I am a cyclist. No, not someone who sometimes rides a bike. I use a bicycle as my main source of transportation. I have never had a license as I have never really needed one in the city. Although I have wished for one on several occasions to get out of the city.
I love cycling, I hate traffic and I hate how the alleged “law” does nothing to instil any kind of respect for cyclists.
For the sake of sanity I beg you on behalf of all cyclists, please use your signal lights. (And yes, to that end, I do use my hand signals as well as much as possible.) And try not to suddenly dart out in front of me so I have to slam on the brakes so hard I either flip over my handle bars or careen under your car. It’s a really little thing, it doesn’t even involve much activity, just some consideration.
I can’t for the life of me understand why the province hasn’t introduced a R.I.D.E. type program to do with cyclists awareness, pulling drivers over for such infractions as noted above AND pulling cyclists over for:
1. Texting. Are you fucking kidding me?! You are riding your bike where you need all your wits about you and you are texting – an accident might do you good.
2. Wearing all black at night with no lights, so basically invisible. No wonder drivers hate us. How would you like to have this looming blur in the distance suddenly manifest into some knob on a bicycle two feet from your car?
I really don’t understand this focus on helmets. If I want to smash my head in, that’s my prerogative. (Having been hit by a car, losing three front teeth and finding out that I probably would have died had I been wearing a helmet – a one in a million chance – I’m still on the fence. I wear them … sometimes.)
I think the focus should be on visibility and common courtesy. Barring that a good screaming match can’t be beat … I kid, I kid … sort of.
Girlie Groove 