I note that there have been a few letters to the editor regarding bicyclists/pedestrians lately.
I have had a few run-ins with bicyclists in the last few weeks myself. My first encounter (exact date I don't recall) but it was in the last few weeks. I was off work at 4:30 p.m. and on this date it was still light out.
I had left my place of employment and was going to the bank on 3rd Avenue.
I had just turned onto Brunswick Street from Fifth Avenue and encountered a bicyclist in front of me.
He wasn't exactly in the middle of the roadway but not exactly on the side either.
As I drove up behind him (I was not going any faster than about 10 km) he crossed directly into my path without checking that something was behind him.
I immediately pressed on my horn to say hey what are you doing and he starts giving me the what for.
We get to the stop sign at Fourth and Brunswick and I roll down my window to say something to him and he pulls out earbuds from his ears and I say to him exactly, he couldn't hear me.
He had a few choice words for me because he says that a vehicle in front of him was doing an extraordinary maneuver.
Granted there was a truck in front of him trying to parallel park but that does excuse him for not checking behind him before directly cutting in front of me.
As a motorist, I have to shoulder check before changing lanes. He also was also distracted by the earbuds in his ears.
My second and third encounter with bicyclists was on Nov. 25 in the early afternoon.
I was running errands for my place of employment.
I was a pedestrian crossing at the crosswalk at 4th and Quebec heading towards George Street when I saw a lady (without a helmet) riding her bike at full speed coming at me from my right.
I thought to myself, she is either going to take me out or she is not going to stop at the stop sign. When I was just about at the other side of the sidewalk, I could tell she was not going to stop and I said to her hey stop sign.
She suddenly stopped and looked at me funny and continued on her way. Again at the crosswalk, again another bicyclist (without a helmet) was coming towards me from my right at full speed and did not stop at the stop sign.
For all the bicyclists who are demanding that motorists share the road with them and demand our respect, you will only get respect if you follow the rules of the road, stop at the stop signs, shoulder check before changing lanes and don't be one of those distracted drivers.
Bicyclists (over a certain age) should be licensed (that way we can report them to the authorities when they don't follow the rules of the road) and should have to get insurance just like the rest of us.
S. Aviss
Prince George
