Dear Editor:
I have a concern as a motorist and pedestrian over the nonchalant and irresponsible behaviour of many cyclists on our roads. There have been incidents involving bicycles and motorists in Vancouver proper and here on the North Shore where the cyclists embrace no blame automatically.
I would like our province, city and district to be a forerunner by introducing a bylaw for cyclists that enforces road insurance. We should be working with ICBC to implement “vehicle” insurance for cyclists that use our roadways and would then also be protected.
When a cyclists damages a vehicle, who is responsible? When a cyclist runs down a pedestrian, who pays for injuries?
We are paying for new lanes with new taxes and higher rates.
Every bike bought could be registered and licensed like an automobile. An annual fee is repeated like we motorists have to do.
If the RCMP have managed to register owners for theft purposes this is just one step further on the initial purchase by the retail dealer.
There is a reckless attitude on our streets because there are no consequences for a cyclist.
A vehicle: any means in or by which someone travels or something is carried or conveyed; a means of conveyance or transport.
Why are only the motorists paying for the public’s roadway insurance and safety. There are so many applications to make the registration program plausible.
Children are not using the highway/byway lanes; however, their parents’ home insurance would have to be claimed upon.
Licensing will not generate a high volume of annual revenue for a community. However, the attitude of cyclists would alter, in my opinion, who use the communal roadways to commute. In our rainy winter, these bike lanes will be empty. We will still be paying for the creation of these new lanes. Yay to our city planners.
Open your door on Commercial Drive, Cambie Street, or try to park and you will have your vehicle smacked and you personally berated from a cyclist whizzing along and out of nowhere, with no care whatsoever because they weave. Who will fix that dent? Not the cyclist.
This is a provincial problem going under the rug. Our communities must address the safety of the cyclist, motorist and pedestrian by registering vehicles using our infrastructures.
Shelagh Tracey
Vancouver
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