»Arresting axe-murderers means bad news for woodcutters

Dr Gridlock fulminates against sidewalk-riding cyclists:

But according to [Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists] spokespeople, ticketing cyclists for breaking the law is only a "deterrent to cycling."

But it seems that many readers lump all cyclists into a category that is stereotypical: the flame-breathing bike courier who rides like a kamikaze pilot.

What about law-abiding cyclists who follow the rules, such as reader Ian More?

He writes: "I find that when I obey the traffic laws that I get quite a bit of abuse from fellow cyclists. There have been a couple of incidents where I stopped for a stop sign and was run into by another cyclist.

"My philosophy is to gain respect on the road by following the rules of the road."

By JEFF GRAY
Monday, June 7, 2004 - Page A13

Readers have a lot to say about cyclists.

And almost none of it is good.

"I've had my fill of the bleatings of these self-righteous, holier-than-thou cyclists, and particularly when it comes to bike lanes," Murray Wright writes in response to last week's column about cars parked in bike lanes.

"I walk two kilometres to work every day, and part of it is along College Street.

"I regularly encounter people riding on the sidewalk and there are bike lanes on both sides of the street, for crying out loud.

"There are inconsiderate pedestrians, motorists and cyclists, but according to the cyclists it's always somebody else who's in the wrong, never them."

Christine O'Connell writes: "Since the activists want bike lanes for themselves, why do we have to tolerate them riding on the sidewalks?

"They think they own the sidewalk.

"They wanted rights to ride on the streets with special lanes, so use them."

Certainly, cyclists riding on sidewalks are a pedestrian hazard in downtown Toronto.

Police say the practice is a major cause of accidents involving bikes.

Drivers watching for much slower pedestrians crossing the road are not expecting a bike to zip across a side street from a sidewalk.

And pedestrian-bike collisions can be bad as car accidents.

It is illegal to ride bikes with wheels more than 61 centimetres (24 inches) high on a sidewalk.

The fine for doing so is $90.

But as they do with some other traffic bylaws, police tend to enforce the bike rules only during blitzes in their efforts to get the message across.

Some cycling activists, such as those in the group Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists, reject that approach.

In its recent Bicycling in Toronto report card, issued at the end of the city's Bike Week, ARC called for an end to the annual Cycle Right campaign by police, which is to start today.

Police say they plan to ticket drivers and cyclists who break the rules during the two-week blitz.

But according to ARC spokespeople, ticketing cyclists for breaking the law is only a "deterrent to cycling."

Of acts police deem "aggressive riding," such as riding on the sidewalk, blowing through stoplights or zipping the wrong way up one-way streets, ARC says: "There is nothing inherent in these ways of riding that makes them aggressive.

"In many cases they are the best, safest choice a cyclist may have."

ARC and the police have a bit of history: The group says the police presence for its regular Critical Mass rides is excessive.

(Police say they are only enforcing the law.)

Only a tiny minority of cyclists are members of groups such as ARC.

But it seems that many readers lump all cyclists into a category that is stereotypical: the flame-breathing bike courier who rides like a kamikaze pilot.

What about law-abiding cyclists who follow the rules, such as reader Ian More?

He writes: "I find that when I obey the traffic laws that I get quite a bit of abuse from fellow cyclists. There have been a couple of incidents where I stopped for a stop sign and was run into by another cyclist.

"My philosophy is to gain respect on the road by following the rules of the road."

Dr. Gridlock, who plans to ride regularly again soon, agrees.