Letter to the Editor

Cycling News

Letter to the Editor,
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
July 29, 1998
During the weekend, another cyclist was injured on Saskatoon's roads. News reports implied that the collision occurred because cycling is not permitted on Circle Drive. This cyclist was not injured because he was on a roadway which prohibits cycling. Circle Drive is no more or no less dangerous than many other Saskatoon streets.

How well prepared a cyclist is and what other drivers expect to find on the road are much more important in determining whether or not a cyclist can travel safely.

Training programs provide skills for riding safely and confidently in traffic. We recognize this fact for motor vehicle drivers, requiring them to prove themselves before letting them get behind the wheel. As a vehicle, a bicycle should be on the road, but we expect cyclists to share the road without teaching them how to interact with other traffic.

All too often this leads to tragedy. To make matters worse, we blame the cyclist, then post signs to keep all cyclists off the road.

Few roadways really are unsafe for cyclists. In most cases, these roadways are also hazardous to all other drivers as a result of outdated or inadequate design.

In Saskatoon, there is no roadway which is so poorly designed that cyclists should be banned from it. Some roadways are unpleasant and cyclists learn to avoid them. Not all cyclists have the skill or experience to ride everywhere in the city. For those who do have the skill, our roads offer safe and efficient routes through the city.

Putting up "no cycling" signs lets motor vehicle drivers think that cyclists don't belong on the road, or at least don't belong on certain roads. Worse still, it causes drivers to stop looking for cyclists, because they expect that all cyclists will see the signs and stay off the road. As a result, cyclists are in more danger, not less.

When we see cyclists injured on our streets, we should be asking how we can prepare them to travel safely, not asking why they are on the street.

Sincerely,

Darrell Noakes
CAN-BIKE National Examiner

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Letter to the Editor, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix July 29, 1998 During the weekend, another cyclist was injured on Saskatoon's roads. News reports implied that the collision occurred because cycling is not permitted on Circle Drive. This cyclist was not injured because he was on a roadway which prohibits cycling. Circle Drive is no more or no less dangerous than many other Saskatoon streets. How well prepared a cyclist is and what other drivers expect to find on the road are much more important in determining whether or not a cyclist can travel safely. Training programs provide skills for riding safely and confidently in traffic. We recognize this fact for motor vehicle drivers, requiring them to prove themselves before letting them get behind the wheel. As a vehicle, a bicycle should be on the road, but we expect cyclists to share the road without teaching them how to interact with other traffic. All too often this leads to tragedy. To make matters worse, we blame the cyclist, then post signs to keep all cyclists off the road. Few roadways really are unsafe for cyclists. In most cases, these roadways are also hazardous to all other drivers as a result of outdated or inadequate design. In Saskatoon, there is no roadway which is so poorly designed that cyclists should be banned from it. Some roadways are unpleasant and cyclists learn to avoid them. Not all cyclists have the skill or experience to ride everywhere in the city. For those who do have the skill, our roads offer safe and efficient routes through the city. Putting up "no cycling" signs lets motor vehicle drivers think that cyclists don't belong on the road, or at least don't belong on certain roads. Worse still, it causes drivers to stop looking for cyclists, because they expect that all cyclists will see the signs and stay off the road. As a result, cyclists are in more danger, not less. When we see cyclists injured on our streets, we should be asking how we can prepare them to travel safely, not asking why they are on the street. Sincerely, Darrell Noakes CAN-BIKE National Examiner News index page

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