Discussions

We were walking on a bike path a few weeks ago at a Provincial park and I was about to turn left to walk to our campsite, but shoulder checked and a cyclist flew by! Wow, if I hadn't looked that would have hurt and probably caused a broken bone or two. I agree with the OP, when these cyclist are in a group to try and ride single file instead of two or three abreast. We do not want to hit you anymore than you want to be hit.

Bluejeanstoo said "    RKL said "I still believe they should stay on the sidewalks. Safest place for them. A cyclist has no chance against any type of vehicle. One hit and it could all be over. " And where are people walking supposed to walk? And what if they have strollers or a few kids with them? "

If cyclists were more careful and courteous on the sidewalks then there would be no issue with them riding on the sidewalks. Every year cyclists are killed by cars, but I don't ever remember a pedestrian killed by a cyclist, sidewalk or not. Having said that, the safest place for all is to have cyclist on sidewalks and this would obviously be in cities and yes if there are bicycle paths then that's where they should ride. On highways, it would be nice to have bicycle paths everywhere, but unfortunately for those cyclist going on the highways they must share the roads. We rode our bikes as a family all over Brandon. In the downtown core we would ride on the sidewalks and not like maniacs. We taught our kidsto slow down where pedestrians were and give way when required. Not once did we ever have a problem. IMO, if bicycle riders could be more courteous and cautious, riding onthe sidewalks would be a non-issue and safest for all.

I wish they would stay off the sidewalks or at least be respectful of people walking on the sidewalks.  
Road rules for cyclists, some people are good and the others are not so good.

Why do any bicycles ride down Victoria or 18th Street? First rule of cycling is that we have more options than motorists - we can ride down backlanes and down parallel streets like Louise or 20th Street without affecting our travel time. I've been riding since I was a kid (I grew up in Winnipeg, and drove cross-city there when still in elementary school). Having to make a statement riding two abreast down Victoria is just silly - it's easier and usually faster to drive one street over.

Fishin Guy said "I think what would be a great benefit is to get rid of these stupid meridians and make more practical roadway usage in urban areas. Just think if the meridians were removed you would have much more space to allow bike lanes on either side along the road. This would open up the road a lot allowing for shared travel.     Highways would not be as practical. You would have to build roads wider at a much larger cost for the minimal bike traffic. "

Medians are in place to enhance safety in cities for both pedestrians and motorists. They aren't done very well in Brandon compared with other cities so they often don't serve these purposes to their full potential. But they also sometimes have trees on them which make the streets cooler in the summer and prevent snow drifts in the winter, again if done properly.  
 
Brandon is designed to serve motorists first and foremost, that's why drivers get uptight when they nearly kill or maim a cyclist or pedestrian. This is the problem.

Diogenes said "    Fishin Guy said "I think what would be a great benefit is to get rid of these stupid meridians and make more practical roadway usage in urban areas. Just think if the meridians were removed you would have much more space to allow bike lanes on either side along the road. This would open up the road a lot allowing for shared travel.     Highways would not be as practical. You would have to build roads wider at a much larger cost for the minimal bike traffic. " Medians are in place to enhance safety in cities for both pedestrians and motorists. They aren't done very well in Brandon compared with other cities so they often don't serve these purposes to their full potential. But they also sometimes have trees on them which make the streets cooler in the summer and prevent snow drifts in the winter, again if done properly.     Brandon is designed to serve motorists first and foremost, that's why drivers get uptight when they nearly kill or maim a cyclist or pedestrian. This is the problem. "

Sorry tying too fast and not thinking enough. After visiting towns/cities in other places in the US and Canada I have seen no purpose of having them. I see more time spend watering flowers and washing rocks. I love traveling in places that don't have them and make them a turning lane. By eliminating them and creating turning lanes and bike lanes the roads would to me be much easier to navigate in have better traffic flow. Winter the city just pushes the snow up on them anyway causing drifts, graders constantly chip the curbs away, trees get damaged when they try and remove snow from them.

