I've long said that most licensed vehicle drivers ought to have to be cyclists for some portion of time and most cyclists ought to have to be drivers, just enough to round out their safety perspectives. Most pedestrians could do with having to think a bit more about where they're going, too. Hell, we could all benefit from paying closer attention!
Back a week now, I notice how many more cyclists there are in Toronto than in New York City, which is something I'm glad to come home to, along with better recycling programs, health care and more affordable tuition. I also notice how many more of said cyclists, usually without helmets or bells or apparently a voice with which to say, "excuse me" or "on your left", have brushed by me or cut me off on the sidewalk. The most annoying part is their apparent sense of entitlement to my right of way, which is what it seems like the cyclist had in your streetcar boarding incident.
I walk, take the bike or public transit far more often than I drive, but I do have a car and a bike and I'm glad I use both safely.
Yes, you are one of the safer and saner riders I've seen.
It's the sense of entitlement -bingo- that was what annoyed me. I was thinking about it today, and perhaps she just wasn't aware of the streetcar at all. She probably just saw someone walking into the street against (her) green light... maybe she hadn't realized: oh. streetcar. People have the right of way, I should stop.
I mentioned something today to the same streetcar driver. He said there are a huge number of people who get hit by cyclists when leaving the streetcars. The problem is that the cars stop... but the cyclists just keep going. He also said most of the accidents don't get reported because they are often "minor". It's no doubt a bigger issue then most people realize.
Back a week now, I notice how many more cyclists there are in Toronto than in New York City, which is something I'm glad to come home to, along with better recycling programs, health care and more affordable tuition. I also notice how many more of said cyclists, usually without helmets or bells or apparently a voice with which to say, "excuse me" or "on your left", have brushed by me or cut me off on the sidewalk. The most annoying part is their apparent sense of entitlement to my right of way, which is what it seems like the cyclist had in your streetcar boarding incident.
I walk, take the bike or public transit far more often than I drive, but I do have a car and a bike and I'm glad I use both safely.
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It's the sense of entitlement -bingo- that was what annoyed me. I was thinking about it today, and perhaps she just wasn't aware of the streetcar at all. She probably just saw someone walking into the street against (her) green light... maybe she hadn't realized: oh. streetcar. People have the right of way, I should stop.
I mentioned something today to the same streetcar driver. He said there are a huge number of people who get hit by cyclists when leaving the streetcars. The problem is that the cars stop... but the cyclists just keep going. He also said most of the accidents don't get reported because they are often "minor". It's no doubt a bigger issue then most people realize.
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