Veteran cyclist urges others to try bike lanes

I love riding my bike. And I love how, with the advent of e-bikes, other people are discovering the joy of riding.

For thirty years, I rode my bicycle to the schools where I taught. I rode Highway 97 along the Channel Parkway, the Channel Parkway walkway, back-alleys, Main Street, Government, Dartmouth, Warren, Columbia and every residential street in town. Some routes require commitment because they are steep. But as I say, I love riding my bike.

Penticton’s first bike lanes along Wade, up to Government, down Kinney and out along South Main were a great addition. The thick white lines make me feel safer because cars give me a little space.

Destinations along Main Street take planning. I do not like putting myself in the way of impatient drivers. I use back-alleys, the KVR and sidewalks. Mostly though, I hug the curb. Parked cars are a particular terror of mine. Someone is always lurking behind those hidden windows, waiting to open a door in my path.

When construction completed on the newest bike lane and I took my first spin on it, I was shocked at how freeing it was to ride within the safety of those barriers. I would not say relaxed, because if you want to ride in a city, you must remain vigilant, but it gave me a cushion of comfort. I loved it.

In our car-focused culture, most people do not consider their bike a method of transportation. But it can be. I can reach any destination in Penticton within half an hour. And when I get there, I feel great because biking is fun and exercise releases endorphins. Also, I am saving the world. Every time I leave the car in the garage, I am not adding to the problem.

The council candidates’ statements show that many of them do not yet see the benefits of making Penticton a bike friendlier town. I get it. I drive too. I am not used to navigating around the barriers and every time the cyclists get a green light before the cars, I feel an instant of resentment.

Change is difficult. It will take time for the new traffic patterns to sink in and it will take time for people to discover the joy of cycling in the bike lane. Be an early adopter. Take your bike instead.

Paula Baker Penticton