LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Right turn on red for bikes? If only Re: “Rules of the road should reflect cyclists’ reality: city” (Montreal Gazette, Feb. 15)
The administration of Mayor Valérie Plante wants to allow cyclists to turn right at red lights and coast (how fast is coasting ?) through stop signs.
The thinking seems to be: they already do it, so why not make it legal?
By that logic, we should allow everyone — motorists and cyclists — to speed, park in no-parking zones, block intersections, toss garbage on the street, text while driving, and soon.
Perhaps if most cyclists obeyed the current rules of the road, then a case could be made for allowing them certain liberties that motorists don’t have.
It certainly would be an improvement if cyclists were to make right turns at red lights only; however, as it stands, many go left, right or straight through without stopping.
The mayor is wishing on a star if she expects to see improvements by relaxing the rules for cyclists.
Jim Scott, Pierrefonds
Cyclists must stop for their own safety
Marianne Giguère, the city councillor in charge of active transportation, says the plan to allow cyclists what we colloquially call an “American stop” reflects the existing reality on Montreal streets.
She fails to grasp a more important reality, it seems — namely, that cyclists need protection from themselves as much as from anyone else.
It is incorrect to say pedestrians are at the top of the food chain of vulnerability among those in motion on our streets. Cyclists are. They move much more quickly than pedestrians, and an accident that topples them from their bikes will likely cause them more harm, regardless of whether another individual is involved, or who is atfault.
Dispensing them from the obligation of a full stop at a stop sign will bring their safety to a screeching halt. Howard Greenfield, Montreal
Colten Boushie and the legal system Re: “Vigil channels anger over acquittal in Boushie’s killing” (Montreal Gazette, Feb. 14)
Colten Boushie’s death becomes another statistic in kids being wrenched away from their parents, whether it be historically by residential schools, the “Sixties Scoop,” or the exorbitant number of children currently placed in foster homes, as well as the high number of unsolved cases involving murdered and missing Indigenous women.
To add insult to injury, when the police entered the home of Colten’s parents after his death, they inquired if they were drunk. That stereotypical response indicates it will take a long time before faith is restored in a legal system that creates a double standard when it comes to Indigenous issues.
Cameron Gray, Beaconsfield
Revisit the right to bear arms
A 19-year-old goes on a shooting spree, at least 17 are killed and still no end in sight to this enabled madness.
It’s high time to refurbish the Second Amendment in a manner that prevents every Tom, Dick and Harry from legally owning a gun.
How many more will have to die before effective action is taken to stop these recurring tragedies?
Selma Menezes, Côte-St-Luc