Originally Posted by
JimCanuck
Cars do not watch when they merge into the dotted bike lanes at all, and there have been a number of low speed collisions cause of it. Trying to get both drivers and bikers to understand one set of rules is hard, especially when there is no training for bikers, and there is little to no training for drivers in their driving tests for how to handle bikers on the road.
Ignorance of the rules is no reason to scrap a good idea. Better education is not hard. Good signage for bike boxes has gone a long way in teaching drivers where to stop. Similar signage showing how cars should merge into dashed bike lanes (and showing bikes how to go around on the left) would go a long way. Cars who do not look before merging are clearly at fault for any collisions, but I see no reason why this can't be done properly. It's really no different than changing lanes in regular traffic.
As far as bike boxes go, I appreciate the extra visibility and right of way through an intersection. However, I still prefer to jump off my bike and cross as a pedestrian at busy junctions (especially at College/Spadina where the curved streetcar tracks can really get you during a left turn).