Fishin Guy said "    Diogenes said "    Fishin Guy said "I think what would be a great benefit is to get rid of these stupid meridians and make more practical roadway usage in urban areas. Just think if the meridians were removed you would have much more space to allow bike lanes on either side along the road. This would open up the road a lot allowing for shared travel.     Highways would not be as practical. You would have to build roads wider at a much larger cost for the minimal bike traffic. " Medians are in place to enhance safety in cities for both pedestrians and motorists. They aren't done very well in Brandon compared with other cities so they often don't serve these purposes to their full potential. But they also sometimes have trees on them which make the streets cooler in the summer and prevent snow drifts in the winter, again if done properly.     Brandon is designed to serve motorists first and foremost, that's why drivers get uptight when they nearly kill or maim a cyclist or pedestrian. This is the problem. " Sorry tying too fast and not thinking enough. After visiting towns/cities in other places in the US and Canada I have seen no purpose of having them. I see more time spend watering flowers and washing rocks. I love traveling in places that don't have them and make them a turning lane. By eliminating them and creating turning lanes and bike lanes the roads would to me be much easier to navigate in have better traffic flow. Winter the city just pushes the snow up on them anyway causing drifts, graders constantly chip the curbs away, trees get damaged when they try and remove snow from them. "

Medians enhance safety for pedestrians and motorists. No doubt that removing medians and adding additional lanes will make it easier for motorists to get around. There's a fast lane, a slow lane, and two turning lanes, but it doesn't mean this is the safest solution, especially in urban areas. It's more for perimeters, such as Calgary's many "trails". But step out of the car and try to walk across an eight lane road and see how far you get. Plus asphalt absorbs a lot of heat in the summer, the medians provide some greenspace relief to reduce the amount of heat in cities.  
 
The thing with bike lanes is that they're best when there is a separation between motorists and cyclists. When you have mixed motor vehicle lanes and bike lanes, turning lanes always cut through bike lanes and leave no place for cyclists to turn. We're seeing Winnipeg and Saskatoon installing more separated bike lanes after seeing cyclists injured or killed on their non-separate lanes.  
 
But anyway, I agree with you. The city/province does a poor job with their medians.

I hear from cyclists in Winnipeg that bike along the non-separated lanes and they say that motorists do not respect the division and drive in the bike lanes. That's one of the bigger issues of non-separate bike lanes.

If you think bikes sharing the road is so outrageous, why is it when someone hits one on the highway the nation treats the driver like a criminal.  
 
Learn how to drive defensively.  

metou said "I know i am going to ruffle a few feathers but there has been numerous ocassions where i having been running erands etc. and people ride their bikes on the same lane/part of the road as cars, i understand peoples right to get out get active and all that jazz and that the pavement is much more easier to ride your bike on but i was coming down highway 10 one time and a cyclist was right on the pavement , i was pulling a 7000 lb. camper and there was traffic coming towards me and a curve in the road, i had to slow right down and wait for traffic to clear so i could pass and slowing down everyone behind me, the opposing traffic started to pull over to the shoulder. Today 2 cyclists were travelling down a very busy street and the same thing - i had to slow right down while they just took their time and waited for me to pass, i feel this is dangerous for everyone involved, i only want everyone to have a safe summer, thats my rant. "

Are you dumb or stupid? Cyclists are supposed to be riding on the streets and on highways a road bike tires aren't made for riding in the ditch. What big deal is it to slow down anyway, they usually do not dropped down on the highway from the sky so you see them ahead of time then you slow down and doesn't who you are and much weights you carry.  
I cycle a lot I believe I do not take that much room and quite close to the sidewalks. Could all drivers give us respect DO NOT DRIVE SO CLOSE TO US. Some drivers seem to prefer drive close to the cyclist and through him/her on the ground than driving close to next vehicle fear of hitting/scratching it and not dealing with autopac. Some bikes may cost $50.00, $200.00, or $500.00 but some bikes cost $5000.00 and higher.

I wish bikes had license plates and required some sort of license. Not all cyclists know the rules of the road as not all cyclists have vehicles. This way they could have some traffic law training and be held accountable when they make errors (I see them blow through stop signs quite often and cause lots of problems at 4 way stops).  
 

