Dear Editor:
I heard of the fatal accident on the Lions Gate Bridge on Sunday May 11. What a tragedy once again.
I crossed the bridge on my bike later on that day heading north. As I arrived at the north end of the bridge just by the pedestrian underpass I suddenly heard "passing on your right" and before I could process the information another cyclist had crashed into me! I went flying to the ground. He and his female companion stopped, asked if I was OK, I told them I thought I had done something to my ribs because the pain was excruciating! They asked me if they should call somebody to help me, I answered no.
Frankly, aside from being in pain I was furious at him. Nobody passes on the right.The young man lifted my bike, I got up and they left. I went home... with two broken ribs and contusions all over my right side.
Despite all that frankly I consider myself very lucky! I am convinced that if this young man had not been so close to me or riding fast this would not have happened.
My comments aboutriding on the bridge and the causeway are these: There is very little width to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. I am a 61-year-old woman who does not ride fast. However I have noticed the speed at which other cyclists ride and it can be plain scary. What is the need to go so fast? There are plenty of other routes where one can race, but please not on the bridge or in the causeway.
Most cyclists ride way too fast on the bridge and in the causeway and I would like to see signs reminding them to slow down. There are signs reminding pedestrians to keep right but nothing regarding speed. Why do we have speed limits for cars but not for cyclists? It is about time that this be put in place especially where there is so much traffic and little space to accommodate it. Some people use their bikes as a mode of transportation but still please please please, this is a plea to those who ride fast: slow down. For your safety and that of others.I would also like to see a couple of police officers randomly posted at the crest of the bridge on either side reminding cyclists to slow down and to pass on the left only, not on the right like the young man who clipped my bicycle.
Joëlle Jensen
West Vancouver
