Check out my blogs at punchmeout.ca..
Unlike the majority of people I don't own a car, due to my current financial circumstances. I either walk to get where I am going, or choose to take my bicycle. If I owned a car, I would not be able to live comfortably. I'd be living in an apartment paying rent, looking for spare change on the ground, and making trips to the food bank. These days it seems like everyone with a car thinks their better than anyone without a car, and think that cyclists should get off the road, and ride their bicycles for recreational purposes only in parks, and by-cycle paths, wherever there available.
It infuriates me to think that this may be the case with many drivers. I pay my taxes, and I have every right to ride my by-cycle wherever, and whenever as long as I am following the rules of the road.
Bicycles are not just for recreation, people more and more people are using their bicycles to get to work and school. Many roads are not designed for cyclists. When the roads were built, cars were popular, and no one would dream of getting around without one.
This perception is starting to change. People are starting to realize the benefits to riding their bicycles. It puts more money into their pockets, they don't have to concern themselves with parking, and their is an added health benefit as well. Slowly, city planners are realizing the benefits of planning for more bike infrastructure. It reduces traffic congestion, road maintenance, decreases toxic pollutants, and improves physical activity levels, thereby reducing cases of obesity, and the strain on the health care system.
According to Transport Canada, non recreational cycling is on the rises. Most people use it to get to and from work. According to 2006 statistics only 1.4% of the country's Census Metropolitan Area's cycle to work regularly. The numbers have been increasing though, it was 1.2% in 1996 and 1.3% in 2001. Victory, BC had the highest number of bicycle commuters in 2006 at 5.6%. Kingston, ON, and Saskatoon, SK shared a second place.
Unfortunately, there are many barriers to bicycle use. Most streets do not have proper bike path, streets are poorly maintained, and are narrow. In 2004 commuters in Amsterdam were surveyed for reasons why they did not choose their bicycle to ride to work on their bicycles. The main reasons for choosing not to ride their bicycles to work were speed, discomfort, feeling unsafe, and the inability to carry passengers. (i)
Providing more and better infrastructure is the key to improving commuter perception of cycling to work or school. When new subdivisions are built and new roads are constructed, consideration should be made to accommodate cyclists.
Cyclists have every right to share the road as drivers. It doesn't mean that they don't have to follow the same rules. Cyclist’s must follow the rules of the road just has drivers do; however, there are two rules that cyclists must pay special attention to. Since cyclist’s usually travel at a lower speed they must stay to the right of the road, and must give way to faster traffic when safe and practice. (ii)
If you ride your by-cycle to get around there are a few rules that you need to keep in mind. According to the Ministry of Transportation, cyclists must stay a least one metre from the side of the road or close to the right hand edge of the road, when there is no curb. (Often that is not practical. You may have to ride closer than one metre, within reason according to the road conditions.)
When riding around cars you should ride your bike in a straight line. If your changing lanes you must yield the right away to the other vehicles in the lane. The person moving into the lane, should wait until an opening becomes available, signal, check over their shoulder and then change lanes.
Be aware that shoulder checks are can be dangerous; although. It may be helpful to get a by-cycle mirror. Your eyes should never leave the road when you ride your bicycle. Rely on your per-phial vision, and if you have to look to the side or behind you, be quick and keep yourself steady. Small stones, and pot holes can send you flying over your handle bars, and into the traffic. When buying a mirror, be careful, some mirrors may be too small to be really useful. Look around and see what your options are. If your living in a small town or city, your options may be extremely limited, check out Ebay.
I live in Brockville, Ontario, and take my bike to and from work, and to run errands. I don't own a car, and it is my only way aside from walking to get around in this small city, that is still going no after over 100 years. The buses run on the hour, and end at about 5:30 PM. Streets are just wide enough for cars to get through and pass each other. There is poor lighting on many streets, no crossing lights at some street corners, and some streets have no sidewalks.
I follow the rules of the road, and pay my taxes like everyone else. If your a cyclist, be aware of your surroundings, and follow the rules of the road. Stay out of the way, and find alternative means of crossing busy intersections. Drivers be respectful of cyclists. They have a right to ride the road just like you do.
Websites Referenced in this blog;
(i) Ministry of Transportation
(ii) Transport Canada
Check out my blogs at punchmeout.ca..
