Saturday, August 14, 2010

You own a car, NOT the road! - or A Metre Matters, eh!

Spectacular day to cycle to Port Dalhousie.  Good company, weather was perfect, roads were quiet and the wind was at our back.  All the elements for a good karma day.

We did however encounter some karma disrupting moments as some motorists felt we were encroaching upon their turf, their lane, traveling at a speed too slow for their liking.  After some yelling, finger pointing, huffing and puffing, we got back to our happy place.

A Metre Matters!  Often its all that separates a cyclists between 2 tons of SUV bumper and tragedy.   The bigger SUV are over 8,000 pounds!  In a collision, no matter what the speed, the cyclist always loses.

Share the Road Cycling Coalition has given its support to a private member's bill introduced by MPP Cheri DiNovo to amend the Highway Traffic Act, requiring motor vehicle drivers to give at least 3-feet (or 1 metre for metric users) of clearance when passing bicycles.  Although the bill did not pass, many private member's bill find their way onto the law books in subsequent sessions.  Let's hope this one makes it sooner rather than later.

Cycling friendly initiatives, like the 3 foot law - or A Meter Matters, gather momentum at events like the Ontario Bike Summit.  Make a change, make a difference.  Come to the Ontario Bike Summit, in Burlington, Sept. 20-21.

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