Cycling and the City

CYCLING AND THE CITY

To become a bicycle commuter is not only one of the most important ways you can show how you care about the condition of our world and your body, it's also fun and in most cases faster than mass transit. Every cyclist on our streets is an example of how easy and enjoyable it can be to promote good health as well as clean air, but not all of them are good examples of efficiency, courtesy, or intelligence. It's not as simple as jumping on a bike and smiling, there are a number of things that have to be planned carefully before your first ride on the road.

PERSONAL SAFETY

For starters, here's the section of our Highway Traffic Act that applies to bicycles. Note that there are some places where there is room for some interpretation, but keep in mind that it will be the police officer that does the interpreting. These rules apply to all cyclists, and in obeying them we make ourselves predictable to others using the road, such as fellow cyclists as well as motorists. A predictable cyclist is much easier to avoid than one that blows lights and hops curbs, and although avoiding collisions is everyone's responsibility, as cyclists we are at a greater risk of injury than those hiding in a big steel box.

THE FOLLOWING IS A SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT

BICYCLES, POWER-ASSISTED BICYCLES AND RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT

General rules: bicycles and power-assisted bicycles

145(1)     Except as otherwise provided in subsections (5) and (6), a person operating a bicycle or power-assisted bicycle on a highway or bicycle facility has the same rights and duties as a person driving a motor vehicle on a highway and shall obey all signs and traffic control devices, and all directions of a peace officer.

Minimum operator age: power-assisted bicycles

145(2)     No person shall operate a power-assisted bicycle on a highway or bicycle facility unless he or she is 14 years of age or older.

Owner must not allow underage operator

145(3)     The owner of a power-assisted bicycle shall not allow a person under the age of 14 years to operate it.

Helmet required: power-assisted bicycles

145(4)     No person shall ride on or operate a power-assisted bicycle on a highway or bicycle facility unless he or she is wearing a properly fitted and fastened protective helmet.

Operation next to curb

145(5)     A person operating a bicycle or power-assisted bicycle on a highway shall operate it

Operation in single file

145(6)     No person shall operate a bicycle or power-assisted bicycle on a highway beside a moped, mobility vehicle, bicycle or power-assisted bicycle that is operating in the same traffic lane.

Exception to subsections (5) and (6)

145(7)     Subsections (5) and (6) do not apply when the person is

Bicycles on sidewalks

145(8)     Subject to subsection (9), no person shall operate on a sidewalk a bicycle with a rear wheel the diameter of which exceeds 410 mm.

Exception to subsection (8)

145(9)     Subsection (8) does not apply to a sidewalk that is marked by a traffic control device permitting the operation of a bicycle on the sidewalk.

S.M. 1989-90, c. 56, s. 14 to 16; S.M. 1996, c. 26, s. 15; S.M. 2004, c. 30, s. 19

CRITICAL POINTS NOT OUTLINED IN THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT

-Helmets are a very good idea.

-We need to keep safety and visibility in mind when we chose the clothes we plan to cycle in. Even with a full set of reflectors installed on our bikes, we will only be visible when we are in the headlights of a car.

- After dark, lights are the best way to be seen. White in front and red on the back, blinking if possible. A constant light is just as visible, but blinking lights seem to attract more attention and also extend battery life.

-Do not use your mobile phone or listen to music while riding a bike in traffic. We need to use all our senses to avoid accidents.

-We need to maintain constant vigilance and attention to all our surroundings, including the surface of the road. Sand, potholes, glass, anything can cause a bicycle to react unpredictably. Also other road users may not always follow the rules of the road. As cyclists we need to train ourselves to predict what another vehicle might do, not what they should do.

-Our bikes need to be in top shape. Regular inspections by a professional bike mechanic will not only make our bikes safer, we will also save money replacing worn or damaged parts before they begin to damage other parts.

-We need to maintain a positive attitude. Other road users will treat us poorly. This is not just antagonism directed at cyclists in general, some people are just rude and inconsiderate. We don't have to be effected by this. We all have our ways of keeping spirits up, attacking the offenders verbally or physically will only put us at a greater risk of injury.

COMFORT IN ALL WEATHER

-Dressing for visibility is important, but choosing the right layers for comfort is also critical to enjoying your ride. Some of this is common sense, but trial and error will be our best friend. Every body is different, but one item of clothing will prove to be irreplaceable; the waterproof breathable outer layer. Some of us will be comfortable enough with just a jacket to keep out the rain, but others will need to get decked out in jacket, pants, helmet cover, mitts, booties etc. Some don't mind a little water for the ride, but a waterproof bag will keep our lunch and a change of clothes dry. Experience will make everything clear.

-Fenders on a bike also provide a barrier from a different kind of precipitation. The mucky dirty curb sludge that accumulates a the side of every road (as closely as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway) sticks to tires and flings itself in the least enjoyable direction. Worst cases can include but are not limited to: dirtying our favorite clothes, grit working it's way into the sensitive innards of our drivetrains, and even eye injuries. Fenders will be instantly cherished the first time we need them, even if they may not add to the aesthetic of the bike.

-Some of us will be perfectly comfortable using a backpack for our daily necessities, but a rear rack and panniers will allow us to keep the weight off our backs. Heavy panniers can cause a perceptible shift in the center of gravity of the bike, but the same weight in a backpack causes some very uncomfortable heat issues on the warmer days.

-Cycling shorts, gloves and shoes all add intelligently designed comfort to the contact points of rider and bicycle. These things are certainly not needed, but they are enjoyed by an increasing number of us. Sometimes to correct specific comfort issues, and sometimes just because they are parts of the typical cycling costume.

-Tire choice can effect comfort more than we assume. Typical bicycle commuters will never need the aggressive off-road tires that are common with mountain bikes. A smooth treaded tire needs less energy to travel at higher speeds than a knobby one. Narrower tires also tend to be more efficient, but the narrower the tire, the higher the tire pressure needs to be. This can translate to a rougher ride. Our individual tastes will decide what tires are best for us, but one thing we can all appreciate is puncture resistance. There are many types of tires available with varying levels of flat protection; nobody likes to change a punctured tube at the side of the road.

-The most obvious of all comfort issues can sadly be the hardest to correct. Sometimes our bikes don't fit us. If we have yet to purchase our wheels, make sure to use the advice of a professional bike store. If we are already in a committed bike relationship, that handy local bike store will still be happy to help. There are many parts on a bike that can be swapped out to change the way we are forced to ride it. Sometimes all we need is a quick adjustment, but bike stores can offer many levels of service to those of us that would love our bikes, if only if were more comfortable. It does happen though, that a bike may have been sold to the wrong person, and the only option is to let it go and find a new one.