Discussions

Just a friendly reminder that cyclists are considered road vehicles when riding on the road and should be treated accordingly.  
 
To the drivers, thank you for wanting to be considerate but when you stop in the flow of traffic (especially during rush hour), you cause confusion to the other drivers around you and can potentially cause an accident. You wouldn't do this to a motor vehicle, so don't do it for us cyclists.  
 
If you're a cyclist, road rules need to be followed - we can't have it it both ways.  
 
Also for the cyclists, if you're travelling East/West, forget the 'Bicycle Corridor' on Lorne - it's awful. McTavish is a much better road to use as it's wider and flows better.  
 
Stay safe everyone!  
 
Edited by Sykes, 2020-07-10 10:58:51

Please follow a few things too.  
 
When at a red light don't cycle up along side all the vehicles to pass them then to be cut off by a vehicle turning right, you are not in the right of way.  
 
When riding the bike paths remember it is a small stop sign at road intersections. I am tired of being yelled or given the finger for a cyclist cutting across the road without stopping. Again it is a little red stop sign with a cycle icon in the middle.

Pedestrians are supposed to walk facing traffic. If you're walking your bicycle it's probably okay. When you are riding on a public road you are supposed to ride in the same direction that the traffic is going. I stopped at a stop sign at Princess the other day, checked for traffic and pedestrians, started to go and then had to hit the brakes for a cyclist riding quite fast in the wrong direction on Princess, a one way street. That is an illegal, unpredictable and very risky way to ride.

Are cyclists suppise to ride single file?

The passing a line of cars at a red light drives me crazy. I had to pass you once, don't make me pass you again! And again. And yet again!  
 
I will happily share the road with cyclists (and I'll even give them a little leeway, because I realize bikes are different, harder to accelerate, etc), but only if they are courteous and follow the basic rules.

What drives me crazy is when a bike rides up to a stop sign, rider gets off and stands at crosswalk. Traffic stops and they RIDE across the crosswalk. I see this frequently at 18th by the university.

When I'm on my bike, I always figured that cars would prefer that I quickly cross the intersection so they can start driving again, instead of me taking a leisurely walk across the crosswalk and making everybody wait longer.  
 
When I'm driving, I appreciate it when bikers cross the crosswalk quickly instead of holding everybody up longer than necessary. So I try to do the same when I'm on my bike. Sorry if it drives you crazy.  
 
Edited by TheBrofessor, 2020-07-11 22:00:23

I see you don’t get it. When you are on a bike you follow the vehicular rules. You are not a pedestrian. You have nothing to do with the crosswalk. You sit on your bike until it is safe to enter the intersection and ride across. When I’m in my car I don’t jump out and stand at the crosswalk do I.

I used to ride my bike back and forth to school a lot. Please avoid the major arteries, there are a lot of side streets far more conducive to bikes than Victoria or Richmond.

Yes I know the rules and know I'm supposed to walk across. I just don't see how it benefits anyone if I make everyone wait longer than necessary.

Riding across at pedestrian crossings save you what... 5 seconds!! I can't think of anywhere (except the hospital, maybe, but then they should probably be in an ambulance) the some one in a car needs to get to that 5 seconds will cause ANY issues. If you're riding, you'r a vehicle, NOT a pedestrian.  
I cycle regularly, and am also frustrated when cars stop in the middle of Victoria to let me cross. I recoginize they are trying to be courteous, but I agree, they cause confusion. There are two lanes and the if the big car in the median stops, the curb lane doesn't always understand and doesn't always stop. If the cycleist proceeds they risk being hit!  
Please... cycleist, treat the road like you'r a car, don't creep past vehicles at stop lights! that extra 4-5 car lengths isn't saving you any time! What's your hurry?  
Please... Cars, treat the cyclist like other cars, and give them a safe distance. rememer they can stop faster than you in an emergncy. I'm sure you, as a car, doesn't like it when a hugh semi is tail gating you.

Bro you're still not getting it. You shouldn't be on the crosswalk at all. You are a vehicle. Sit. Wait. Proceed to ride across THE INTERSECTION when safe, not the crosswalk.

I get it. I dismount and press the button to cross. I can then walk across as a pedestrian. I choose to start walking across and then get on my bike and ride. It's not endangering anyone and saves everyone some time, so not sure what the big deal is. I realize it's not what the law requires, but if it doesn't make anyone unsafe, than who cares? The law also requires people to drive at 50 km/h in the city. If somebody can drive at 51 and still be safe, it really doesn't bother me.

The thing is that most, if not all, drivers don't expect anything to be moving quickly through the crosswalk. They expect people and o:bjects in the crosswalk, (walkers, strollers, etc.) to be moving at walking speed. You don't expect someone to run through a crosswalk as fast as they can and we're not expecting bicycles moving "quickly" either. You will continue to do it the way you want to, but if you do get hit sometime, please don't blame the driver. Most of us actually don't mind waiting for pedestrians.

For sure. I always make sure that cars are stopping before entering the roadway. Stepping off the curb without looking at the traffic is a death wish.

I always look for cyclists at intersections and think "good for them" as I would be too scared to ride a bike in this city with so many people not paying attention and yes still using their cell phones. My problem is the number of people that ride on the sidewalks. I didn't think it was allowed (although if it is kids, doesn't bother me at all). I have been almost mowed down quite a few times walking my dog and it is always when I am on a sidewalk.

Gonna get flamed, don't care.  
 
I ride on the sidewalk all the time. Why? Much safer for everyone involved. Safer for me as a cyclist, safer for the motorists who don't have to be distracted by their fury at seeing someone on a bike.  
 
Here's the thing, I know I am breaking a bylaw (before unleashing sanctimony ask yourself how often you come yo a complete stop at a stop sign - I know all of you do all of the time.)  
 