1 chance said "    metou said "I know i am going to ruffle a few feathers but there has been numerous ocassions where i having been running erands etc. and people ride their bikes on the same lane/part of the road as cars, i understand peoples right to get out get active and all that jazz and that the pavement is much more easier to ride your bike on but i was coming down highway 10 one time and a cyclist was right on the pavement , i was pulling a 7000 lb. camper and there was traffic coming towards me and a curve in the road, i had to slow right down and wait for traffic to clear so i could pass and slowing down everyone behind me, the opposing traffic started to pull over to the shoulder. Today 2 cyclists were travelling down a very busy street and the same thing - i had to slow right down while they just took their time and waited for me to pass, i feel this is dangerous for everyone involved, i only want everyone to have a safe summer, thats my rant. " Are you dumb or stupid? Cyclists are supposed to be riding on the streets and on highways a road bike tires aren't made for riding in the ditch. What big deal is it to slow down anyway, they usually do not dropped down on the highway from the sky so you see them ahead of time then you slow down and doesn't who you are and much weights you carry.   I cycle a lot I believe I do not take that much room and quite close to the sidewalks. Could all drivers give us respect DO NOT DRIVE SO CLOSE TO US. Some drivers seem to prefer drive close to the cyclist and through him/her on the ground than driving close to next vehicle fear of hitting/scratching it and not dealing with autopac. Some bikes may cost $50.00, $200.00, or $500.00 but some bikes cost $5000.00 and higher. "

I think it is more of a lot of the cyclists who like to pair up or ride more on the road vs the edge. I have lost count the amount of times I have encountered riders side by side on Hwy 10 south. Same example would be how about you riding and two people are walking the shoulder, you cannot pass due to a vehicle in the actual lane and have to slow to walking speed, ride after ride after ride. Don't really think you would be enjoying it too much. Campers and semi's create a lot of drafts. I always try and be nice to cyclists when passing and move into the oncoming lane if I can. I'll say nicely that it really sucks pulling a load and having the lane taken by cyclists and having to slow to a crawl.....then trying to accelerate safely and quick enough to pass. Sure your bikes can cost over 5 grand and higher, vehicles cost way more than that and contribute a lot more into these roads than a cyclist does.

kärlek said "I wish bikes had license plates and required some sort of license. Not all cyclists know the rules of the road as not all cyclists have vehicles. This way they could have some traffic law training and be held accountable when they make errors (I see them blow through stop signs quite often and cause lots of problems at 4 way stops).     "

some type of liability insurance.  
They have the same rights on the roads / streets as a vehicle so it makes no sense that they have neither in my opinion.

I believe the government should change the highway traffic law!  
 
The law should protect bikes just like it protects police and construction workers. 60 km when passing.  
 
Passing a bike at 110 km is a crime just like it's a crime to see how close you can get when people try to run bikes off the road.  
 
Edited by loeog, 2015-08-04 17:31:31

loeog said "I believe the government should change the highway traffic law!     The law should protect bikes just like it protects police and construction workers. 60 km when passing.     Passing a bike at 110 km is a crime just like it's a crime to see how close you can get when people try to run bikes off the road.     Edited by loeog, 2015-08-04 17:31:31"

So are cyclists going to have bright flashing lights visible for quite some distance? or signs marking that they are several km ahead of you? That's what emergency services have to do, along with construction sites, in order to have people slow down.  
 
If people use common sense, follow the laws as they currently are, and stop acting like self entitled idiots, things would be a lot better off.

drivers should get a fine if driving too close to a cyclist. Drivers get double fine if too fast through construction zone for caution and not hurt a worker but it seems passing a cyclist at whole speed inches from us (cyclists) is ok.  
A cyclist is a human just as the same as a construction workers on highway or streets. I guess the law view us as a worthless disposable object.  
I understand it is annoying for drivers to slow down or mover over for us but cyclists did not make the law to bike on the streets or if streets aren't wide enough.

now now do you think name calling is neccesary , i do slow right down and pass when safe, i don't honk or yell and i certainly don't call them names....

