How Cyclists can make the Streets more Car-Friendly*

Since all cyclists are such forward-thinking, progressive, equal rights types, it’s time to develop a good list of ways to make the streets more car-friendly. This may make many cyclists gasp, but consider it for a moment.

Until Toronto becomes as advanced as Copenhagen and their bicycle superhighways cyclists will inevitably on their daily commute have to share the road with motorists. So how can you make the streets more pleasant for the motorists?

1. Alternate Route – You probably have a set route that you use to commute to work that could be done with your eyes closed (if it weren’t littered with potholes and fast moving traffic). But do you know another way? Possibly one that is longer, maybe less interesting, but noticeably safer and equipped with better cycling lanes? By getting up earlier and taking the alternate route a few times a week, you could reduce the congestion on your regular route and get a change of scenery on your way to work.
2. Wave and smile – By law motorists in Toronto are supposed to pass cyclists allowing at least a one meter buffer between them. When making a right hand turn near a cyclist, a motorist must yield to the cyclist who is continuing straight. It is often a gamble whether these laws will be respected, so when they are, give the car a “thanks for not killing me” wave and smile.
3. Bad cyclist! Bad! – There are bad cyclists just as there are bad drivers. If you see a cyclist doing something obviously dangerous or illegal – point it out to them. Having informed and skilled cyclists on the road is only going to make life easier for drivers and cyclists alike.

These are a few initial ideas, but there are certainly more. Leave your comments and share how you could make the streets more car-friendly.

*As a final note, it is always vitally important that in all automobile, bicycle interactions – the onus should always remain on the driver to practice extra caution at all times. Any collision between a car and a bike will result in more serious injury to the cyclist. A car has more power and weight, and therefore, more responsibility to be aware and alert around all other traffic and pedestrians on the streets.