The Hamilton Spectator: Don’t punish cyclists for doing something healthy – August 12, 2006

Re: ‘Better law urged on sidewalks’ (letter, Aug. 10)

I am writing in response to the letter writer’s opinion that bicycles belong on the road. I respect that being in a wheelchair has its own set of challenges, but I can tell you that riding a bike on the roads in Canada is like having a death wish. It’s a disgusting shame that there is actually a law that has to put us, with our environment-friendly way of commuting, onto the roads with ignorant, selfish drivers.

The letter writer may be upset that he feels unsafe, but what about all the cyclists who are hit, injured, yelled at, cut off and/or threatened by careless drivers who do not respect bikes or cyclists? The roads are absolutely no place for cyclists.

Either we adopt bike paths like the ones in Holland — and save our air in the process — or we must share the sidewalks. Enough with punishing people for wanting to be safe while doing something healthy for themselves and our environment. That is the law that needs to be changed.

Mary vandeLaar, Hamilton