Cyclists bylaws both dangerous and unrealistic (letter)

London Community News

Dear editor, I am writing this letter in support the article published in the Viewpoint section of the Sept. 20 edition regarding the safety of cyclists riding on the roadways and sidewalks in the City of London. Under the Rights and Responsibilities section of transportation bylaws in London, it states, “cyclists are legally allowed to ride on any part of the roadway.” I wonder how this rule is in any way safe for those travelling on bicycles in the city when the same section advises cyclists to “always try to keep at least one metre of space open on both your right and your left.” How can we as riders be expected to do so, when so many of the streets within the city (especially the downtown area), are comprised of narrow driving lanes with no specified path for bicycles? I also wonder how could this reasonable during those times of the day where heavy traffic is commonplace and safely passing a parked vehicle to avoid those “door prizes” is also a hazard. In addition, the same section states, “cyclists are legally allowed to ride on any part of the roadway. If the lane is too narrow to share with motorized traffic, ride in the centre of the lane.” As so many of the bicycle lanes are broken into lengthy segments within the city, how are cyclists expected to safely operate in this situation? Should we immediately merge from such a reserved lane into traffic? What about rush hour times of the day? Surely lawmakers have not considered feasibility of these rule are both unrealistic and unsafe for riders. In short, I feel that these bylaws must be reassessed by the lawmakers in this city in order for cyclists to feel safe and to avoid those hefty fines of violating such rules and regulations.

Sarah Thow, London