I'll
let you in on a little secret: I am a senior and from time to time I
ride a bike.
Not
as frequently as I used to, mind you. Nor as far.
While
I was still teaching at Fanshawe College I would make the trek from
my home in Byron to work a couple of times a week, weather and
schedule permitting. Later, while on the Board of Control, I would
ride to city hall if I wouldn't be needing my car during the rest of
the day and providing that I could get home in daylight. Riding at
night was not my thing.
To
get to those locations, I took the quickest, safest and most
convenient routes: along the
paths in the various parks, on downtown
and suburban streets, on arterial roads and primary collectors, using
bike lanes if available. Occasionally I would go longer distances, to
family reunions out of town so I also got some practice in riding
along county roads and provincial highways.
And
sometimes—not often—I rode on the sidewalk.
That's
because there are places in the city where there are no bike lanes
but there are sidewalks which are rarely used by pedestrians. And
traffic along some of those roads moves very quickly with drivers
hell-bent on the road ahead, not the bicycle to their side. Under
those conditions, riding on the sidewalk strikes me as the sensible
option.
Under
our current by-laws, it's also illegal and may subject you to a fine
of up to $140.
My
preference, however, is to ride on the road, not the sidewalk, and
not just because I resent paying the city $140. Generally speaking,
it's safer and a whole lot faster. On the street, you don't have to
stop at every intersection to ensure that a driver emerging from a
side street sees you. On the street you don't have to dodge
pedestrians or annoy people by ringing a bell.
But
there are dangers on the street as well. People opening car doors
without checking behind them. Drivers making right hand turns without
checking beside them. Drivers who ignore or are ignorant of the hand
signals used by cyclists in front of them.
The
ideal, of course, is to have infrastructure dedicated to cyclists,
just as we currently have roads for motor vehicles and sidewalks for
pedestrians. It's expensive to install but can be effective in
reducing road costs, alleviating our reliance on fossil fuels, and
providing huge environmental and health benefits.
The
city is making progress in building this infrastructure but it will
take time, even if the current council were to make a priority of it,
a highly unlikely prospect. So, in the meantime, the Civic Works
Committee will be considering an amendment that will allow those 65
years of age and over to be exempt from the by-law that prohibits
riding bicycles on the sidewalk.
The
impetus for the current recommendation came more than a year ago when
those under 14 were were exempted from the prohibition on bicycles on
the sidewalk. See Riding on the sidewalk for my report on that meeting. At that time, council asked staff to look into
possibility of adding seniors to the list of those exempted. After
all, council was on the eve of adopting a plan for meeting the city's
obligations to make good on its commitment to the World Health
Organization to be an Age-Friendly City. So seniors were much on
their minds.
In
fact, while I was on council, I headed up the working group that
would ultimately prepare the report that resulted in London becoming
the first Canadian city to be admitted to the WHO Age-Friendly
Network. In preparing that report, we surveyed nearly 500 Londoners,
seniors and caregivers, about what they liked and didn't like about
living in London. Safety on the streets and sidewalks was one of
their top concerns, primarily as pedestrians. Not many liked the idea
of bicycles on the sidewalk. On the other hand, those who rode
bicycles, a distinct minority, indicated that they didn't feel safe
riding on the street.
Most
seniors use the sidewalk as pedestrians and they're not thrilled to
have more wheels to contend with. Most seniors who ride think it's
safer to be on the sidewalk, but allowing them to do that probably
wouldn't encourage non-bike riders to to take up this mode of
transportation. And, if they're going to follow the Highway Traffic
Act, those who ride will still have to stop for every cross street
and walk their bicycles across the street. So it's likely to be a
slow-going option. And expensive if violated, the set fine being $85.
Allowing
seniors to ride on the sidewalk outside of the downtown commercial
districts probably won't make much difference to the reality of
experiences on the street. Most seniors who ride bikes already do
this, and those who don't ride won't take up the habit. My personal
observations tell me that most sidewalk riders are not seniors, but
younger persons who are prepared to chance not getting caught and
fined. So if it's being age-friendly or bike-friendly that we want,
this by-law amendment isn't likely to cut it. Much better that we
focus on building the infrastructure that will keep us all safe and
conflicts of use to a minimum.
As
for using laws and fines, my inclination would be to have the police
enforce the Highway Traffic Act which applies to everyone regardless
of age and mode of transportation. This would include riding/driving
on the right side of the street, using appropriate electronic and
hand signals and obeying traffic signs and signals. Enforcement of
actual behaviours should be much easier than trying to figure out if
someone is the appropriate age for special consideration.
And
we need more education for everyone, cyclists, pedestrians and
drivers alike. Safety comes from competence, shared understandings,
and mutual respect. At home, at school, and in the community children
need to learn the rules of the road and practice their riding skills
just like they learn to be safe pedestrians. They need to have safe
routes to school for walking and biking and drivers need to exercise
the appropriate caution to make their routes safe. And they need to
carry their experience and competence into their teen years, their
adulthood, and into old age.
The
city can do its part by ensuring that areas frequented by children
and seniors receive priority for the installation of dedicated bike
lanes and paths until the infrastructure deficit is eliminated.
Currently,
there is also a push by the cycling community to have council
establish a cycling advisory committee to report to a committee of
council. While it may be good for the city to hear from actual
cyclists, I am skeptical of how much difference this will actually
make to council decisions. It is not unusual for standing committees
to simply ignore the advice given and, on occasion, to modify the
advisory committee's reports. A few years ago, one councillor even
tried to disband an advisory committee whose advice he didn't like.
Too
many committees already appear to be spinning their wheels.
3 comments:
London is actually going backwards on bike infrastructure. One only needs to look at Smart Moves 2030 to see this. Compared to other Ontario cities we are regaurded as the least friendly and safe place to cycle in Ontario. We are the only city in Ontario that does not have aa dedicated Cycling Advisory Committee. Advisory committees have been shown to be an important tool in making cities more bike friendly across North America. The rate of injury for cyclists on sidewalks is dramatically higher then those on the road. These kind of silly policies are what replaces real bike policies and infrastructure in London.
Gary Brown
As a long-standing senior who both walks the sidewalks and rides the roads, I agree that bicycles have no place on sidewalks -- but their danger is primarily limited to coming up behind unsuspecting pedestrians. This is particularly true on the 'bike path' from UWO to Springbank, particularly in the northern section and particularly in the hours between 6 and 9, when there are many bikes that ride far too fast and ambush early morning dog-walkers without warning. As for road-riding, it can be done safely as long as main thoroughfares, such as Richmond ands Oxford, are avoided. Wonderland North now has marked bike lanes and this has markedly increased my (?false) sense of security. Many years ago we did have a bicycle advisory committee, and I have wondered what happened to it.
Gary, bikes are transportation so pls give exs of what other cities have done because of an advisory cte. London already has a transportation advisory cte
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