It won’t eliminate reckless cycling, but it would certainly improve an untenable situation as bikes and cars constantly jockey for position in Montreal.
Our streets in the summertime are brimming with cyclists, scooters, pedestrians, you name it. But as healthy, wholesome and environmentally friendly as it is for people to get around freely without cars, we still live in a society where all forms of transport share the congested public domain and must coexist safely and with some order.
I was at a red light at a busy intersection this week. After the light turned green and I started moving forward, a cyclist flew right in front of my car, zipping through their red light. I honked, and what response did I get from the helmetless cyclist? A sheepish look of “I’m sorry, my bad”? Nope. Instead, I was saluted with a very hearty middle finger.
Even though I could have severely injured or, even worse, killed this aggressive cyclist who ignored the traffic signal, he felt that he owned the road. Similar incidents take place constantly, all over the province, as cyclists and motorists jockey for position at numerous points of convergence.
If an intersection has a traffic sign prohibiting right turns at a red light, cyclists are prohibited from turning right when the light is red.
The law also prohibits cyclists from riding between two lanes of moving vehicles, unless the right lane is reserved for right turns, and it’s prohibited to wear earphones or headphones. Cyclists must stop at least five metres from a school bus when its red lights are flashing.
Coming to a full stop when cycling is a nuisance when the coast is clear, and bicycles don’t pose the same threat to public safety as cars do. Perhaps certain rules regarding complete stops when there is no traffic should be reviewed. But reckless or irresponsible driving by cyclists does cost lives, not to mention provoking traffic accidents among motor vehicles.
We must establish that happy medium. Many cyclists probably don’t even know they’re breaking the law. There is no course to take, no test to pass and no licence to procure. Like with cars, ensuring that everyone knows the rules, the penalties and consequences won’t eliminate reckless cycling, accidents and death, but it would certainly act as a deterrent that could only improve an untenable situation. Most cyclists are responsible. Ensuring everyone knows the law should be a basic first prerequisite, and fines for infractions must be enforced. (The proceeds could even be used to build better cycling infrastructure.)