it isn't going to be much consolation to him that he has the right of way.

Also, this was the one busy intersection in a one-mile stretch of road. There were at least a half-dozen other places he could have gotten where he needed to go.

Did he signal his lane change?

Not that I saw. He might have. But that's another huge difference that cyclists often dismiss -- they aren't as visible as cars. A person with the best of intentions and driving habits still may not see them.

He should have signaled. Even a quick index finger pointing to where he's headed would have helped you.

It's up to him to ride as if he's invisible to cars - which he is. It's up to you to see him, because he has as much right to the road as you do.

 

[LongTimeListener]

And that's where idealism meets reality, Az -- I did see him, but a lot of people wouldn't have. Maybe not a majority of potential road-sharers, but a high enough percentage that he was taking a big risk, one that easily could have been avoided had he merely crossed at the nearest intersection to the left or right.

 

[Azrael]

And that's where idealism meets reality, Az -- I did see him, but a lot of people wouldn't have. Maybe not a majority of potential road-sharers, but a high enough percentage that he was taking a big risk, one that easily could have been avoided had he merely crossed at the nearest intersection to the left or right.

Believe me, no one regrets or resents knuckleheaded or thoughtless cyclists as much as other, better-versed cyclists. A cyclist in urban traffic has to obey the same rules as the motorist.

That said, drivers need to (learn to) see bicycles and motorcycles and pedestrians.

 

[HC]

I had one as a motorist yesterday that just left me shaking my head.

I was at a stoplight with two left turn lanes, and I was in the right of those lanes. A bike was in the left. We both turned at the light -- so he is in the inside lane as we get onto the new street -- and then he needs to get all the way over to the right side. So he cuts in front of me to get over. Now, if it's a car this is fine, so I figure this was a legal move on his part. But he was damn lucky that I was driving in the next lane, because not everyone is paying attention -- most people aren't -- and he could have easily wound up under the car he was cutting in front of. And at that point it isn't going to be much consolation to him that he has the right of way.

Also, this was the one busy intersection in a one-mile stretch of road. There were at least a half-dozen other places he could have gotten where he needed to go.

We've asked the judges for their ruling and their verdict is that the cyclist is an idiot. Not a chance I would do that - he should have been in the right hand left turn lane behind you.