I applaud the initiative of…

I applaud the initiative of the MTO and MTCS to support cycling.  Obesity and sedentary lifestyles cause health issues and cycling is an easy way for Ontarians to keep active and at the same time, if using cycling for transportation, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   Several of the proposed initiatives will help to increase cycling.  We live in a city that is a perfect size for cycling to do errands and to get around town.  My husband did this for a season and stopped thanks to feeling unsafe due to a lack of dedicated bike paths, and having to share bike lanes with city buses or parked cars.  As outlined in the policy a cycling infrastructure is needed to deal with these safety issues.  Motorist education is key and this needs to be directed to all drivers, new and experienced.  Points as simple as the 1 meter clearance rule and that a cyclist is entitled to their lane need to be communicated.  Asking some cycling knowledge questions or providing a few key points when a driver's or vehicle license is renewed is one possible means of education.  While cycling in Scottsdale, Arizona, we were impressed with the signage just prior to right turn lanes instructing motorists to yield to cyclist who were going straight through.

Cycling tourism is a wonderful idea.   Unfortunately, very few of the shoulders on the 2 lane country roads, that are wonderful for cycling are paved, making the roads unsafe.  As someone who cycles for transportation around town and much longer distances outside of town for fitness and training I am well aware of the dangers of sharing the road with motor vehicles having been forced onto a gravel shoulder and nearly sucked under a bus.  In addition there are traffic signals that are tripped by a vehicle that are not sensitive enough to detect a bicycle leading cyclist to cross without the protection of a green light.  Actions the MTO and MTCS should undertake are paving the shoulders of more good quality secondary roads and ensuring a cyclist can trigger a green traffic light.

One challenge will be bike theft, which is a substantial problem.  I did not see that mentioned in the proposed policy.  Safe and secure bike parking is needed and better response from local police to bike thefts.  Along with this, ensuring your bicycle is expensive relative to the cost of a bicycle, but having your bicycle stolen or damaged in a crash may lead to a cyclist giving up on cycling due to cost.

[Original Comment ID: 213042]