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Cyclists shouldn't feel like second class citizens Letter
to The Editor The Editor: Cyclists shouldn't have to feel like second class citizens. We have the same rights and duties as other drivers. We belong on the road, with traffic. If a lane is too narrow for cyclists and motorists to share, the safe and legal option is for the cyclist to take up the lane (Jody Hanson, "Blame city for making life risky for bikers", Letter to The Editor, S-P, April 8, p. A-13). No city currently provides separate facilities for more than a fraction of the routes that cyclists might use. Some cities provide special lanes on busy roads. For the most part, cyclists use the same streets as other drivers. Even on roads with bike lanes, cyclists and motorists are expected to merge when approaching intersections or making turns. A lane can be shared if a cyclist can ride one metre from the curb and other drivers can pass the cyclist with at least one metre to spare. If traffic is crowding a cyclist against the curb, the cyclist has no choice but to move toward the centre of the lane. Drivers approaching from behind have to slow down or change lanes, the same as they would for any other vehicle in front of them. Let's put this in perspective. Although drivers like to think they're travelling the speed limit, they often don't consider time spent waiting at lights and stop signs. Most cyclists travel at 20 km/hr or faster in Saskatoon, not much slower than the average traffic flow. The delay caused by having to wait for a cyclist is less than 12 seconds. There's no delay when drivers read the road ahead and change lanes before they reach the cyclist. A cyclist "taking the lane" is more visible to drivers behind and, importantly, to other drivers at intersections and driveways, greatly reducing the risk of collision.
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