Unlike the majority of people I don't own a car, due to my current financial circumstances. I either walk to get where I am going, or choose to take my bicycle. If I owned a car, I would not be able to live comfortably. I'd be living in an apartment paying rent, looking for spare change on the ground, and making trips to the food bank. These days it seems like everyone with a car thinks their better than anyone without a car, and think that cyclists should get off the road, and ride their bicycles for recreational purposes only in parks, and by-cycle paths, wherever there available.
It infuriates me to think that this may be the case with many drivers. I pay my taxes, and I have every right to ride my by-cycle wherever, and whenever as long as I am following the rules of the road.
Bicycles are not just for recreation, people more and more people are using their bicycles to get to work and school. Many roads are not designed for cyclists. When the roads were built, cars were popular, and no one would dream of getting around without one.
This perception is starting to change. People are starting to realize the benefits to riding their bicycles. It puts more money into their pockets, they don't have to concern themselves with parking, and their is an added health benefit as well. Slowly, city planners are realizing the benefits of planning for more bike infrastructure. It reduces traffic congestion, road maintenance, decreases toxic pollutants, and improves physical activity levels, thereby reducing cases of obesity, and the strain on the health care system.
According to Transport Canada, non recreational cycling is on the rises. Most people use it to get to and from work. According to 2006 statistics only 1.4% of the country's Census Metropolitan Area's cycle to work regularly. The numbers have been increasing though, it was 1.2% in 1996 and 1.3% in 2001. Victory, BC had the highest number of bicycle commuters in 2006 at 5.6%. Kingston, ON, and Saskatoon, SK shared a second place.
Unfortunately, there are many barriers to bicycle use. Most streets do not have proper bike path, streets are poorly maintained, and are narrow. In 2004 commuters in Amsterdam were surveyed for reasons why they did not choose their bicycle to ride to work on their bicycles. The main reasons for choosing not to ride their bicycles to work were speed, discomfort, feeling unsafe, and the inability to carry passengers. (i)
Providing more and better infrastructure is the key to improving commuter perception of cycling to work or school. When new subdivisions are built and new roads are constructed, consideration should be made to accommodate cyclists.
Cyclists have every right to share the road as drivers. It doesn't mean that they don't have to follow the same rules. Cyclist’s must follow the rules of the road just has drivers do; however, there are two rules that cyclists must pay special attention to. Since cyclist’s usually travel at a lower speed they must stay to the right of the road, and must give way to faster traffic when safe and practice. (ii)
If you ride your by-cycle to get around there are a few rules that you need to keep in mind. According to the Ministry of Transportation, cyclists must stay a least one metre from the side of the road or close to the right hand edge of the road, when there is no curb. (Often that is not practical. You may have to ride closer than one metre, within reason according to the road conditions.)
When riding around cars you should ride your bike in a straight line. If your changing lanes you must yield the right away to the other vehicles in the lane. The person moving into the lane, should wait until an opening becomes available, signal, check over their shoulder and then change lanes.
Be aware that shoulder checks are can be dangerous; although. It may be helpful to get a by-cycle mirror. Your eyes should never leave the road when you ride your bicycle. Rely on your per-phial vision, and if you have to look to the side or behind you, be quick and keep yourself steady. Small stones, and pot holes can send you flying over your handle bars, and into the traffic. When buying a mirror, be careful, some mirrors may be too small to be really useful. Look around and see what your options are. If your living in a small town or city, your options may be extremely limited, check out Ebay.
I live in Brockville, Ontario, and take my bike to and from work, and to run errands. I don't own a car, and it is my only way aside from walking to get around in this small city, that is still going no after over 100 years. The buses run on the hour, and end at about 5:30 PM. Streets are just wide enough for cars to get through and pass each other. There is poor lighting on many streets, no crossing lights at some street corners, and some streets have no sidewalks.
I follow the rules of the road, and pay my taxes like everyone else. If your a cyclist, be aware of your surroundings, and follow the rules of the road. Stay out of the way, and find alternative means of crossing busy intersections. Drivers be respectful of cyclists. They have a right to ride the road just like you do.
Websites Referenced in this blog;
(i) Ministry of Transportation
(ii) Transport Canada
Check out my blogs at punchmeout.ca..
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