11-11-2016, 08:26 AM
Alleged cyclist - I suppose for some people, that's crime enough.
I wish they would indicate what charges are pending; it was probably riding on the sidewalk/crosswalk. I suspect the truck was likely at least partially at fault, though. Even as a runner or walker, left turning vehicles have a tendency to only look for the break in car lanes and ignore people on the sidewalk and I wouldn't be surprised if the same sort of factors were involved in this case. In fairness to the truck, cyclists are often going faster than pedestrians, but as a runner, I am going a lot faster than pedestrians too and always have to be vigilant with turning vehicles; I would have been mowed down many times already otherwise. This is all speculation on my part, of course, because these articles are typically very scant on details, but quite happy to pin guilt on one party regardless.
I think it would be interesting to see bylaws regarding sidewalk cycling challenged. I personally don't advocate for it, but I recognize why people ride on the sidewalk and it is normally out of a sense that riding on the road is less safe. The evidence is mixed on that front, but I think there is a case to made that cycling infrastructure on the road is woefully inadequate and in some cases actually endangers cyclists. Can the municipality force cyclists off sidewalks without providing adequate infrastructure for them on the road? I'd argue that as long as they have by-laws in place prohibiting cyclists on sidewalks that they have a duty to provide an alternate safe arrangement for cyclists. The fact that they allow children to ride on sidewalks could be seen as an acknowledgement of sorts within the by-law that there is an issue of safety when biking on the roadway.
I wish they would indicate what charges are pending; it was probably riding on the sidewalk/crosswalk. I suspect the truck was likely at least partially at fault, though. Even as a runner or walker, left turning vehicles have a tendency to only look for the break in car lanes and ignore people on the sidewalk and I wouldn't be surprised if the same sort of factors were involved in this case. In fairness to the truck, cyclists are often going faster than pedestrians, but as a runner, I am going a lot faster than pedestrians too and always have to be vigilant with turning vehicles; I would have been mowed down many times already otherwise. This is all speculation on my part, of course, because these articles are typically very scant on details, but quite happy to pin guilt on one party regardless.
I think it would be interesting to see bylaws regarding sidewalk cycling challenged. I personally don't advocate for it, but I recognize why people ride on the sidewalk and it is normally out of a sense that riding on the road is less safe. The evidence is mixed on that front, but I think there is a case to made that cycling infrastructure on the road is woefully inadequate and in some cases actually endangers cyclists. Can the municipality force cyclists off sidewalks without providing adequate infrastructure for them on the road? I'd argue that as long as they have by-laws in place prohibiting cyclists on sidewalks that they have a duty to provide an alternate safe arrangement for cyclists. The fact that they allow children to ride on sidewalks could be seen as an acknowledgement of sorts within the by-law that there is an issue of safety when biking on the roadway.