nelson249

Saw this story in my local bird cage liner today:

https://www.therecord.com/news/local/...pped-by-mirror

Frank Fogolin, a local cycle coach, was riding on Ira Needles Blvd (a two lane divided roadway with a painted on bicycle lane with a 60 km/h speed limit) and was hit from behind by a truck. It seems that he suffered a concussion and a broken shoulder. The driver of the truck has been charged with careless driving.

I had three reactions to this incident:

1) I hope that the victim has a swift and full recovery.

2) Would charges have been laid against the driver quite so readily if the victim WASN'T a cycle coach? The driver could have claimed that the guy swerved in front of him and he had no chance to avoid the collosion. It doesn't say what bike Fogolin was riding but I assume it was a road bike. What if was the average schlep on a typical round town machine? A year ago a cyclist was struck and killed in nearly the exact same circumstances and it took our local police over 4 MONTHS to lay charges against a driver who already had a suspended licence and no insurance.

2) It has made rethink my view of the typical bicycle lane that our local government has been pushing: an extra wide right lane with a painted white lane to mark off the lane.

ckaspar

What was your original view of the bike lane the government is pushing? I ride one everyday and feel much safer there instead of getting closely buzzed by cars mirrors when I have to take the lane due to there not being a bike lane..

K'Tesh

took a peak at Google Maps... doesn't look like there would be any environmental issues that could be blamed.

nelson249

I originally viewed them with favour and I still would much rather have this than nothing at all. However, there have been a number of incidents where cyclists have been buzzed or hit from behind whilst in the bike lane. Also in discussion with less experienced cyclists many of them remain very intimidated by them and continue to take refuge on the sidewalks. (The nearby city of Guelph has made a good start along Stone Road with elevated bikeways between the road and the sidewalks) If the purpose is to encourage more cycling by people of all skill levels the local government is going to have to think about protected bikeways especially with arterial roads and near busy commercial areas like Ira Needles. This area is further complicated by the fact that all the intersections on this road from Erb Street all the way to the Conestoga Parkway are roundabouts including one which has the sole purpose of serving a Walmart store.