Pedal vs. metal

There is a growing divide across Atlantic Canada, and it has nothing to do with trade, federal transfers, electricity rates or political differences. It involves transportation, lifestyles, climate change and increasingly, highway safety.

It’s about the increasing friction between cyclists and motorists.

There is an entrenched mindset that cycling is largely a rural, seasonal event, with cyclists, mostly tourists, meander along quiet, wooded roads enjoying nature. If cyclists came into the city, they stayed along waterfronts, parks, boardwalks and quiet, residential neighbourhoods.

But it seems motorists and governments were unprepared for the invasion of urban cyclists. Their numbers are growing amid general concerns over climate change, healthier lifestyles and parking issues. More cyclists mean additional issues for motorists, which in turn requires that governments take measures to deal with safety and access concerns.

The obvious dangers of cycling along busy, city streets have resulted in bike lanes and buffered corridors gaining popularity. An online survey done in March of 5,423 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid Forum found that more than twothirds of them say separated bike lanes are a good thing, but far fewer indicated they actually wanted to see them built in their cities. They fear loss of parking, loss of access by shoppers and increased traffic congestion.

There is a pronounced bike-lane divide. Plenty of Canadians are prepared to blame any accidents or issues on cyclists, saying cyclists often don’t follow the rules of the road. Others say too many drivers aren’t paying enough attention to bicycles on roads.