Frustrated cyclists can act like jerks

The city will be more bike-friendly if riders obey rules, show courtesy, Matt Moore writes.

Three months ago, I started biking to work downtown. In that time, I’ve found a lot of bicyclists are jerks.

In blogs and letters to the editor, cyclists seem to see themselves as both heroes (i.e., no pollution, reduced parking requirements, good for their health) and victims. This city is not friendly to cyclists, they say when demanding change.

Over these past few months, I’ve come to agree with some of their issues. Bike lanes suddenly stop. Narrow downtown streets can make cycling dangerous. There could be more places to secure your bike. Then there are the behaviours of others on the road. Pedestrians cross bike lanes without looking. Cars turn without signalling. Sometimes you need to be aggressive with motorists who do not respect your right to the road.

Yet while demanding respect, too many cyclists do not show it. Yelling at a driver who has momentarily inconvenienced a cyclist, even when making a legal manoeuvre, is common. A red light, if a car is not coming, is optional. Stop signs are ignored completely, sometimes surprising pedestrians looking to cross. In fact, on my first day of cycling I reduced speed as I approached a stop sign. Another cyclist rocketed past me shouting “What the f***!” even though a car had reached the intersection first and then had to stop short for the other cyclist.

Several times a week I am passed — sometimes on the right — without notice. No bell, no “On your left.” Just a whoosh of neon spandex brushing by. Other times, while waiting at an intersection, a neon-clad cyclist will pull up next to me and then cut me off when the light turns green. Perhaps my Townie bike and work clothes make them see me as obstacle instead of a fellow cyclist deserving respect.

Then there are the daily events of cyclists zipping between cars at red lights, or weaving through pedestrians on sidewalks or in crosswalks as if the pedestrians are the ones in the wrong place.

I can’t help but wonder if cyclists’ identity as hard-done-by heroes has transformed into a “Do you know what I have to put up with? Rules be damned, I’m in a hurry!” arrogance. In other words, the same hubris they criticize drivers for.

There is no argument that there are certainly jerks behind the wheel who are a menace to cyclists, pedestrians and other motorists. Yet with our sprawling suburbs, city council’s default position is to favour motorists. Cyclists need a critical mass to lobby for the changes they demand, but excusing their behaviour by stating motorists carry most of the blame, or that they have no choice on roads not built for cyclists, smacks of arrogance. Claiming “If you don’t ride you have no idea” dodges accountability.

And aggression toward fellow cyclists will either result in their assimilating the reckless and unpredictable behaviour that pedestrians and motorists resent or they’ll abandon their bikes, reducing the cyclist population.

Getting through downtown isn’t easy, be it walking, driving or cycling. There are improvements that could make it easier for all of us, but we have to wait our turn. Insisting you have the right to every horizontal surface, and taking offence when someone objects, while showing little respect for others, will only build animosity. You’ll never see the cycle-friendly city you demand.

Take a breath, cyclists. Be the heroes you claim to be and stop blaming everyone else. No, this city was not designed for you, and you don’t always get the respect you’re due (who does?), but you’ll need support if you want to see change. If drivers and pedestrians don’t fear what you’re going to do, you might gain the support you need.