Cyclists can safely ride sidewalks

I’m a boomer on a bike, who has been riding the streets of Windsor since last century, and until this city provides maximum (physical) safety for people on bicycles, I’ll take my chances on the sidewalks.

All rhetoric aside, anyone with a lick of sense and common courtesy can safely navigate down the sidewalks.

Being aware and conscientious, and watching where you are going are simple things to do. Everything is in front of you and if you are paying attention you will be able to see people ahead or cars backing out of driveways or turning corners. You will have time to react.

Meanwhile, on the road, the existing and oftentimes suddenly-ending bike lanes are only as safe as any given driver’s attention. It would take just one second of driver distraction for a car to drift over and strike the bicyclist.

And, where there are no bike lanes or shoulders, well, why would anyone risk their personal safety in such an unfriendly bicycle city like Windsor?

The last time this issue was debated, my wife (who still regularly rides her bike to work) was afraid to get ticketed for riding on the sidewalk along Tecumseh Road.

She stayed on the road until an inadvertent driver parked next to the curb swung open his door directly in her path. She crashed and was knocked off her bike, breaking her collarbone. She was very fortunate not to be struck by traffic as she lay on the road.

So, give me a ticket and I’ll fight it in court. Meanwhile, I’ll protect my own life and ride on the sidewalks. Dennis J. Telfer, Windsor