Ok good you are not. Sorry but by reading your post I interpret a conclusion as you did not like see cyclists on the road/streets, they make you slow down.

a fine for driving too close to a cyclist? Construction has to be there for job reasons. Comparing the two is ridiculous. you want rights on the road? Pay for it. you are riding there by choice. How many ppl are using their bicycle on the highway as a means of commuting? mabey, mabey 1 in 100. I like riding my quad and would be nice to ride it too on the streets but I cant, and I have to pay for registration and such. It is your hobby or exercise and you are entitled to that definitely, but a question of who belongs on the highway more, a bicycle or a motor vehicle? Well you should know that answer. Really, both parties are guilty to a degree. The motorist should have respect for the cycler, and the cycler should respect the motorist and move over as well. I'm sure your "street tires" can handle some gravel shoulder.

comes up every year (like many others) and as someone who has put on lots of miles in bigger centers like Vancouver and all over Van Island all I can figure is Manitobans need to get out of Mb and learn to drive in real major city. I agree riding 2 abreast is stupid and is illegal for motorbikes to do, so don't know why pedal bikes figure they should do it. But come on, move over that 2' and pass the cyclist like they do ALL over the rest of Canada. I never ever rode on a city sidewalk and although I had some very close calls I am still here to read every post from impatient drivers and inconsiderate riders. Sidewalks are NOT for bikes, some of us do not enjoy a slow ride on a beachbike with our pet shitzu in the flower basket hanging from our handle bars. The ones that are on the road are following at least 1 of the laws and are doing it for the love of riding and exercise. If some of them ran into someone walking down the sidewalk, could cause severe injuries to both individuals. I still ride on major hwys where I live and you will not catch me riding on the gravel shoulder, I take my place on the 1-2' of pavement that I am allowed to ride on and like someone else said, if you can't see me for about 1ml before you are upon me, you are obviously driving distracted or are blind.  
But I do agree as cyclist we should NOT be riding 2 abreast unless it is safe to do so on the shoulders. Just like automobile, truck, motorcycle drivers there are boneheads on bikes, skateboards and scooters.

09Scrammy said "a fine for driving too close to a cyclist? Construction has to be there for job reasons. Comparing the two is ridiculous. you want rights on the road? Pay for it. you are riding there by choice. How many ppl are using their bicycle on the highway as a means of commuting? mabey, mabey 1 in 100. I like riding my quad and would be nice to ride it too on the streets but I cant, and I have to pay for registration and such. It is your hobby or exercise and you are entitled to that definitely, but a question of who belongs on the highway more, a bicycle or a motor vehicle? Well you should know that answer. Really, both parties are guilty to a degree. The motorist should have respect for the cycler, and the cycler should respect the motorist and move over as well. I'm sure your "street tires" can handle some gravel shoulder. "

were never on a road bike I guess because they have narrow tires which do not ride good on GRAVEL shoulders but a mountain bike with wider tires can.

1 chance said "drivers should get a fine if driving too close to a cyclist. Drivers get double fine if too fast through construction zone for caution and not hurt a worker but it seems passing a cyclist at whole speed inches from us (cyclists) is ok.   A cyclist is a human just as the same as a construction workers on highway or streets. I guess the law view us as a worthless disposable object.   I understand it is annoying for drivers to slow down or mover over for us but cyclists did not make the law to bike on the streets or if streets aren't wide enough. "

I think the difference is pretty obvious - construction workers and emergency personnel are on the highway because they have to be. Cyclists are there because they choose to be. Myself I would never, ever cycle on the highway. All it takes is a distracted driver, a blown tire, an animal crossing, and you are dead. Cyclists are just at too much of a disadvantage on a highway. Find somewhere else to ride, its not worth it.

My only issue with cyclists in town is when 5 vehicles finally get by you doing 8kmph and come to a red light... you should not get a pass to the front of the line again so we all have to somehow get by you again. I have now started hugging the curb so you can't get by(I know prickish)But I'm all fine with sharing the roads!

my "all season" tires don't do awesome in winter but I make do!!!

