Winter is here in many parts of Canada, so the plows are back out plowing roads–and hopefully, bike lanes. Many Canadians commute to school or work all-year round. Winter gear that can keep you warm. A and sturdy commuter with fenders can make riding in the cold months completely doable. Throw on some studded tires and you’re even better set to take on the white stuff.
Many have noticed that some roads often get cleared before bike paths. Not always, but sometimes. If you’re riding to your destination on a bike path that isn’t cleared, you’re left with two options: navigate yourself through the ice and slush, or if it’s impassable, put yourself in danger’s way on the road.
Riding in cities can be dangerous enough, but throw in some nervous drivers in snowy conditions, and obstructed bike lanes, and it can be a very scary situation.
Toronto got its first snowfall and the bike paths are absolutely brutal
David Shellnutt, also known as The Biking Lawyer, summed up the importance of plowing lanes. In Toronto, after a recent snowfall, crews were slow to plow some popular bike lanes riders use to get across town. It wasn’t particularly cold–right above freezing–so many cyclists were still relying on their bikes to get them to where they needed to go.
“Bike lanes not being plowed forces you back into car traffic w impatient or negligent drivers. This Chevy Avalanche driver passed me and rolled a stop sign on his phone,” Shellnutt tweeted. “Remind your municipal officials that people bike all year in Ontario, keeping bike lanes clear is critical.”
Making cities safer for everyone
He went to on explain just how important this is. “In 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed liability against a municipality for negligent snow removal resulting in a pedestrian being seriously injured. We hope that municipalities across Ontario have learned from that case and will make a concerted effort to keep plow bike lanes, making them safe and navigable for people who ride bikes. If you clear them, we will ride,” he said. “We represent people injured because they have been forced out of bike lanes that have been blocked and then hit by motorists who try and negligently pass them. It’s imperative that municipalities maintain bike lanes in a safe state throughout the winter to avoid people getting injured. The small cost of plowing and salting bike lanes is certainly dwarfed by the cost of injured people on our hospitals, communities,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…