Bikers in Winnipeg

no not the motorized ones - at least not gas powered.

I cycle to work. Have for 3 years now, ever since I purchased a bike from a friend of mine. Over the past year, though, I have noticed a larger number of bikes on the road. More and more people, it seems, are choosing to cycle. Unfortunately, many of these new cyclists are not realizing that to cycle in the city for commuting purposes is NOT the same as riding in the park on a Sunday afternoon.

Some points to remember:
1. You are sharing the road with cars - ie. death traps. I've been hit by a car, and trust me, YOU WILL LOSE IF YOU TAKE ON A CAR! It doesn't matter if you have the right of way, or if you are crossing at a corner legally. ASSUME THEY DON'T SEE YOU!
2. You are a motorized vehicle, as far as the laws of the road are concerned. YES you have to stop at red lights and stop signs. YES, you have to signal! YES, you have to stay in your lane.
3. Helmets may clash with your fashion, but wear it anyways. I was wearing a helmet when I was hit by the car, and it was the only thing that saved my head. I wear one now all the time.
4. STAY OFF THE SIDEWALK! That's meant for pedestrians and cyclists who are on bikes of a certain size. If you are an adult, use the road!
5. YOU MUST RIDE ON THE RIGHT! Riding on the left hand side only puts you in danger of being hit by a car - see #1 above - YOU WILL LOSE!
6. If you decide to ignore these 5 simple points, don't get mad at the car that hit you because you decided to go on the sidewalk and go through a red light. Even pedestrians know better than to go in front of a car when they have a red hand facing them. What makes you think you can ignore the rules of the road?

Finally - If you decide to ride your bike, don't daydream, don't use you phone, and for God's sake don't listen to the radio. You need every sense you have to pay attention out there. You are counting on the cars making way for you - and you will be wrong.

Why am I writing this? Well, I saw a cyclist today go through a red light while on the sidewalk, and get bumped by a van. Who did he blame? the van's driver. Who was in the wrong?

In my books, the cyclist. Unfortunately, he didn't agree with me. I got a tongue lashing.

It got me thinking, though.

It's cyclists like that, who blatantly disregard the rules of the road, who put themselves at risk and then blame others, who are to blame for the drivers who give me the finger, who cut me off, and who bad-mouth cyclists when they see them.

If cyclists like him become the norm in Winnipeg, I'm not surprized at the bad press we will get.