I'm green with envy looking at those photos of Montreal's cycling lanes, that's the way to do things.
I found this article and I thought it was relevant to the thread as brief and fluffy as it is (it's the Toronto Sun). A few good points are made and it provides some basic ABC's for cyclists, all what we cyclists already know but I thought it was still worthy of posting.
Road warriors
Time to shift our thinking about urban transportation
By SUZANNE ELSTON, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 12th September 2009, 11:31am
The recent death of bike courier Darcy Allan Sheppard is just the latest incident in a summer marred by bike tragedies.
Earlier in August, a 56-year-old Toronto woman was killed when she collided with a 15-year-old cyclist on a city sidewalk. In July, five Ottawa cyclists were severely injured when a motorist struck them down and then fled the scene of the accident.
In every case, the victims were injured or killed because they were met by an unequal force.
"Whether it's a car, or a bicycle or a pedestrian, there's no such thing as error-free operation," said Dr. Paul-Andre Larose. "One can be dead right and still be dead."
The problem, as Larose explains, is when objects of different mass and speed collide.
"If I get in my car and get into an accident with another car, it could be forgiving, because the mass of both vehicles is fairly equal," said the retired physicist and former pilot. "But if I collide with a bicycle, it's not only the mass of the vehicle it's also the comparative speed and the momentum."
Larose, who now relies almost exclusively on his bicycle for transportation, was also hit by a car this summer. He credits his survival on a properly fitted bike helmet, and the fact that the driver of the car behind him was able to stop in time to avoid running him over.
Despite his recent accident, Larose works as a community activist to promote the environmental, health, social and economic benefits of cycling. As concerns about climate change, the burning of fossil fuels and smog increase, we need to shift our thinking about urban transportation.
"We need to ask ourselves if our cities are built for cars, or if they are built for people," he said. Larose's answer is to create an infrastructure that supports the safe and efficient use of bicycles and other non-motorized forms of transportation, which are outlined in his 10 attributes of bikeways.
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TOP 10 TIPS FOR CYCLISTS
1 -- Always wear a properly fitted helmet.
2 -- Obey the rules of the road and stay off the sidewalks.
3 -- Sidewalks are for pedestrians, strollers, wheel chairs, pets, senior citizens, doorways, planters, and entire families of unpredictable window shoppers -- not cyclists!
4 -- Ride with the flow of traffic.
5 -- Look well ahead when you ride and pre-plan your position on the road.
6 -- Be courteous.
7 -- Use proper hand signals to indicate when you are stopping or turning.
8 -- Invest in safety gear such as wheel reflectors, bell and headlight.
9 -- If you're travelling at night, wear a reflective vest and use your headlight.
10 -- Learn how to ride defensively. The Canadian Cycling Association's CAN-BIKE program offers bicycle safety training programs for the more than 14 million Canadian cyclists. For more information, visit
www.canadian-cycling.com.
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ABC CHECKLIST
A -- is for air. Check everything to do with your tires and wheels and air pressure. The valve must be straight out of the rim, not at an angle.
B -- is for brakes, bars and bell. The brake pads must be straight and grip the rim effectively. The handlebars must be straight and tight. The bell must work.
C -- is for chain & crank. Chains need to be lubricated & the pedals (cranks) need to spin freely.
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THEFT-PROOF YOUR BIKE
1 -- Always lock your bike. Half of all bikes stolen are taken from homes.
2 -- Buy the best locks you can find.
3 -- Use two locks to secure your bike frame and your back wheel.
4 -- Do not lock your bike to a chain link fence or a wooden porch.
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10 REASONS TO LOVE CYCLING
1 -- Environmentally-friendly - Cycling produces no carbon dioxide or other harmful emissions
2 -- Reduces stress
3 -- Exercise/fitness --You can burn 500 calories in a half an hour!
4 -- Fun/Freedom
5 -- You don't have to rely on bus or train schedules
6 -- Great opportunity to really see your city
7 -- Free and easy access to parking
8 -- No gas to buy (or line-ups at the pump)
9 -- No license or registration required
10 -- No speeding tickets (unless you're Lance Armstrong!)
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NEEDED BIKEWAY IMPROVEMENTS
Functionality -- They need to be linked to main areas
Directness -- Bikeways shouldn't take the scenic route
Extensiveness -- Shouldn't be limited to the urban core
Continuity -- Routes need a "gap-free" interconnection
Safety -- Need a barrier to protect cyclists
Security -- Bikeways should be accessible and in well-lit areas
Availability -- They should be usable 365 days a year
Smart Design -- Should harmonize traffic, speed and intersections
Sustainable -- Should offer a viable alternative to the automobile
Economic Viability -- Minimum impact on municipal budgets and a maximum benefit to local commerce
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