Dear Editor:
Re: Mandatory Licensing for Cyclists Will Help Road Safety, Sept. 18 Mailbox.
Letter-writer Shelagh Tracey is concerned about cyclists -- in her words, our “irresponsible behaviour” -- and proposes we be licensed.
She then adds a number of myths to support her argument that need to be run into the ditch as soon as possible.
May we start by agreeing that a small percentage of both drivers and cyclists exhibit irresponsible behaviour? Failure to agree with me on this point requires you to join me on my daily cycle commute from Deep Cove to downtown.
Then the untrue assertion that drivers are paying for cycle lanes: local roads and cycle lanes are almost exclusively paid for through property taxes. Hint: we cyclists property taxes.
She argues that licensing will improve safety. What will improve safety is protected cycle lanes.
And finally there’s her concern that we’re driving up taxes. Air pollution from cars is costing Canadians approximately seven per cent of our annual GDP. Cyclists are, in fact, helping to reduce those health costs while also improving our own health.
James Roberts
North Vancouver
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