Enough Excuses: Cars Cause Death 25

I agree completely. Living in Tokyo at the moment, so I looked up traffic fatalities here: about half for drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. Bear in mind that many Japanese streets have no sidewalks, and virtually none have bikelanes. I’d say each road has three times the traffic on average as Canada. How do they keep the carnage down? Easy. There are no ‘accidents’: hitting someone makes you deeply financially liable, and the burden is on whoever drove the heavier vehicle. ‘Mitigating factors’ count for little. More at my blog: http://hanlonsrzr.blogspot.com/2010/11/put-that-between-your-legs.html

Kam, the point I was trying to make is that some drivers feel it is acceptable in our society to pass a cyclist with mere inches in between the automobile and the bicyclist. Instead of feeling “nervous” and passing a bicyclist closely, I’m proposing that the driver (my anonymous friend) slows down and safely merges partially into the next lane to provide some space in between the deadly automobile and the bicyclist.

This is one of the most commonly cited reasons that people don’t feel comfortable on a bicycle in our city – because drivers pass too closely.

Several U.S. states have implemented a 3-foot passing law, and an MPP has proposed this law here in Ontario.

If nothing else, the 3-foot passing law would help make it socially unacceptable to pass a bicyclist too closely.

Are you going to trust your life to the “burden of care” being on the more dangerous vehicle? Does this imply that since a cyclist or pedestrian poses no danger to a vehicle – they have no “burden of care?” LOL. So I can step out into the street whenever I want because the burden of care is on all those heavy vehicles can I? (Come to think of it, that’s exactly how I see many pedestrians behave downtown – whether I’m in my car, or in a street-car or walking.) No thank you. When I’m on the street I look out for myself. I don’t feel entitled to the care of the strangers around me. I was taught to “Stop Look Listen and Think” – no matter what my mode of road usage might be at the time. I’m not arguing that vehicles are not dangerous. I accept that they are, and I take responsible action to be safe, and remove myself from harm’s way.

@jamesmallon

Sir, at least I am applying some logic. Your last remark shows that you either can’t or won’t. To carry your “burden of care” case further, are you now saying that the burden of care lies with the more dangerous murderers and rapists? Please explain the line of thinking that takes you from a discussion about road users to murderers and rapists.

I think Jim uses this platform to make some very interesting observations about transport policy and life in our cities. It’s because I don’t agree with everything he says – just some of it – that I find it interesting. Why derail a valuable discussion?

I really don’t know why, but we just don’t seem to be understanding each other at all. I think we need a mediator Anyway nice talking to ya.

Kam, I must admit that I love these safety wings. I sometimes ride my bike with a child chariot attached to it, and it’s amazing how careful drivers are when I have the chariot compared to when I don’t.

If these safety wings provide education to drivers to give us more space – resulting in more safety, then I’m all for it.

re “partly into the other lane to pass the cyclist” … no no no.. go all the way. Cyclists are supposed to use the whole lane anyway – and probably would if we didn’t only “partly” change lanes.

Jim your explanation is a perfect example of what I was talking about when I described “taking responsible action” for my own safety – including keeping “myself out of harm’s way.”

To say the least, it is a disgrace that drivers are such arses at rush hour. (If it’s any consolation they get very angry at each other too – not just you )

As for the HTA I think it’s a shame that it asks you to move to the right of the lane, whereas it asks other vehicles to move to the right lane… a subtle turn of phrase which leaves you at the sharp end of the stick.

But you can only turn to the law as a shield *after* an accident. It won’t do anything to protect you *during* a collision – and there’s every chance it might not help you after the fact either. But you know that, so you take appropriate measures.

Your posts keep reminding me of the long-neglected retired his’n'hers Canondales in our garage…

Cars CAUSE death? You’re idiots…