When I ride on the sidewalk - speaking solely of myself - I ride slowly, I slow to a bare crawl when coming up on blind corners or entries to yards. If there is a pedestrian I get off well ahead of them and walk past. I have been thanked for this and my response is a smiling, "No need, it's a sidewalk, not a sideride."  
 
Is this a perfect solution? Nope. Is it the best solution to keep me safe? Yes, and it is my responsibility to look out for the safety of others in the sidewalk.  
 
Given that not one person I've passed has ever complained and, as I said, people have expressed appreciation, I don't believe I am acting in an unsafe or discourteous way. Illegal sure, so is jaywalking and not signalling which I see dozens of times a day.  
 
Rail away to your hearts' content. It's not going to make me change

I get what everyone is saying cyclist is considered a vehicle , myself I ride a lot and yes I don't walk across the pedestrian lights I just wait until safe and ride slow , what I don't get is that in this country it is not mandatory to have lights on your bike at night , nothing worse than a cyclist at night in dark clothes …..

In the uk reflectors front and rear were mandatory, lights front and rear mandatory after dusk and when we were kids we were encouraged to go through the cycling proficiency test to learn basic skills and learn the rules of the road .

I do give people on bikes the room they need when I pass and I do try to watch out for them. But I agree when I pass the person on a bike and so do other cars why do you think you can ride through the line of cars at a red light to the front of the line? I would like to hear why that is ok as you want the cars to obey and give you respect. So why not return the respect. Not all people on bikes do this but some do. Have passed a person on a bike a couple of times on 1st and then at the red light the person rides past all the cars that passed him and then proceeded through the red light and keeps going. Also if you run a red light and get hit by a vehicle that had a green light. Not sure but a person on a bike is going to get hurt if they hit a vehicle. If a car passes you take your turn in line at the red lights. As people on bikes want people in cars to give them room and consider them a vehicle so then the handful of people on bikes that break the law they should also obey the rules of the road. I ride a motorcycle and even then you have to obey the rules of the road and watch out for every thing same as riding a bike.

Can cyclists please stay off 34th street and 1st over the bridge when there are bike paths available for that reason right beside the main roads. You slow down the flow of traffic. You will never be able to cycle 70/km/h so please get out of the way and onto the bike paths. They are there for a reason!!

JORDANICAL: I know this is not quite related to the discussion, but just a point of clarification to something you said. Jaywalking is not illegal. A pedestrian can cross the street anywhere they want. The bylaw just says that if a pedestrian crosses anywhere besides a crosswalk, the car has the right of way.

I admit, I agree with the others who don't like your approach here. If you are a cyclist, and you want to cross the street, do so like every other 'vehicle' - wait until the traffic is clear and then ride across. Just like the other vehicles have to do. Getting off your bike and being a pedestrian temporarily may be legal, but it's inconsiderate. You are now causing the cars that now have to wait for you to wait when they shouldn't have. Not a question of how quick you get across. They still have to stop, then resume on their way. Waste of gas (yes, I know, not much) and waste of time (yes, again, not much). But it's the principle. You are taking advantage of being both a vehicle when you want, and a pedestrian when you want. Causing anyone to stop to give you the right of way that you wouldn't have had while in 'vehicle mode' is discourteous.

it isnt about you its about the rules. they are there for a reason, and that reason is that so everyone is doing the same thing to hopefully avoid accidents. ill never understand why people think because they dont care, that others should have to deal with their choices. no one wants you to take your sweet time, no one wants you to hurry, just get across safely walking and then we can all be on our merry way.  
 
that being said ..to the drivers of vehicles that for whatever reason cannot for the life of them stop, can you try harder? stop means stop, you wait until they have cleared the lane/s then proceed. that does not mean keep crawling forward to the point the person stops walking or start to scurry because it looks like youre going to run them down. it takes less than a minute to fully stop and not intimidate the pedestrian. happens way to often and its gross to watch the ignorance.

I don't understand why the law makes it so that cyclists going half the speed or slower then the 10 cars behind them are supposed to be on the road instead of the safer sidewalks in smaller cities where maybe 2 people are walking on a sidewalk in a 5 block span who cyclists could simply bike around. This isn't N.Y.C.  
 
It's safer and it makes way more sense. I roll down the passenger window and tell them use sidewalk its safer and doesn't piss the the ten cars off your holding up behind you.

If one is going stop people on the paths from walking more then 2 abreast and make it impossible for cyclists to go around them safely, go for it. If one isn't interested in doing that, cyclists can and will continue to go on the street as normal and be safe about it.  
 
As for 1st st bridge, the path all along 1st street is in rough shape, actually dangerous at any speed at the approach with the soccer field. Just slow down, be nice like you normally do at school zones.  
 
Edited by alight, 2020-07-17 15:16:14

It saves everyone time? Except those that had to stop for you to break the law. If you followed the laws, you would wait for traffic to clear and proceed, like any other vehicle. You did not save them time by making them stop because you feel entitled to the benefits of being a vehicle and a pedestrian. You are one or the other. Hope a cop eventually tickets you.

Wrong. If I followed the law, I'd be walking across. Walking is slower than riding.  
 
Edited by TheBrofessor, 2020-07-17 16:06:40

TheBrofessor, you are not following the law, a cyclist is the same as a vehicle! Wait your turn to cross the street as vehicles do. Vehicles are not allowed to be on crosswalks!  
 
Edited by Loves Music, 2020-07-17 22:10:31

I know. There are several situations in my ride where it is beneficial to traffic and safer for me if I don't follow the law. I'm not sure why everyone is so focused on the law, rather than what is actually safe or courteous.