Editor:
To the young woman who deliberately tried to run me off the road while I was cycling up Gower Point hill in Gibsons, what is wrong with you?
On Monday, July 27, about 11:30 a.m., a car passed me as I was cycling up the hill, then veered in front of me and stopped suddenly. I braked hard then swerved to avoid the bumper. As I passed, it sped up and a young woman began a nasty harangue out the passenger window about how I should be on the opposite side of the road on the bike/pedestrian path (upon which several cars were parked). Meanwhile, she gradually drifted into oncoming traffic, which had pulled over. She then sped off at top speed.
As a vehicle I am legally required to ride on the right side of the road. The walking/cycling path on the other side on Gower Point is for riding with the traffic. Not against it.
Bike Sense BC, www.bikesense.bc.ca, says, “Ride on the right, in the same direction as other traffic. Some people still believe that cyclists are like pedestrians and should ride facing traffic. This is not only illegal, but has also been shown to dramatically increase the risk of a collision. Motorists are required to pass ‘at a safe distance’ and must not return to the right of the roadway until they have fully passed you.”
Perhaps she’s thinking of the bike lanes in Vancouver where millions and millions of dollars have been put into infrastructure for the safety and encouragement of cycling. However, this isn’t Vancouver.
I highly recommend she pick up a copy of Road Sense for Drivers – BC’s Safe Driving Guide from an ICBC office. And, kid, if I had your licence plate number, you would be talking to the police right now.
Kathy Para, Gibsons
