I started writing this column two months ago. I’m so passionate about the topic, but could never finish it.
I was missing something, but I didn’t know what that was until I saw it this morning: I was missing perspective. Perspective from the driver’s seat of my car.
As I was driving down Steveston Highway, I noticed ahead the right-hand lane was backing up pretty fast. As I got closer, cars were stuck in a jam, and horns were honking left and right.
What was causing the traffic problem? I wish I had been able to take a picture of what I saw when I got to the front. It epitomized the column I had been trying to finish. That image, which I won’t forget, is exactly how I’ve felt for so many years. I would have enlarged that picture, framed it and delivered it to city council myself.
What did I see? There were two cyclists riding abreast, taking up the entire right lane and causing the traffic jam. If you don’t know, cyclists riding abreast in public roads is not permitted. Always single file within one metre of the curb is what’s expected. Yet I feel the cyclists were 100 per cent in the right to be riding that way this time.
But why, if I know that riding abreast is not allowed?
The cyclist on the left side of the lane causing the traffic delay was a woman about the age of 40. The cyclist on the right was a boy, I would say about the age of 10. In other words, a mother protecting her child. I have been living this exact situation for years in Richmond and I have done the same thing.
I know what she felt, and why she was doing that. First, it’s illegal to cycle on sidewalks. Add to that the number of pedestrians who will always feel the need to remind you “You should be riding on the road” even if you are on the sidewalk with a young child just trying to get around town.
Second, is the sheer lack of bike lanes and marked routes in Richmond.
Simply, Richmond is an extremely hostile city towards parents with children who would like to commute in the city. I’m especially talking about children aged seven to 12, who should be learning about riding safely on bike lanes, but still need parents with them for safety.
There are only three roads in all of Richmond that have marked bike lanes more than one kilometre in length that I consider “safe” — Railway Avenue, Williams Road and Granville Avenue.
That’s it.
In all of Richmond, just three roads. Designated as unsafe by me are Garden City, No. 3 Road and Minoru as the amount of traffic crossing the bike lanes from malls, shops and driveways is massive and absolutely not safe for young children.
If you happen to live near a safe, designated bike lane then count yourself lucky.
Most people in Richmond aren’t that lucky, and from what I’ve seen of city hall in the past years, they never will be.
Geordie McGillivray is an avid Richmond cyclist. His Saddle Up column appears regularly in the Richmond News.
