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Originally Posted by jhausner
There's 1 major difference between Copenhagen and Vancouver that people always seem to forget. That difference is that cyclists in Copenhagen respect non-cyclists and road laws meaning they meld into society as just another part of the overall infrastructure picture.
The contrast is that cyclists in Vancouver for the most part feel they own the roads, can do whatever they want, and blatently ignore even the most basic of road laws that being the "stop sign." Until that changes, Vancouver can't hope to get anywhere near the cycling capacity you see in Copenhagen quite frankly because motorists AND pedestrians won't allow it.
I've been run into on the sidewalk countless times by cyclists downtown. That's me being a pedestrian just walking ON THE SIDEWALK. You ask the majority of other pedestrians about their opinions on cyclists in Vancouver and the majority feel the same way, that they are selfish punks that feel entitled to everything.
Again until that changes, this pipe-dream of Vancouver becoming Copenhagen part 2 is just that, a pipe-dream. Learn some respect for others out there and others will respect you.
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Complaining about cyclists is a big distraction from the real problem which is dangerous driving. 30 pedestrians a year are killed by reckless and careless driving and hundreds more are seriously injured. Do you really expect police to do much about careless cyclists when people are dying from reckless driving.
If you ever bothered to actually observe cyclists, you would realize that the overwhelming majority of them are well-behaved, obey the laws and respect drivers and pedestrians.
The Sun's Miro Cernetig did bother and found the following:
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/lane+their+just+start+bicycle+class/3189350/story.html
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Happily, all the bicyclists had on helmets. On the block I was surveying, all were paragons of bicycle etiquette, too, obeying the rules of the road, though the women were the most diligent -- they all stopped at the red lights, right on the white line, and a few even used their arms to properly signal where they were going.
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Now downtown, couriers do have a poor reputation but they are no worse than taxi drivers. Note that they are required to take a test and they are licensed.
As Miro stated:
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The mad people were the bicycle couriers, of course. They pretty much ignored the mayor's new bike lane, preferring to ride on the streets and sidewalks, darting between pedestrians and cars on the way to their destinations.
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Yes, there are a few idiots on bikes like there are a few in cars and a few walking as well. Actually, it probably the same people who misbehave regardless of whether they are in a car, walking or riding a bike.
But, just as it is unfair to judge all drivers by the actions of a few, it is also fundamentally wrong to judge all cyclists by the actions of a few. So stop it!!
The solution to sidewalk riding is separated bike lanes as some drivers are unwilling to let cyclists share the road and instead illegally or carelessly intimidate cyclists off the road. It is interesting to note that in the few places where there are separate bicycle and pedestrian paths, pedestrians are far more likely to walk in the bicycle path than cyclists ride in the pedestrian path. Usually, this is no big deal but sometimes I politely remind them that there is a nice ped path next door. Some people also seem to like to walk on the Dunsmuir bike lane. No big deal. No harm, no foul.
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Given that chunks are falling off the bridge, it sounds like a more comprehensive review of the whole structure is needed. Why spend $2 million when you might have to re-do it all in a few years?
You must have been on a different Main Street than I was.
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