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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Share-the-road rage rampant

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 02/13/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Bike to the Future, a cycling lobby group, wants the province to require motorists to give bike riders a one-metre clearance when passing them. Our readers gave them a lot more than that.

What about when the cyclist squeezes between my car and the curb when I'm stopped at a red light or stop sign? He doesn't seem to care about leaving a metre between himself and me. Why aren't cyclists ticketed when they ride through red lights and stop signs? What about when I have my turn signal on to make a right hand turn and the cyclist goes whizzing by and almost gets hit? It seems that no rules apply to them... the motorist is always wrong.

-- friend2

Cyclists should be banned in winter. Not only do they cause traffic jams by taking up, but it is dangerous. I've seen people driving ten speeds with the skinny tires on icy streets. All it takes is one slip on black ice and not only does the bike go down, but the rider can also slide into the adjacent lane.

I've got no problems with people riding when there isn't any snow around, because they can hug the curb and allow traffic to pass. That's why the roads were built in the first place -- cars. I'm not hating on cyclists either. I ride my bike in the summer.

-- Qwerty53

Some motorists won't (allow a metre) anyway as a matter of principle. They can't stand cyclists on the road. On the other hand, there are what I call evangelical cyclists who will take huge risks with their lives because they feel they're just so morally correct in what they're doing and no one can stop them because they have the right do ride any time, anywhere. Unfortunately, when bicycles and cars mix, we all know what happens. It's not always the motorist's fault either.

-- Someone3

Sometimes I finally pass a bike (that's all over the lane, and backing up traffic) only to have the same bike jump the line at the next red light and get in front again. Want to be treated like you belong on the road? Then act like it and follow ALL the rules, not just the ones that suit you. Oh, and drivers drive close to everything in the winter, especially things in the curb lane. If you haven't noticed, at least two feet of lane are missing in many areas due to snow banks.

-- CommonSense6

I love the way these free-loading cyclists think its only a hit and run when a vehicle hits a cyclist. When they ride their bikes on a narrower-than-usual winter road, passing vehicles stopped waiting for traffic, and they hit a mirror, or scrape a fender and ride off, it's just fine apparently. They use the streets in complete anonymity, they don't pay any insurance (collision or third party liability), they don't contribute to the infrastructure costs through fuel taxes. When they start paying to use the roads and being accountable for their actions, then real dialogue can take place.

-- the newt1

This is a can of worms. As a driver, I'm fed up with cyclists who do not wear reflective clothing especially at night, no helmets, don't signal when turning. And yes I been cut off when making a turn by a cyclist sneaking up on the curb lane when I am making a turn -- and you I can't even report their terrible dangerous driving because they don't need licences.

-- margaret8

Cyclists are a menace! Riders don't give me any courtesy, so why should any be extended to them? I have had my head lights kicked out because I stopped too close to the curb at a light, and there wasn't a cyclist beside me. Since when is it legal to pass someone between the curb lane and the actual curb?

I have lived here over 40 years and have yet to see one single cyclist obey the laws when it comes to riding on the roads.

Cyclists have NO respect for the roads, traffic, no respect for anyone but themselves.

-- sh1

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 13, 2011 A13

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