Here's something (the link below) for the poster above saying that if cyclists want to use the road, they should pay for it. It's a study conducted in Vancouver and it concluded that, on average, for every dollar you spend on your car (gas, insurance, parking, maintenance, repair, and so on) society (through taxes) pays $9.20 for related public health costs, pollution, wear and tear on the roads, infrastructure repair and maintenance, etc. For every dollar a cyclist spends on his or her bike (initial cost, tune-ups, tire tubes, and so on), society pays $0.08 for decreased public health costs, minimal infrastructure wear and tear and requirement, zero emissions, etc. It's an interesting way of looking at the cost effectiveness of motor vehicle commuting. It also compares cycling and person motor vehicles with walking and busing.  
 
As you are likely aware, motorists spend more money on their personal vehicles than cyclists pay for their bikes. But many cyclists are also motorists. There aren't too many people that bike to work in Brandon compared with the vast majority that drive. I think I saw somewhere that the average person spends $9,000 a year on their car. That's car payments, gas, insurance, maintenance, and so on. So $9,000 x $9.20 = $82,800 a year. It's no wonder there's an infrastructure deficit.  
 
Here's the link, please be sure to read it:  
http://movingforward.discoursemedia.org/costofcommute/

As a Brandon cyclist I find that the drivers are often too "nice" to city bikers: they often will stop their cars and wave at me telling me to enter an intersection even when I have a stop or yield sign indicating that I do not have right of way in that interaction. This actually puts us both in danger. All I want as a cyclist is to follow the same traffic laws as other vehicles - it's the best way for me to reach my destination safely. When I'm on two wheels I am a driver, not a pedestrian. And acknowledging that I can't go as fast as a motor vehicle I always share the road by letting cars pass - ultimately the problem is about bad drivers (cyclists and cars), not about bikes on roads (where all vehicles should be). Sidewalks are for pedestrians!  
 
Edited by AlexK, 2015-08-05 00:50:39

If a bicycle can go on the same road as a car why can't I ride my dirt bike on the road as a bicycle?  
 
I'm wearing helmet and full gear, I have liability insurance and I wont slow down traffic as I have a motor, people say because a dirt bike has no lights but bicycles don't have em either, kind of a double standard here.  
 
I mention this because obviously a dirt bike performs well on a ditch but sometimes the ditch is not the best option due to muddy conditions or because a river comes across.  
 
Edited by Gunz, 2015-08-05 00:54:01

There may also be noise and emissions requirements for the dirt bike to meet.

loeog said "I believe the government should change the highway traffic law!     The law should protect bikes just like it protects police and construction workers. 60 km when passing.     Passing a bike at 110 km is a crime just like it's a crime to see how close you can get when people try to run bikes off the road.     Edited by loeog, 2015-08-04 17:31:31"

I also think the should change the law - much like in parts of the states and Europe - minimum speed limit on major highways

Reston said "    loeog said "I believe the government should change the highway traffic law!     The law should protect bikes just like it protects police and construction workers. 60 km when passing.     Passing a bike at 110 km is a crime just like it's a crime to see how close you can get when people try to run bikes off the road.     Edited by loeog, 2015-08-04 17:31:31" I also think the should change the law - much like in parts of the states and Europe - minimum speed limit on major highways "

almost be all for that and get the combines and farm equipment off the hwys too! But it is highly unlikely this can be done. There are however the Freeways in BC that bikes are not permitted on. But there are no highways in Manitoba that are even remotely as busy as those. Sure speeds may legally be more in Mb, but the traffic load I would bet would be in the single digit percentage.  
As for everyone talking about blowing a tire on a car, or whatever you want to fear while driving....unfortunately those are all part of the risks of driving a motor vehicle and the risks of sharing the roads with everyone. I have blown many tires and seen the destruction they can cause, so when I'm on my motorbike I don't casually cruise by a semi, I speed past it to get out of the danger zone. When I am on my pedal bike on the hwy, all I can do is hope and pray my ride goes smoothly and safely and the odds of having a tire blow at the exact time you pass me is pretty slim, but could happen (just the same as if I was on my motorbike or vehicle). If we all thought of the "what ifs" we would never wake up in the morning.